Hometown
By TIMES STAFF
Published June 24, 2007
High Fives
The Pasco Education Foundation and the District School Board of Pasco recently announced the 2007 Excellence in Academics Awards at a ceremony held at River Ridge High School's Center for the Performing Arts. The evening honoring outstanding student achievement for the county's graduating seniors was presented by the Tampa Tribune.
Included in the evening's honorees was the district's PRIDE award winners, Outstanding Senior award winners, National Merit Scholars, valedictorians, salutatorians, and the 2007 graduates of the Foundation's Take Stock in Children Scholarship program.
The Pasco Education Foundation presented 77 scholarships totaling more than $67, 000 from its Scholarship Opportunities for Graduating Seniors program. These scholarships allow students to continue their education at colleges, universities and technical schools. During the 2006-07 application period, more than 800 applications for the Scholarships for Graduating Seniors program were received.
Since its inception in 1991, the Pasco Education Foundation Inc. has seen its assets grow to more than $2-million. This support allows the organization to award hundreds of scholarships to students and teachers annually, including awarding and administering the "Take Stock In Children program" for more than 80 students in Pasco County.
Each year, teachers and administrators benefit from the foundation's classroom grants, which provide them with needed supplies and curriculum support.
The Pasco Education Foundation also recognizes and celebrates the county's top students and public school employees through numerous events and ceremonies throughout the year.
Receiving Take Stock in Children scholarships were Maria Alzate and Solomon Tesfaye, Land O'Lakes High; Katelyn Fern, Zephyrhills High; Brandi Bacon and Courtney Williams, Pasco High.
Receiving Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarships were Cannellios Ansley, Zephyrhills High; Laura Cruz-Ramos, Land O'Lakes High; and Susan Thomson and Darien Tookes, Wesley Chapel High.
National Merit-Commended awards went to Lenadra Argyros, Courtney Gardner, William Green, Susie Lai, Celeste Lipkes, Advaith Rao, Tanja Schunemann, Krystyn Vitale and Emily Yelverton, Land O'Lakes High; and Claire Elmblad, Wesley Chapel High.
National Merit Finalist awards went to Jorge Fernandez, Joseph Jacob, Chirag Kulahalli, Korey Lane, Paula Te, and Adam Vaugh, Land O'Lakes High.
Receiving Richey Suncoast Theatre Performing Arts Scholarships were Amarilys Barbosa, Rhiannon Roberts and Sarah Yawn, Land O'Lakes High; Ryan Dodd, Pasco High; and Wesley Ford, Wesley Chapel High.
Pasco County Fair Association scholarships went to Megan Barthle, Pasco High; and Robert McKinney, Wesley Chapel High.
Receiving Bright House Networks Communications awards were Audrina Bigos and Johora Ramotar, Wesley Chapel High.
Nick Walker Memorial Scholarships went to Clayton Hunter, Evan Mills, Alexandria Simmons and Joseph Walker, Wesley Chapel High.
Receiving Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union scholarships were Heather Fudge, Moore-Mickens Education Center; Jordan Hughes, Wesley Chapel High; Jordan Kimbell, Zephyrhills High; Kattia Rodell, Pasco High; and Brittany Strong, Land O'Lakes High.
The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Florida Inc. awarded scholarships to Todd Leal and Naaman McWilliams, Land O'Lakes High.
American Educational Assistance Corporation provided scholarships to Stephanie Moran, Land O'Lakes High; and Brittany Peacock, Zephyrhills High.
Outstanding Senior awards went to Vince Chalecki, Wesley Chapel High; John Thornton, Zephyrhills High; Paula Te, Land O'Lakes High; and Patrick Weightman, Pasco High.
PRIDE awards were presented in several subject areas: Celeste Lipkes, Writing; Aysha Malik, Social Studies; Paula Te, Math; and Sarah Yawn, Performing Arts, all from Land O'Lakes High.
Valedictorian Awards went to Kristen Beville, Zephyrhills High; Sarah Ipollito, Land O'Lakes High; Paula Te, Land O'Lakes IB; Corttney Penbirthy, Wesley Chapel High; Kattia Roedel, Pasco High.
Salutatorian awards went to Claire Elmblad, Wesley Chapel High; Chirag Kulahalli, Land O'Lakes High IB; Korey Lane, Land O'Lakes; Patrick Weightman, Pasco High; and Jocelyn Wireman, Zephyrhills High.
Other awards went to: Felicia Burt, Pasco High, Johnnie Clower Memorial Scholarship Citrus Country Groves Inc. scholarship; Anthony Carpanese, Wesley Chapel High, Agnes Stancil Memorial Scholarship; Jorge Fernandez, Land O'Lakes High, National Hispanic Finalist; Kala Glavich, Pasco High, Pasco County Farm Bureau Scholarship; Lauren Healy, Land O'Lakes High, Ariel Rothschild Goldman Memorial Scholarship, Jameson Logistics Scholarship for the Performing Arts; Celeste Likpes, Land O'Lakes High, Kristofer King Memorial Scholarship; Sarah Rasheid, Wesley Chapel High, Career and Technical Student of the Year; and Patrick Weightman, Pasco High, Academic Financial Services Scholarship.
Upcoming Events
An old-fashioned Fourth of July picnic, sponsored by the Greater Trilby Community Association, is planned, beginning at 10 a.m. July 4 at the Trilby Manor Park. The picnic will be the first event in the newly improved Trilby Manor Park, created in the 1970s but has been underused. In the past few years, a barbecue grill, a large shelter, a baseball diamond, basketball court and a new playground have been built.
Hot dogs and other picnic food will be provided. Rhythm "n" Motion Cloggers will present a clogging demonstration, and gospel and country music will be performed by "The Gathering Place." Organized sports events will be supervised by Cpl. Dave Hink of the Pasco Sheriff's Office and Kim Rowe of Kim's Play-A-Round. Activities include sack races, relay races, egg/spoon races, basketball, softball, horse shoes and tug of war. The picnic focuses on family fun and entertainment and there will be no alcoholic beverages or fireworks.
Trilby Manor Park is located at 37045 Polite Ave., between Power Line Road and Randalman Road, next to the Mt. Olive AME Church. For more information, contact Herb Green, president of the Greater Trilby Community Association at (352) 583-5936 or Richard Riley, secretary of the organization at (352) 583-4994.
What's Happening
Gulfside Regional Hospice has experienced rapid growth over the last two years. Linda Ward, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization, recently announced the addition of a new employee and the promotion of another to ensure continuation of quality patient care.
Richard "Rich" Long is Gulfside's new director of spiritual care. He oversees the daily operations of the department, eight chaplains and all spiritual care programs. Upon patient request, Long coordinates spiritual service as part of the interdisciplinary teams providing care for Gulfside patients and their families. Long was previously a staff chaplain in the Palliative Care and Trauma departments at Tampa General Hospital.
Laura Frazier has been promoted to director of admissions and provider relations. She is responsible for ensuring that patients experience a smooth transition to hospice services. Frazier also oversees Gulfside provider representatives who are responsible for educating the healthcare community about end-of-life care and how the patient benefits from receiving hospice care sooner. She also ensures that referred patients are admitted within 24 hours and that their families receive emotional support during this time. Prior to her position as a provider representative with Gulfside, Frazier was at LifePath Hospice.
Gulfside Regional Hospice is a non-profit, community-based organization proving compassionate, quality care to individuals and their loved ones as they face life-limiting illness and grief. Established in 1988, Gulfside Regional Hospice has offices in New Port Richey and Dade City, and Hospice Houses in downtown New Port Richey, at Sunset Bay in New Port Richey and The Edwinola in Dade City. More than 250 employees and 350 volunteers care for just over 350 patients daily.
In 2005, the Pasco Economic Development Council recognized Gulfside Regional Hospice with a Special Contribution Award for its rapid growth, multimillion-dollar investments in new facilities and extensive community service. In 2006, Gulfside Regional Hospice was named by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of the "Best Places to Work" in the Tampa Bay area.
For more information about Gulfside Regional Hospice locations in New Port Richey, Dade City and Zephryhills, call (727) 845-5707.
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The value of volunteering in the District School Board of Pasco County Volunteer Program was the main topic of the recent East Pasco Political Club. The noon meeting was held at the Fung Garden Restaurant in Zephyrhills and began with a moment of silence and prayer in observance of Memorial Day.
Holly Rockhill, supervisor of Volunteer Programs Communication and Government Relations, and John Trouse from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program spoke about the programs available to citizens interested in volunteering time to the school system.
Rockhill said that more than 2, 200 volunteer hours were given to the school district during the 2006-07 school year. Based on a recent study, one volunteer hour can save the school district $18.43. With the expected growth in Pasco County, more volunteer hours will be needed.
Trouse explained the Retired and Senior program. Half of this year's total volunteer hours were from retired and senior citizens. Applications were distributed to those interested in getting involved.
Dick Albrecht, president of the political club, reported on the Dec. 13 Christmas program at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O'Lakes. The chorus from the Sundance Mobile Home Park, Zephyrhills, will perform a Christmas caroling concert.
It was announced that Sam Bala of Dade City will receive the club's 2008 Lincoln Heritage Award. Lowell Harris reported the dinner for that award will be held in late February 2008.