Gaither counselor honored
The Hillsborough Counseling Association has named Becky Belanger the Senior High Counselor of the Year.
The award came shortly before Belanger retired, effective Feb. 28, from her post as a guidance counselor at Gaither. Nominations on Belanger’s behalf extolled her many contributions.
Myla Uppercue, guidance department chair at Gaither, said she will miss Belanger.
“I have worked in four high schools, and I strongly believe that Becky Belanger is in the top 1 percent of counselors in the county,” Uppercue wrote in her nomination of Belanger.
Gaither Principal Marie Whelan added: “There is definitely going to be a void in our guidance department upon her departure. I definitely feel Becky is a worthy recipient of this long overdue recognition.”
Donna Cason, Gaither’s assistant principal of curriculum, noted: “The thing that impresses me most about Mrs. Belanger is her commitment to making students a top priority and her belief that all children can succeed.”
Sand Pine barbecue
The Sand Pine Elementary Parent-Teacher Association is hosting its first family barbecue catered by Dickey’s Barbecue on Friday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. The event includes dessert, a DJ, line dancing, a balloon artist, and games. Tickets are $5 and must be purchased in advance. For more information, contact Chrystal Mueller at .
New River wins grant
New River Elementary has received a $3,944 grant from the Dairy Council of Florida to support its involvement in Fuel Up to Play 60, a national in-school health and wellness program. The wellness initiative encourages children to eat low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains and to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. For more information visit www.fueluptoplay60.com or the Dairy Council of Florida’s website at www.fueluptoplay60.floridamilk.com and www.floridamilk.com.
Voting boundaries approved
The U.S. Department of Justice has approved the Hillsborough County School Board’s revised single-member voting district boundaries. The board is required by Florida law to revise districts the year after each decennial census, based on shifting patterns of population. For more information on the revised districts, the process, or the report sent to the Department of Justice, go to sdhc.k12.fl.us, and look for “Board Redistricting” under “Important Links.”
Students make dean’s list
Austin Schonbrun, of Lutz and Sarah Myers, of Odessa, have achieved the dean’s list at Wake Forest University.
Jennifer Majcher, of Lutz, has been named to dean’s list at the University of Delaware.
Cailynn West, of Lutz, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall term at Centre College, in Danville, Ky.
Saint Leo University appoints new center director
Abraham Peck is the new executive director for the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University.
The center was established in 1998 as a collaboration between Saint Leo University and the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the oldest human relations organization in the United States. The Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies is in DeChantal Hall and is the only center of its kind in the Southeast.
Peck is a distinguished scholar in Holocaust studies and human rights. He has been involved in programs promoting constructive dialogue and social justice, working with American and international communities involving Christian, African-American, German and Polish populations. He is the son of survivors of the Holocaust and was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany.
Moore Mickens honors students
These students were named Moore Mickens Education Center’s students of the month for January: Tiuska Diaz, Sofia Torres, Joevanny Lorenzo, Elisa Rubio.
These students were named to the principal’s honor roll by achieving a 4.0 grade point average: Jaonsha Hayes, Jessica Leopold, MacKenzie McAnallen, Danielle Shaw, Stephanie Stanley and Wesley Rivera.
PHCC Cheerleaders are state champions
The Pasco-Hernando Community College Cheerleading Team won the Florida State Cheer and Dance Championship competition in College Level 6 Co-ed.
Besides winning its division, the team achieved the highest applied total score of the competition. It received 82.52 out of a possible 104 points—scoring 9.10 in performance, 9.60 in pyramid, 9.80 in tosses, and 8.90 in formations and transitions, out of a possible 10 in each category. Lisa Fairbanks, PHCC senior office assistant in the disabilities services office, is the cheerleading team coach.
The contest was held at the Florida State Fairgrounds amphitheatre on Saturday, Feb.11. To view a video of the cheerleaders in action, visit www.phcc.edu/athletics/cheerleading/.
