Education recognized in Pasco County
The Pasco Education Foundation received a donation of $10,000 from Humana in support of its educational program at the Sept. 17 school board meeting. Participating in the presentation, from left, are Superintendent Kurt Browning, Pasco Education Foundation operations vice president Stacey Capogrosso, Humana president and chief executive Tom Avramis, Humana’s Tampa director of accounting management Ray Hodorski, and school board chair Cynthia Armstrong.
Sanchez receives UPS scholarship
Javier Sanchez, a senior at Saint Leo University, has been selected to receive a $2,400 UPS scholarship provided through the Florida Independent College Fund.
He is the son of Javier Garcia and Primitiva Garcia, and is a 2011 graduate of Zephyrhills High School.
Sanchez is majoring in sport business and is a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, the Sport Business Association, and Toastmasters. He also has participated in four varsity sports programs.
Human trafficking presentation
The Parent-Teacher-Student Association at Charles S. Rushe Middle School will host Officer Alan Wilkett of the Pasco County Sheriff’s office on Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. for a presentation on “What Parents Need to Know About Human Trafficking.” Tampa Bay is one of the leading sources for human trafficking in Florida.
Parents of elementary or middle school children who would like to attend should arrange for child care for the evening. The school is at 18654 Mentmore Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.
For information or questions, call Tammy Curtis at (813) 909-4200.
KnowledgePoints celebrates five years
KnowledgePoints Tutoring is celebrating its five-year anniversary with a series of special events throughout October, including an essay contest. There also will be an open house on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
During the month, KnowledgePoints Land O’ Lakes will offer all diagnostic testing free, as well as a savings discount for those that prepay their child’s program.
For information, visit KnowledgePoints.com/landolakes.
USF offers retirement workshop
USF Continuing Education will offer a two-day workshop, “Planning for a Balanced Retirement: It’s Not Just About the Money,” on Oct. 25-26 for adults ages 50-65. It will take place at Unitarian Universalist Church, 11400 Morris Bridge Road, in Tampa.
The workshop will look beyond financial issues and focuses on the personal and psychological process of finding purpose and satisfaction in life.
The workshop is $395 per person before Oct. 14, and $435 per person after Oct. 14. There is a discount for those registering as a couple.
For information, visit conted.usf.edu/transitions.
Home Improvement Education Scholarships
Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Tampa’s city water department are teaming up to support neighborhood revitalization.
Prequalified utility customers may be eligible for scholarships through the Hillsborough Education Foundation. For $50, a prequalified customer can register for a $216 hands-on eight-week home improvement course. The course is designed for adults looking to upgrade their home improvement skills or looking to explore a new career.
The courses are at Erwin Technical Center, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., in Tampa, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Oct. 22.
Seats are limited. Vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For information, visit tampagov.net/DIY or call the water department at (813) 274-8121 for a tuition voucher.
District launches new online tool
Hillsborough County parents now have the option to use the school district’s new grade book tool, Edsby, that provides classroom assignments and grades.
To register, go to sdhc.edsby.com. Parents will need the name of the child’s school, the child’s student number, last four digits of the child’s Social Security number, and the child’s birthday. An Edsby registration video tutorial can be found at sdhc.k12.fl.us.
For information, call Grace Posada at (813) 840-7064.
PHCC collects canned food
Pasco-Hernando Community College Human Services Club members will compete in The Volunteer Way’s fundraising competition “Canstruction” on Oct. 18 at the Pasco Government Center, 7535 Little Road, in New Port Richey.
The exhibit will be open to the public Oct. 21-25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
PHCC has a goal to collect more than 1,000 cans of food for the event. All food collected will be donated to The Volunteer Way Food Bank after the competition.
Collection barrels are located in the library on the West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, through Oct. 17.
Local students make semifinalist list for National Merit
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. has announced the names of approximately 16,000 seminfinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Hillsborough County Public Schools led the state in the number of National Merit semifinalists, with 60 students earning the honor. Local students include:
• Rachel Hargrove and Shahob Miltenberger, Land O’ Lakes High School
• Bridget Weber, Sunlake High School
• Stephen Hurley, Steinbrenner High School
• Rohith Ravi, Freedom High School
• Jorge Rodriguez, Sickles High School
• Kiana Outen, Wharton High School
• Chelsea Chitty, Wiregrass Ranch High School
Dominguez graduates from Cornell summer program
Devon Dominguez of Odessa has graduated from Cornell University’s summer college program.
The summer program invites high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to spend three or six weeks on the Cornell campus in Ithaca, N.Y., experiencing what it’s like to live and learn at an Ivy League university.
Students take official courses, earn college credits and explore majors and career options.
Beautification project at Watergrass
During the month of September, employees of Lowes Home Improvement store in Zephyrhills volunteered hours to beautify the campus of Watergrass Elementary School in Wesley Chapel. The store donated flowers, shrubs and 100 bags of mulch.
In addition, the employees erected a fence behind the Elf Owl classrooms, providing the students with autism a safe, secure play area.
This group is seeking various equipment donations for use within this area so students can practice gross and fine motor skills, as well as communication and socialization skills.
If interested in donating to this project, contact the school at (813) 346-0600.
