Posters promote water
PASCO COUNTY – More than 1,100 elementary students participated in the 16th annual Water Awareness Poster Contest hosted by Florida Governmental Utility Authority and Pasco County Utilities.
Students submitted posters around the theme, “Mission Possible: Water for Tomorrow.”
Matt Rihs, community service manager at FGUA, said the art project empowers children to understand the value of water and champion conservation in their communities.
Eighteen winners were chosen from 60 finalists. Winning posters will be displayed at the West Pasco and East Pasco government centers.
On the web: WaterContest.org
Students net $37K+ for arts
TAMPA – The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office raised $37,778 for elementary school art programs through its 2025 Kids Tag Art Program.
Sixty-five schools participated, each receiving more than $580.
“We’re thrilled to see the program grow year after year, fostering creativity in our youngest residents while providing much-needed funding for art education,” Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan said.
Since launching in 2021, the initiative has raised over $141,900 and involved more than 6,300 students.
The community can buy student-designed plates at hillstaxfl.gov/shop.
Activity center coming to A Kid’s Place campus
BRANDON – Hillsborough County and A Kid’s Place broke ground April 29 on a 13,000-square-foot activity center to serve foster children.
The new center will be located on the nonprofit’s five-acre campus. It will include classrooms, a computer lab, therapy rooms and areas for mentoring, family reunification and independent living skills. Outdoor amenities will feature a multisport court, pool and exercise room.
Hillsborough County contributed $933,000 in grant funding to the project.
PHSC adds to admin team
NEW PORT RICHEY – Kristi Williams began her tenure March 24 with Pasco-Hernando State College as part of the president’s administrative leadership team.
Williams joins the college as the associate vice president of finance. She has recently served as the vice president of finance and administration at Mountwest Community and Technical College since 2021.
Prior to MCTC, Williams served as the assistant vice president of business and finance and then interim vice president of business and finance at West Virginia State University from 2014 to 2020.
Williams has over 29 years of experience in finance and operations management within higher education.
5 make president’s list
MANCHESTER, NH – A handful of students from Lutz and Odessa made the spring semester president’s list at Southern New Hampshire University.
Lutz residents Kory Hilton, Holly Hsu and Nancee El-Massri made the list. So did Odessa residents Fidel Johnson and Piper Ray.
Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.7 and above for the reporting term are named to the president’s list.
Student Achievements
- Sravani Gopaluni, of Lutz, was one of the 160 students awarded a Student Service Award from Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences in West Des Moines, Iowa. Sravani is a member of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program.
- Kevin Spillane, of Odessa, earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Spillane also made the spring semester dean’s list, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or better.
- Mykayla Christine King, of Lutz, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, N.C.
- Joseph Pesansky, of Odessa, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
- Faith Quinn, of Wesley Chapel, graduated Summa Cum Laude with bachelor degrees in astronomy, chemistry and physics from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
- Grace Quinn, of Wesley Chapel, graduated Cum Laude with bachelor degrees in astronomy, physics and chemistry from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
- Natalie Stenman, of Odessa, graduated with a Master of Architecture from The University of Texas at Austin.
Quick Hits
- The Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation recently received donations from VITAS Healthcare ($75,000) and the Rotary Club of Dade City Sunrise ($1,000).
- Pasco-Hernando State College named Heidi Sievers as Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
- ”Once a Firehawk, always a Firehawk” read the inscription of a cake marking the closing of Calusa Elementary School. The school closes at the end of the year after 46 years of service.
