TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN — Here are members of the Volusia Take Stock in Children Class of 2024 who will graduate from Volusia County high schools and will receive a Florida Prepaid four-year college tuition scholarship. In the back row, from left, are Mopelola Tofade from New Smyrna Beach High; Catherine Steinruck from Deltona High School, who was the winner of the Clayton Award and the Take Stock Outstanding Senior Award; Deven Perfors and Brianna Miller from Spruce Creek; Makayla Jones from Atlantic; Nicholas Deluca from New Smyrna Beach; Zoe Leonard from DeLand High School; Akeara Clyde from Mainland; FUTURES Executive Director Shimene Shepard; Jaclyn Blue from Seabreeze and David Cherry from Mainland. In the front row, same order, are Jammi Zelaya from University High in Orange City; Marie Pratt from Spruce Creek; Justice Van Meter from Atlantic; Brendan Markham from Taylor Middle-High in Pierson; Owen Arnold from Pine Ridge High in Deltona; and Jaylyn Blue from Seabreeze.
Parents with ESE (Exceptional Student Education) students are asked to take a survey that can be found on the Volusia County Schools website at www.vcsedu.org. The Florida Department of Education conducts this survey yearly, which is designed to provide FDOE and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs with information on how well Florida’s schools are partnering with parents and promoting parent involvement in their child’s education.
The survey is open to all parents of children with an individual educational plan (IEP) receiving ESE services from preschool age through grade 12, and is not intended for parents of students receiving only gifted services through an educational plan.
The deadline for the survey is Sunday, June 30. The survey also can be found at http://bit.ly/2024parentsurvey.
Fifty-one first-year teachers were nominated for First Year Teacher of the Year on the primary and secondary levels. Sean Hyacinth, who teaches at Palm Terrace Elementary School in Daytona Beach, and Karilis Sanchez, who teaches at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, received the two top honors, which were presented by FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools and Volusia United Educators.
The Volusia County Council of PTA’s had its end-of-year celebration, where four high-school students received PTA scholarships. Three of the four were from West Volusia high schools. They are Kayden Duncan of Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson, and Jonah Glenn and Brock Williams, both of DeLand High School.
The Volusia County Academic Team took third in Division 1 competition of the Commissioner’s Academic Challenge. The team was made up of six Volusia County students, with one coming from West Volusia. This was Mitchell Horkheimer of Deltona High School.
The competition is held yearly in the spring, with challenging questions covering numerous topics, including language arts, math, science, social studies, fine arts, world languages, physical education, health and technology. The coaches for the team this year were Moriah Braswell of Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson and Cliff Weisheimer of New Smyrna Beach High School.
The Volusia County Council for Exceptional Children recently presented its ESE Awards recognizing the incredible work of dedicated educators, support staff and parents. Sixteen honors were bestowed during the banquet, with five of these going to individuals from West Volusia: Michele Brown of Sunrise Elementary in Deltona as Elementary ESE Administrator of the Year; Jay Strother of Highbanks Learning Center in DeBary as Secondary ESE Administrator of the Year; Heather Robinson of DeLand Middle as Secondary Teacher of the Year; Angie Coleman of DeLand Middle as Secondary Paraprofessional of the Year; and Brandi Sparrow of Deltona High as Secondary ESE Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Volusia County Schools presents service pins to those serving 30 or 35 years. Individuals who recently received these pins include Willie Williams, who is an assistant principal at Highbanks Learning Center, 30-year pin; Heather Henderson, an academic coach, and Robin Oglesby, a paraprofessional, at Deltona High, 30-year pins; and Erin Bowen of Orange City Elementary, a certified school counselor, 35-year pin.
Danny Gainin School of Excellence
Over the past few months, several West Volusia schools have earned the Danny Gainin School of Excellence designation presented by the DeLand and Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce. These schools include Heritage Middle School in Deltona, DeBary Elementary School, and Pride Elementary School in Deltona.
West Volusia high-school track and field
All the regional meets have taken place, with the top two in each region automatically advancing to the FHSAA State Championship at the University of North Florida. The West Volusia area had three individuals and one relay team making the trip.
Kylie Neira of DeLand High is the top pole-vaulter in the state and easily won the regional meet with a leap of 12 feet, 9.5 inches, which was more than 18 inches above second place.
Two students of University High School in Orange City had two qualified for state: Nyrania Barr-Miller in the 100 high hurdles, with a time of 15.16, and Hannah Judge in the 1600, with a 5:18.81 time.
The 4X100 relay team from Pine Ridge High School in Deltona qualified with a time of 41.90; the team members are Quintin Grant, Caleb Ray, Ethan White and Elijah Thompson.
FHSAA softball
Two local teams earned the right to participate in the early rounds of the regional competition; however, both were eliminated in the early rounds, ending their 2024 season. Gainesville High stopped Deltona, 12-1, while Lake Brantley eliminated Orange City University, 13-3. The Deltona Wolves closed their season with an 18-6 mark, while the Lady Titans of University finished with a 14-12-1 mark.
FHSAA baseball
Again, two West Volusia teams advanced to early rounds of the baseball playoffs. Deltona was barely eliminated by Sebring, 3-2, to finish, 10-16, while Pine Ridge was downed by Wesley Chapel, 6-1, to finish the year at 15-12.
College honors
Baylee Eads, of Orange City, has been named to the President’s List at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Darin Brubaker, of DeBary, has been named to the spring 2024 dean’s list at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Cody King, of DeBary, has graduated from the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Gavin Rodriguez-Cayro, of Lake Helen, has been named to the dean’s list at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia.
Southern New Hampshire University has announced that the following students have been named to the President’s List for the winter 2024 semester: Nateisha Santana, Steven Umlauf and Thomas Templeton, all of DeBary; Courtney Kehrley, Colton Creese, Jody Bass, Haley Chester, Bruna Oliveira, Caroline Davila, Ashley Bradley, Emily Klodzinski and Jessica Rodriguez, all of DeLand; and Joseph Swanson, Maria Ligato, Bethany Green, Peter Saye, Tarick Paul, Zach Smith, Rose Harrison, Crystal Phillips and Christine DeRosa, all of Deltona. Jennifer Bryant, of DeLand, and Luis Moretta, of Orange City, were named to the dean’s list at the university.
Karen Perez, of DeLand, was recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of West Florida.
