Chamber honors Citizens of the Month
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce recognized these students as Citizens of the Month for October: Bryce Hewell, Academy at the Farm; Elizabeth Franklin, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Faith Quinn, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Hannah Ditomasso, Centennial Elementary; Hailey Hitts, Lacoochee Elementary; Adrian Sandoval, Pasco Elementary; Jair Pantoja, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Logan Dyal, San Antonio Elementary; Anissa Wilson, Centennial Elementary; Juan Pablo Benavides, Pasco Middle; Diamond Diaz-Cherry, James Irvin Education Center; and Yocia Abney, Pasco High.
Chamber honors students
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce recognized these students as Citizens of the Month for November: Brock McKendree, Academy at the Farm; Daniel Rivera, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Hannah Fox, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Gabriella Philipsen, Centennial Elementary; Sophia Alvarez Martinez, Lacoochee Elementary; Jazlyn Torres Rodriguez, Pasco Elementary; Juan Serrato, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Sadie Williams, San Antonio Elementary; William Harrison Barker, Centennial Middle; Kelly Rose, Pasco Middle; Andres Limas, James Irvin Education Center; and Diana Ryan, Pasco High.
Sen. John Legg recognized by Children’s Home
The Children’s Home Society of Florida recognized Senator John Legg as Legislator of the Year during a luncheon on Dec. 9 at Joshua House in Lutz.
Legg was honored for his leadership as an advocate for community schools. As chair of the Education Pre-K-12 Committee, Legg was instrumental in the appropriation of additional funding to expand the model throughout Florida, including future placement at Mort Elementary School in Tampa.
For information on the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s legislation priorities, visit CHSFL.org/issues.
Bright Ideas contest
Belle of the Ball Project is supporting Bright House Networks’ program, “Bright Ideas STEM from Today’s Youth,” to help youth develop into innovative entrepreneurs. In the program, students are encouraged to submit a new idea, powered by STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) that can help make the world a better place.
By entering, high school students will vie for the opportunity to compete head-to-head on TV, in front of a studio audience in Orlando. The winner will have the chance to work with a leading innovation firm.
The program is currently open and available for students ages 14 to 19. The deadline to enter is Jan. 4.
To enter, visit BrightIdeas.BrightHouse.com/.
School board meeting cancelled
The District School Board of Pasco County has cancelled the regularly scheduled Jan. 5 board meeting due to winter break.
The district is closed from Dec. 21 through Jan.4.
Magnet school offers tour
Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School, 5126 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will offer a school tour on Jan. 8, to show parents and prospective students the programs and facilities.
Principal Jason Petry and staff will lead parents through each grade level area, the collaboration center, outdoor classroom areas, boardwalk, and athletic facilities. Sanders is Pasco County’s first magnet school and was designed to focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
For information, call Kristie Newsome at (813) 794-1500.
Still time to enroll for spring classes at PHSC
Currently enrolled and returning Pasco-Hernando State College students are encouraged to register for spring classes as soon as possible. Spring classes begin on Jan. 11.
New students interested in taking classes this spring should visit PHSC.edu/wise, for admissions information. The application fee is $25, with an additional $20 assessed during the late registration period, which is Jan. 11 through Jan. 15.
For more information, visit PHSC.edu., or contact the Student Development Office at a nearby PHSC location.
Thursday Musicale offers scholarships
The Thursday Musicale, a women’s choral group formed to promote music in Pasco and Hernando counties, offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Pasco and Hernando counties who plan to study music in college and make it a career.
The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Jan. 22. Auditions will be Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs in New Port Richey.
For applications, contact your high school career counselor and/or music director.
PHSC receives disability support gift
Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation received a $10,000 gift from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to help pay for the cost of assessment testing for students with a disability and need assistance to be successful in the classroom.
The PHSC Access to Success program is designed to help provide financial support to pay for psycho-educational testing for enrolling recent high school graduates with a learning disability, psychiatric or neurological condition, and who show a financial need.
The program also provides support to students for academic success to obtain an education, and develop work force skills that lead to employment.
For information about the Access to Success program, call (727) 816-3737.
Land O’ Lakes senior gets free ride to college
Bethashley Cajuste, a Land O’ Lakes High School International Baccalaureate Programme senior, was awarded the Questbridge National College Match Scholarship. The scholarship covers the entire cost of her college tuition, books, housing, expenses and incidentals for all four years of study.
Cajuste was chosen as one of the 657 honorees, out of 13,264 applicants.
She will attend Colby College in Augusta, Maine.
