The Laker/Lutz News

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Land O' Lakes High School

These athletes are ready to take on the world

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After claiming the gold at the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games in May, a group of athletes from Land O’ Lakes will trek to Los Angeles next summer to compete at the 2015 Special Olympics Summer World Games.

The team got the word on July 21 via Skype during a surprise announcement in a mini-auditorium at Land O’ Lakes High School.

Ordray Smith advances the ball during a soccer game at Wesley Chapel High School during the Pasco County Special Olympics Games on Feb. 28. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes High School)
Ordray Smith advances the ball during a soccer game at Wesley Chapel High School during the Pasco County Special Olympics Games on Feb. 28.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Coach Vicky King corralled members of the team to the meeting under the guise they would be talking about their gold-medal performance in the state competition at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in May.

But the athletes were really there to hear about their selection as an 11-member contingent of the 15-member Team Florida.

They compete in Division 2 soccer, with seven athletes on each side of the ball. It is a unified team, meaning there are four Special Olympics athletes playing along with three partners, who are there to provide help and support.

The team will join thousands of Special Olympics athletes from 170 nations to compete for international medals for a week beginning July 25, 2015. The games include 21 Olympic-style sports.

School principal Ric Mellin, who answered the Skype call, is delighted by the news.

“Words can’t express how excited I am for these students,” he said. “They put a tremendous amount of effort into preparing for the local games and the state games, and I think the grittiness that they showed impressed the selection group.”

The details regarding costs aren’t yet in, so it is unclear how much the team may need to raise, Mellin said. Besides the trip to L.A., the team also is expecting to spend a week in Indianapolis in a couple months to help prepare.

“If we do need to do some fundraising, that’ll be a wonderful opportunity for the locals here in Land O’ Lakes to provide some additional support,” Mellin said. “We would greatly appreciate it. Our community has always been wonderful when we’ve asked for things in the past, and I’m sure they would step up and help support these students as well.”

Coach King is excited about the experiences that await her athletes.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” she said.

King is happy the team is being rewarded for its dedication.

“We worked really, really hard this year,” the coach said.

Valerie Lundin, one of the directors for Pasco County Special Olympics, said Land O’ Lakes High has an exceptional Special Olympics program. The unified teams give athletes with disabilities and those without them a chance to gain a better understanding of each other.

“The premise is they get to know one another, they partner together, they travel together,” she said. “So, when they’re in the mall or the cafeteria, they’re friends.”

Ghaida Shehab said her son, Hassan, who plays on the team, is “very happy” that the team has been selected to compete. After hearing the news, he told Shehab: “See mom? Are you proud of me?”

“I think it’s good for him,” Shehab said, adding she plans to go the games, as well.

Tommy Guglielmello, one of the team’s partners, said he enjoys the role he plays on the team.

“The partners help the game move along,” Guglielmello said. “It’s awesome being out there when they score.”

Published July 30, 2014

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Coach Keppel takes narrow lead in national contest

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There are just hours left in a national contest that could send a popular Land O’ Lakes cross-country coach to Seattle to become America’s most inspiring coach. But he needs all the votes he can muster to keep that lead.

Dar and Kris Keppel (file photo)
Dar and Kris Keppel (file photo)

Kris Keppel is competing for the Brooks Inspiring Coaches Award, offered by sports apparel and equipment manufacturer Brooks Sports Inc. Since last month, Keppel has received 10,744 votes on Facebook, and for the first time, has slipped past the previous leader through most of the contest, Stan Fryzczynski.

Yet, as of mid-day on Wednesday, a little more than 200 votes separated the two, and a lot can happen between now and when the contest ends on Thursday.

Voting for Keppel is taking place right here. Facebook users can vote once per day.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Gator cross-country team has already won $5,000 in running shoes, apparel and accessories from Brooks, as well as $500 in cash for team expenses. The winner of the national contest will win an additional $5,000 in Brooks apparel, plus $2,000 more in cash to the school’s athletic department.

Fryczynski is a New Jersey running coach who has spent more than 41 years on the job. Keppel, who last year was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was nominated by girls cross-country coach Karen DeHaas. Keppel told The Laker in June that he plans on making the trip with his wife to Seattle next month to find out officially who ends up as the top vote-getter.

Incoming senior Noah Thomas told The Laker in June that he’ll be voting every day.

“He’s just one of the strongest men I’ve ever met,” the 17-year-old said before a summer practice. “All throughout this, he’s still been there for us, and he’s still pushing us hard, and we push back for him.”

1. Kris Keppel 10,744
2. Stan Fryczynski 10,522
3. Ruqayya Gibson 3,130
4. Keith Olsen 2,605
5. Renee Williams-Smith 2,123
6. Bret Neylon 1,704
7. Dave Halliday 1,601
8. John Neff 1,342
9. Jason Capelli 1,245
10. Anthony Belber 1,219
11. Tracy Hawkins 938
12. Brian Lombardo 854
13. Nick Scott 674
14. Nick Accardo 662
15. Desmond Dunham 651
16. Dominic Newman 502
17. Gilberto Ruiz 497
18. Matthew Tompkins 486
19. David Culp 477
20. Jeremy Bartley 454
21. Davis Eidahl 403
22. Kelly Richards 228
23. Dan Reeks 222
24. Brandon Back 124
25. Garlynn Boyd 79

– as of 7/30/14, 12:30 p.m. 

 

Local soccer teams earn gold in Special Olympics

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While soccer fans around the world are watching the World Cup, two teams from Land O’ Lakes High School already are basking in victory.

Two soccer teams from Land O’ Lakes High School went to Lake Buena Vista to compete in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Both came home with gold medals. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes High School)
Two soccer teams from Land O’ Lakes High School went to Lake Buena Vista to compete in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Both came home with gold medals.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Two squads, the Grey Team and the Gold Team, each claimed the gold medal in their respective divisions at the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games, May 16-17 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista.

The Grey Team is a Division 2 team with seven players per side, while the Gold Team is a Division 3 team with five players per side. Divisions are set up based on team skill levels.

Each team is unified, meaning athletes play alongside partners to help them and provide support. The Gold Team has four players and three partners playing at one time, while the Grey Team has three players and two partners.

While the players are happy to have achieved their goal, their longtime coach, Vicky King, is equally proud.

“It was a great accomplishment. Our teams have trained really hard this year,” she said.

The Gold Team had little knowledge of soccer before they started playing together a few years ago, King explained. For their first two years playing soccer, they didn’t score a single goal. Now they understand the game, talk about it, and claimed the gold medal in their division.

And the Grey Team has a chance to continue playing at an advanced level. They’re eligible to compete at the World Games, and if selected, they’ll go to Los Angeles to take part next July.

The keys to success are the same as they would be for any championship team, King said. Hard work, a balanced squad, and an emphasis on fitness and skills led the teams to victory.

But the Special Olympics is about more than competition. Land O’ Lakes resident Terry Ahearn said his son, Andrew, truly enjoys being a part of the team and competing in the games.

“He loves it. It’s been really good for him, too,” Ahearn said.

Andrew has participated in Special Olympics for years, and plays soccer for the Grey Team. He has autism, and is high-functioning. His father said that playing has given him more confidence, and even though he can be hard on himself, he always has praise and support for his teammates.

While playing on a unified team allows the athletes to get on-field support, it doesn’t affect the team dynamic. Ahearn said once they start playing, everyone is working toward the same goal.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re playing basketball, if they’re bowling or playing soccer, you really can’t tell the difference between any of the kids,” he said. “They’re just like any other team.”

And like any other athlete, Andrew is happy to have claimed the gold for his team.

“It feels good,” he said. “We did our best.”

The midfielder said participating in various sports — Andrew also competes in bowling, basketball and flag football — and having fun are the best things about the games. He was named Athlete of the Year for Pasco County.

For his father, coaches like King are some of the real highlights of participating in the Special Olympics. The teachers and coaches make the experience more valuable for the participants, he said.

“I’m proud of (Andrew) and how he competes and what he’s learned, but I’m also proud of the teachers and the coaches,” Ahearn said. “Because he would not be where he is right now if he didn’t have the teachers and coaches that gave so much of themselves.

“To do what these kids are doing and to reach them takes a special person. I could not say enough good things about them.”

For more information about the Special Olympics, visit SpecialOlympicsFlorida.org.

Published July 9, 2014

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Job fair kicks off Wednesday

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Looking for work? Then Land O’ Lakes High School is exactly where you need to be Wednesday for a job fair.

Pasco County Schools is partnering with county agencies and local chambers of commerce for a fair July 9 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the high school, 20324 Gator Lane, in Land O’ Lakes.

The fair will include the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, county government offices, the clerk of court and tax collector, as well as some other businesses to talk to people looking to return to the job market, or step up from their current jobs.

Some of the positions the agencies are looking for at the fair include clerical and administrative support, accounting and finance, bus drivers and assistants, information services, food services, law enforcement and corrections, maintenance and skilled trades, and instructional and child care.

For more information, click here.

Keppel looking for more votes in national contest

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There is still time to vote for Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel for a national inspiration award.

Keppel, as of early Thursday morning, was in second place nationwide in online voting for the Brooks Inspiring Coaches Award. The contest is administered by sports apparel and equipment manufacturer Brooks Sports Inc., and already has won the Gator cross-country team $5,000 in running shoes, apparel and accessories from Brooks, as well as $500 in cash for team expenses.

Land O' Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel leads his team in warmups during a recent summer practice. Keppel is among 25 people in the nation being honored as inspirational coaches. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel leads his team in warmups during a recent summer practice. Keppel is among 25 people in the nation being honored as inspirational coaches. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

The winner of the national competition, which depends on daily voting, will win an additional $5,000 in Brooks apparel, plus $2,000 more in cash to the school’s athletic department.

Currently in first place with just over 2,000 votes is Stan Fryczynski, a New Jersey running coach who has spent more than 41 years on the job.

Keppel was nominated by girls cross-country coach Karen DeHaas, who described the coach as a model for the runners.

“He has helped so many kids get into colleges , and wrote letters — you wouldn’t believe how many,” DeHaas said. “Anyone who came to him for help, he would help them, whether it was something to do with sports, or something to do with academics. He is just a wealth of information.”

Facebook users can vote for their favorite coach among the 25 national nominees once every 24 hours through the end of the month. The winner will be announced later this summer in Seattle.

To vote for Keppel, click here.

1. Stan Fryczynski 2,066
2. Kris Keppel 1,598
3. Ruqayya Gibson 1,168
4. Keith Olsen 1,013
5. Anthony Belber 834
6. Renee Williams-Smith 793
7. Bret Neylon 679 679
8. Dave Halliday 651
9. Tracy Hawkins 591
10. Jason Capelli 507
11. John Neff 472
12. Brian Lombardo 350
13. Nick Accardo 339
14. Desmond Dunham 336
15. Nick Scott 330
16. Dominic Newman 283
17. Gilberto Ruiz 263
18. David Culp 196
19. Matthew Tompkins 195
20. Kelly Richards 189
21. Jeremy Bartley 183
22. Dan Reeks 171
23. Davis Eidahl 143
24. Brandon Back 107
25. Garlynn Boyd 66

– as of 7/3/14, 1:20 a.m. 

Award winning air conditioning, heating and plumbing in Land O’ Lakes

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James and Dana Spears, owners of Cornerstone Pros, are fully prepared to handle all of your air conditioning, heating and plumbing needs.They offer same-day service, 24-hour emergency service, free estimates for installation and free second opinions.

Cornerstone won the Angie’s List Super Service Award for 2012 and 2013 and currently has over 415 glowing reviews on Angie’s List. They also have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

“Our goal as a company is customer service first,” says Dana. “We strive to provide exceptional service at a fair price. We want to go above and beyond customer’s expectations.”

James and Dean Spears have made Cornerstone Pros a premiere air-conditioning company.
James and Dean Spears have made Cornerstone Pros a premiere air-conditioning company.

They started the business in 2006. Before that, Dana worked in commercial insurance for 15 years; while James worked in air conditioning and plumbing for 25 years. In their previous jobs, Dana learned about the value of customer service, and James saw first-hand the benefits of exceptional professional trade knowledge.

One of their goals is to employ local people and serve local customers. They rented their first building just down the road, moved to another as their business grew, and recently got an opportunity to purchase their current building.

They have 27 employees, some of whom have been there since they opened. “We have a wonderful staff and dedicated people who enjoy working here,” says Dana. “We added plumbing this year and hired two plumbers. Our goal is to have six plumbers on staff within a year.”

Their services include the service and maintenance of all air conditioning and heating units. They also provide water treatment and testing services, whole home re-pipes, stoppages, and fixture installations.

Cornerstone did a rebranding earlier this year. They hired a firm to create an old-school image that portrayed their core values, ethics, honesty and quality work. “The feedback from our customers and the community has been excellent,”says Dana.

This is truly a family-owned and operated business. They currently have five family members working for the company. “Our children have to work for one year for someone else before they can work here,” says Dana. “We want them to know what it’s like to work in the real world. That outside experience will help them see the importance of happy employees and customers.”

“We recently had an outside company do an anonymous employee survey,” says Dana. “The employee feedback was outstanding. The survey company was astounded at how satisfied our employees were. We work hard to give our employees a good work environment and keep them long-term.”

Dana was born and raised in Lutz. She graduated from Land O’ Lakes High School and is a mother of five. Two have graduated from Land O’ Lakes High School, two are still in high school, and they now have a 2- year-old son. James was born and raised in Tampa. They are both very active in community support and want to give back more as they continue to grow.

To learn more, visit CornerstonePros.com, or call (813) 949-4445.

– Mike Matthew

This story is a feature of the advertising department.

Already a local inspiration, Keppel now takes national coaching stage

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Brooks Sports Inc., is known for its running shoes and apparel. But once a year, the Seattle-based company gives people a chance to choose among 25 high school coaches across the nation they feel is the most inspiring.

One of the coaches making the cut is none other than Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel. And now his team — and the school — is depending on everyone to get to Facebook and vote for him in the 2014 Brooks Inspiring Coaches Award before the end of July.

Coach Kris Keppel, right, warms up with his Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country team during summer training at Pine View Middle School last week. Keppel is up for a national coaching award based on how he inspires his runners. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Coach Kris Keppel, right, warms up with his Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country team during summer training at Pine View Middle School last week. Keppel is up for a national coaching award based on how he inspires his runners.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“I opened up my email on the first day of my treatment this cycle, and I was just kind of blown away,” Keppel said. “I didn’t think this was real.”

The treatment Keppel is talking about is chemotherapy, which he’s undergoing to battle pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed late last year, but still made it out to as many practices and meets as he could muster.

Enduring a new round of chemo hasn’t stopped Keppel from moving forward with summer practices, waking up as the sun rises to get that little bit of cool air typically found only in the mornings during Florida summers.

That’s the kind of effort that really motivates his runners, like incoming senior Noah Thomas.

“He’s just one of the strongest men I’ve ever met,” the 17-year-old said. “All throughout this, he’s still been there for us, and he’s still pushing us hard, and we push back for him.”

It’s the runners, his fellow coaches like Karen DeHaas, and the parents that motivate him to get up and tackle each day with fresh energy, Keppel’s wife Dar said.

“I think cross-country has been a godsend,” she said. “It has monopolized our life, and I was jealous of it at times. But I think if he didn’t have cross-country, he wouldn’t be in the mindset that he’s in. And that is something that is a great outlet.”

For just being named a finalist, the Land O’ Lakes team has won $5,000 in running shoes, apparel and accessories from Brooks, as well as $500 in cash for team expenses.

The coach chosen as the most inspiring on Facebook will win an additional $5,000 in Brooks apparel, plus $2,000 more in cash to the school’s athletic department.

DeHaas, who Keppel recruited some years back to coach the girls cross-country team, did the initial work to get her colleague nominated. But it was a nomination that almost didn’t happen.

“I spent a couple hours writing up everything online, and then when I went to go get a picture, I came back, and what I wrote wasn’t there anymore,” said DeHaas, who runners affectionately refer to as “Mima.”

“I had some good ideas there, too, and so I had to think of it all again so that I could write it a second time,” she said.

Keppel spent years as a media specialist at Land O’ Lakes High, but moved into the American history department after those positions were cut last year. Yet, he still finds a way to connect with students, even off the track.

“He’s a model for so many kids,” DeHaas said. “He has helped so many kids get into colleges, and wrote letters — you wouldn’t believe how many. Anyone who came to him for help, he would help them, whether it was something to do with sports, or something to do with academics. He is just a wealth of information.”

Keppel and his wife are heading to Seattle to learn who will win among the 25 coaches in August. For someone as well-traveled as Keppel is, this is the first time he’s ever been to Washington, and he’s looking forward to it.

However, he’s also looking to not have too many distractions as he prepares his runners for what Keppel hopes will be another successful season, both as a team, and as individual athletes.

“The true gratification of a coach is to see the transformation of a kid who just ran a couple miles to a kid who can run a half-marathon by the end of summer,” Keppel said.

To vote, visit tinyurl.com/KeppelInspire.

Published June 25, 2014

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Pasco and Hillsborough students improve test scores

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Students across Florida, as well as in Pasco and Hillsborough counties posted gains on statewide end-of-course, or EOC, exams.

Scores improved in all of the assessment areas in Florida, with the biggest gain being a 10 percent improvement in U.S. History.

Pasco has one of 13 school districts in the state that posted gains in all four EOC assessments, with its biggest improvement being an 8-point increase on the U.S. History assessment, Florida Education commissioner Pam Stewart reported.

The passing rate for Pasco students taking the test for the first time improved on all four assessments, improving by 2 percent in Algebra I; 2 percent in biology; 3 percent in geometry and 8 percent in U.S. History.

Hillsborough’s scores improved in two of the four assessment areas, with a 14 percent percentage gain in U.S. History and a 4 percent gain in Algebra I.

Pasco students outperformed the state in the percentage of students achieving a passing score or higher in 2014, except for Algebra I.

Some notable scores from Pasco schools include a 5-percent bump in the passing rate on the Algebra I assessment at Land O’ Lakes High School, a 7-percent gain by Wiregrass Ranch High School students on the Biology I assessment, and an 8-percent improvement on the same assessment at Zephyrhills High School.

Both Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass also posted big improvements in the passing rate on the geometry assessment. Wesley Chapel’s passing rate improved by 22 percent. Wiregrass Ranch boosted its passing rate by 13 percent. Students at both Zephyrhills and Sunlake high schools improved their passing rate by 6 percent, with Sunlake achieving a 73 percent passing rate and Zephyrhills boosting its passing rate to 60 percent.

Wesley Chapel principal Carin Nettles was delighted with her school’s results.

“I am thrilled about our scores,” she said. “We are very proud of the work our math department has done.”

The principal credits collaboration among faculty members during professional learning community meetings. Teachers are sharing “the best common lessons and assessments for our students,” she said.  Teachers also have provided tutoring to help their students succeed.

Superintendent Kurt Browning said in a release that because the scores “reflect what we are teaching in the classroom, end-of-course exams present a much more accurate picture of our students’ learning during this time of transition than do high-stakes tests” like the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Published June 25, 2014

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Chef Rigberg is on the kitchen’s cutting edge

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Around the Academy of Culinary Arts at Land O’ Lakes High School, Michael Rigberg is known as Chef Rigberg.

In July, he’ll be known as an inductee into the American Academy of Chefs.

Chef Michael Rigberg, who leads the Academy of Culinary Arts at Land O’ Lakes High School, will be inducted this summer into the American Academy of Chefs. (Courtesy of Michael Rigberg)
Chef Michael Rigberg, who leads the Academy of Culinary Arts at Land O’ Lakes High School, will be inducted this summer into the American Academy of Chefs.
(Courtesy of Michael Rigberg)

The induction will take place at the American Culinary Federation National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, where Rigberg will be included in a group of men and women who have distinguished themselves in the culinary arts.

It’s an honor that requires recipients to meet rigorous requirements, and those attaining it are considered to represent the highest standards of professionalism in the organization, society and industry.

That honor will follow another distinction that Rigberg received in April at the American Culinary Federation’s Southeastern Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. He was among four chefs receiving Cutting Edge awards from the federation.

Those awards, bestowed by regional vice president Michael Diehl, recognize leadership and service to the culinary profession.

Rigberg, who is president of the Tampa Bay Culinary Association, said he had no idea he was being considered for that award. So, when he heard the phrase, “This chef resides in Land O’ Lakes, Florida,” his ears perked up.

“I was shocked,” Rigberg said.

Hundreds of chefs, cooks and foodservice professionals were at the conference in Charleston, and thousands will be at the national convention. Rigberg said he’s not sure what he did to merit the award, but it was nice to receive recognition.

Performing well is important to Rigberg, and he strives to pass that ethic along to his students in the culinary program at Land O’ Lakes High. His goal is to give students a solid foundation for a career in the culinary arts. He also wants them to have a good idea of what they will face in the field.

Along those lines, students have a chance to compete with students in other programs. They also have a chance to gain practical experience in the field, and they occasionally get to take part in special events.

When the Republican National Convention was in Tampa, for example, Rigberg worked out a deal to become part of the catering crew. He joined his teaching colleague, Jessica Cooper, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum while 26 students from their culinary arts program were there preparing food for the convention’s hungry masses.

“That is something they will never forget,” said Rigberg, who was influenced by his son to become an instructor.

When his son graduated from high school in Hillsborough County, he was interested in becoming an architect. So, he enrolled at Tulane University, where he quickly became discouraged, Rigberg said.

During orientation, a dean told the incoming crop of 90 freshmen that if five made it, they’d be lucky.

“After one semester, he came back home,” Rigberg said.

Instead of pursuing architecture, he went to Hillsborough Community College, then on to get a business degree at the University of South Florida. Rigberg’s son would eventually earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling.

Rigberg had already wanted to become a teacher, but after his son’s experience, he decided to teach at the high school level rather than at a college. He wanted a chance to help shape a life, and he figured high school would be a better place to do that.

Rigberg tells his students that people with culinary skills are always in demand.

“Whether you’re a mechanic, whether you’re an electrician, whether you’re a plumber, or whether you are a cook — you will always, in a trade, always have a job,” he said.

In his program, Rigberg said he tries to instill a sense of devotion, a desire to succeed and a sense of urgency. When students graduate, he wants them to understand that “what they have gained or learned here is just the beginning.”

Published June 25, 2014

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In Print: Vote opens for nation’s most inspiring coach

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Being an athletics coach of any kind can be stressful for anyone. There’s so much to do when it comes to developing strategies, recruiting and retaining players, setting up effective practices, and looking for that sometimes fleeting win.

Land O' Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel leads his team in warmups during a recent summer practice. Keppel is among 25 people in the nation being honored as inspirational coaches. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel leads his team in warmups during a recent summer practice. Keppel is among 25 people in the nation being honored as inspirational coaches. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But it’s even tougher for Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel, who is now starting his third decade in his job, however, doing it while battling pancreatic cancer.

His team, his coaches and his community believe in him, however, and are doing everything they can to make Keppel the top vote-getter in the 2014 Brooks Inspiring Coaches Award.

“He’s just one of the strongest men I’ve ever met,” Noah Thomas, 17, told reporter Michael Hinman. “All throughout this, he’s still been there for us, and he’s still pushing us hard, and we push back for him.”

Just for being a finalist, Keppel has won $5,000 in equipment and apparel for his team, but he’s aiming to get more for his runners when he heads to Seattle in August to learn who will win the grand prize.

Read more about the award and how he almost didn’t get nominated by picking up this week’s print edition of The Laker. Or you can read the story in our online e-edition for free, right now, by clicking here.

And if you haven’t already, consider voting for Keppel by clicking here.

Football players at Northwestern University made news last spring when they voted to unionize, demanding they deserve compensation for what they do through a system that makes billions of dollars annually based on the product they create.

But most people disagree athletes should be paid, according to a new national poll from Saint Leo University. That survey of 1,016 people had 66 percent agreeing with the statement that receiving a scholarship and a chance to earn a degree is fair compensation for playing in a college sport.

“It was definitely surprising,” Drew Gold, executive director of the Saint Leo Polling Institute, told reporter Michael Murillo. “I don’t think anybody expected it to be that overwhelmingly against paying the athletes.”

To read more about the survey, check out this week’s print edition of The Laker, or read the story in our free e-edition by clicking here.

We all remember what it was like to learn languages like Spanish and French while in school. But what about ancient Greek?

Photos courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen Hunter Rasmussen works on linguistics during a trip to Thailand as part of the Wycliffe Bible Translators USA’s Get Global program. (Courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen)
Hunter Rasmussen works on linguistics during a trip to Thailand as part of the Wycliffe Bible Translators USA’s Get Global program. (Courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen)

Hunter Rasmussen was just a sophomore at Berean Academy in Lutz when he first started learning biblical Greek. Now a 20-year-old student at Covenant College in Georgia, he’s made it his life work — work he has now taken to Thailand in a recent trip.

“I just loved it. I thought it was the most incredibly thing,” Rasmussen told reporter B.C. Manion. “That made me excited not just about biblical languages, but language in general. I just felt so convinced that this is what I am supposed to do.”

Rasmussen ended up in Thailand thanks to Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, which had visited his college looking for people just like him. It was a trip complete with many life lessons for Rasmussen.

“Part of the trip is leaning and realizing that language-learning and cultural-learning is not only foundational for Bible translations and foundational of ministry, but that language learning it itself a ministry,” he said.

Learn more about Rasmussen and the Thai village he visited in this week’s print edition of the Lutz News, or read our free online edition by clicking here.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.