Lutz students make Honor Society
The following students from Lutz were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines: Parker Tobin, initiated at Elon University; Linda Passman and Jonathan Kalis, initiated at University of South Florida; Matthew Green, initiated at Florida State University.
Commissioner celebrates agriculture literacy day
Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam celebrated the 10th annual Florida Agriculture Literacy Day by teaching schoolchildren about the importance of Florida’s farmers. The event celebrated the history of the state’s agriculture dating back to the 1500s. For more information about Florida Agriculture in the classroom, visit www.flagintheclassroom.com.
PHCC’s career-path summer camps
Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) is offering two academic career-themed summer camps designed for students entering seventh through ninth grades.
The sessions, which will be at PHCC’s New Port Richey campus, will provide an opportunity for students to explore popular career programs offered at PHCC.
One camp will focus on business and technology careers and the other on health careers.
To find out more, visit www.phcc.edu/summercamp or call (727) 816-3244.
Saint Leo graduates more than 1,120
Saint Leo University awarded degrees to more than 1,120 graduates during three commencement ceremonies on April 26 and April 27.
Honorary degrees were awarded to artist Yankel Ginzburg and to alumnus and retiring Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher.
The bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of St. Augustine, the Most Rev. Felipe J. Estévez, was also honored during a special Mass.
Fishing tournament benefits PHCC Foundation
The seventh annual Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) Foundation Catch and Release Fishing Tournament will begin at 9 a.m. on May 10 at Catches Waterfront Grille, at 7811 Bayview St. in Port Richey. An awards party will immediately follow the tournament. Skanska USA Building is the presenting sponsor of the tournament.
The tournament raises funds to benefit the PHCC Foundation, which supports programs at the college including scholarships, diverse academic programs, four campus libraries, faculty and staff development, instructional equipment and more.
To register an angler team or to partner as a sponsor, visit www.phcc.edu/gofish or call (727) 816-3410.
Staying safe behind the wheel
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) are urging student drivers to stay safe behind the wheel during prom and graduation season by not driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs.
Research from SADD and Liberty Mutual Insurance reveals that 23 percent of teenagers admit to driving under the influence.
Land O’ Lakes poet honored
Lisa Fabian of Land O’ Lakes won an honorable mention in the seventh annual Jacaranda Poetry Festival contest presented by the Pasco Arts Council.
The Pasco County Commission established the nonprofit Pasco Arts Council in 1979 to promote and preserve arts and culture in the county. To learn more, visit www.pascoart.org for additional information.
Land O’ Lakes Christian claims national honors
Students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School (LOLCS) achieved outstanding results in the 36th annual American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) National Competition in April at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C.
Nearly 1,700 students and sponsors from 34 states participated in the AACS National Competition, qualifying to compete by winning top honors at state contests. The students, representing 200 Christian high schools, competed in 77 categories in the five basic areas of Bible, music, speech, art and academics.
The Bible competition included Bible quiz teams, preaching and teaching. The academic competition included academic testing and a science fair. Music students challenged each other in solo and group competitions for both vocal and instrumental music. The speech competition included such categories as debate, dramatic interpretation, original oratory, duet acting, plus other categories.
LOLCS students won third place awards in the following categories: Jared Mancini, World History; Tianna Hall, creative arts and digital media; Kristyn Engstrom, creative writing, poetry; Vickie Frazier, biology.
PHCC ranked among most affordable
Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) was recently ranked as being among the 100 most affordable large community colleges in 2013 in a ranking done by Affordable Colleges Online.
Affordable Colleges Online reviewed data sets provided by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the NCES’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Carnegie Foundation to create the ranking.
Specific criteria for list inclusion were two-year, public nonprofit schools serving 15,000 to 92,000 students with tuition less than $3,000.
AffordableCollegesOnline.org focuses on providing prospective college students with information about affordable college options, financial aid and cost saving ideas.
