Local Students Win National Merit Scholarships
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced its most recent National Merit Scholarship winners and 11 of them hail from Plant City area schools.
Winners were selected by a committee based on their academic records, PSAT scores, essays and potential for success in college.
In total, 61 Hillsborough County Public Schools students won the award, which provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. Winners from Strawberry Crest High School included: Avaneesh Venkatesh, Dana John, Chloe Jones, Prabhath Kolli, Leo Meng, Amulya Rivipati, Mahika Balaraju, Shalini Nandam and Rahil Zaveri. Winners from Durant High School included Kinsley Triak and Eileen Jelsovsky.
“The number of Hillsborough County Public Schools students who received National Merit Scholarships this year exceeds three times the number of graduates last year,” said Superintendent Addison Davis. “These 61 students achieved their scholarship wins out of thousands of entrants from across the country. Our entire Hillsborough County Schools community applauds your efforts as you begin this new journey.”
Free Eye and Hearing Services for Children in June
Stop by the Tax Collector office at 4706 Sydney Road on Friday, June 23 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for free vision and hearing screenings. The service, in partnership between Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy C. Millan, Lion’s World Vision Institute and Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation, offers free eye exams and hearing tests to children ages five to 17. BayCare Kids will also be at the event providing car seat safety checks.
For en eye exam, families can sign up by visiting https://bit.ly/eye-screenings2023. All other safety activities are available without reservation.
“Both vision and hearing impairment can significantly impact a child’s development, education, and social life,” said Millan. “That is why we are honored to partner with the Lion’s World Vision Institute and the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation to provide hearing tests, eye exams, and glasses, if needed, to children in our community.”
To learn more about the services provided at the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s office, visit hillstax.org.
Practice Water Safety This Summer
School is out and summer is in, which means more Floridians head to the pools and beaches. While there, don’t forget to practice water safety. Children under five die from drowning in Florida more than in any other state.
Practice water safety by: never swimming alone (only swimming when and where there is a lifeguard on duty), being in the water and within arm’s reach of a child who is a non-swimmer or beginning level swimmer, get CPR/AED certified and install barriers around bodies of water and check them regularly for function.
The Plant City YMCA offers affordable swim programs, ranging from family swim, competitive swimming and lifeguard training, where swimmers can have fun while developing confidence, engaging in physical activity and learning safety skills that can save lives. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.
“We offer group swim lessons for ages six months to adult, private swim lessons from three years to adult,” said Lacey Boldman, Tampa Y’s Senior Director of Aquatics & Swim Lesson Partnerships.
To learn more, visit www.watersafetyflorida.org or www.tampaymca.org.
Riverview Garden Club Awards Scholarship To Brenna Sturgis
Plant City resident Brenna Sturgis is one of three students who were awarded a scholarship by the Riverview Garden Club for the 2023-2024 academic year. This is the second time Sturgis, a Plant City High School graduate, received the scholarship. She is currently attending Hillsborough Community College and hopes to earn her associates degree this summer and transfer to University of Florida to major in Agricultural Education and Communication.
The Riverview Garden Club’s mission to provide funds for its scholarship project is annually supported by club activities and fundraisers.
Roads Closed For Juneteenth Parade
Two Plant City roadways will experience closures on Saturday, June 17 for the annual Juneteenth parade, said Plant City Police Department. South Evers Street south of West Renfro Street to West Grant Street and West Ball Street from South Evers Street to West Washington Street will be closed until approximately 3 p.m.