Tampabay: Students named reading mentors

Gov. Jeb Bush announced Tuesday the names of five Tampa Bay area high school students selected to serve in the inaugural group of 31 Teen Trendsetter Reading Mentors.

As part of the Just Read, Florida! Initiative, the Governor's Mentoring Initiative has partnered with Florida Trend's NEXT magazine, the Florida Department of Education, Universal Orlando, AAA and the Florida Lottery to promote reading and mentoring in the state's schools.

High school mentors selected statewide will receive a trip to Universal Orlando later this month to attend reading and leadership training provided by the Department of Education, as well as to enjoy the theme park.

Students were urged to visit Florida Trend's NEXT Web site and submit an essay of up to 500 words about why they think reading is important and what qualities they possess that would make them successful reading mentors.

More than 450 essays were submitted statewide. The final essays were reviewed by a panel of educators, community and business leaders across the state.

Students who live in the Tampa Bay area are: Karen Burns, Walter Sickles High School, Tampa; Lauren Fitch, Pine View High School, Sarasota; Slobodan Juric, Gibbs High School, St. Petersburg; Jessica McCarthy, Land O'Lakes High School; and Delaram Sahebzamani, Riverview High School, Sarasota.

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