Florida Power & Light awarded more than $13,100 to FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools as part of its statewide EmPOWERing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Educators Program. The program’s goal is to increase teacher knowledge of effective math and science instructional practices that align with Florida Standards through peer-to-peer learning of best practices within a district.
The funding will support FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools’ “Back to Basics with STEM” project, which aims to show math and science teachers how to create effective, integrated lessons to demonstrate large-scale STEM instruction and student learning through professional development.
After Hurricane Ian, the Volusia County School Board decided to eliminate early-release days Wednesdays, Nov. 2, 16, 30, Dec. 7, 14, 2022, and Jan. 4, 2023, to make up for missed days of school during the hurricane. On the dates mentioned, students will not get out an hour early but at regular dismissal time.
Thanksgiving Holiday begins for Volusia County public-school students Monday, Nov. 21, with students returning to class Monday, Nov. 28.
Volusia County Schools has announced that the High School Showcase will take place at the Volusia County Fairgrounds east of DeLand Thursday, Dec. 8.
Deltona High School
Deltona High School congratulates Cathy Knowles on being the Winning Spirit for the month of October. The school also congratulates Josiah Antuna as Scholar of the Month, Kadence Lu-Yorke as Athlete of the Month, Jacob Treloar as Citizen of the Month, and Arlienis Aquino- Rodriguez as Wolf of the Month. Also, Jujuan Moore is the latest “Future Me Friday” winner.
Deltona High graduate Blake Hinson now plays basketball for the University of Pittsburgh. In the preseason exhibition game, Hinson scored a game-high 20 points.
Taylor Middle- High School
Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson congratulates Ava Ramos for being awarded the Heisman High School Scholarship, presented by The Heisman Trophy Trust. There were only three winners from Volusia County. The program aims to inspire all students to harness their potential, push their limits, and use their talents, not only to advance their own futures, but to improve the communities and world around them.
Taylor Middle-High gives a shoutout to the following students who volunteered time to help with the Pierson Lions Club Rodeo: Jocelyn Aguirre, Laney Metts, Megan Hughes, Calab Hutcherson, Peria Flores, Jessica Denova and Hunter Ward.
West Volusia high-school football
The 2022 football season has come to a close for all West Volusia high schools except DeLand, which won its district title and was to face Osceola on Friday, Nov. 11.
On the last night of the 2022 season, the DeLand Bulldogs were defeated by Flagler Palm Coast, 40-28, but they played three games in seven days, which saw them down Spruce Creek, 23-15.
Deltona topped Orange City University, 31-27, to end up with the best season mark in West Volusia for the regular season at 7-3.
Pine Ridge of Deltona was defeated for the 10th time this season, as the Panthers lost to Port Orange Atlantic, 39-7, while Pierson Taylor was stopped by Father Lopez, 36-6.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School Lady Bulldog weightlifting team opened their 2022-23 season at Flagler Palm Coast, along with New Smyrna Beach. The Lady Bulldog lifters took second in Olympic-style competition, while taking third in the traditional style. DeLand girls gaining firsts were Diana Delgado (2) and Mia Rhodes (2), while collecting seconds were Cheyenne Cartwright, Sophia Riley (2) and Addison Ruocco (2).
Third-place honors went to Alicia Robinson (2), Leah Jensen, Katyah Ross (2), Jaliyah Powell (2) and Cartwright, while fourth-place finishes were earned by Velocity Ritchey, Charity Rank, Ecko Veloz (2), Kaia Horn (2) and Hollee Brady (2). The team has 32 girls participating, with Damion Dunn coaching.
The DeLand volleyball team missed the Final Four by one game, when they were narrowly defeated by Lake Brantley, 3-2 (28-26, 17-25, 25-22, 23-25, 10-15). The DeLand team closed out the season with a 19-8 mark.
Maddox Mule of the DeLand swim team made the finals, placing 10th in the 200 freestyle with a 1:43.64 clocking. The Bulldog boys’ 400-medley relay made the finals, but was disqualified for an early start.
The Bulldog bowling team competed in the state championships in Orlando. The boys won one round and lost two. They defeated Fort Pierce Central, 753- 737, and lost to the eventual state champion, Apopka, 761-548, and to Pinellas Park, 563-547. Bowling for DeLand were Jesse Banger, Joshia Banger, Tyler Sprague, Sebastian Brown, Matthew Pierson and Samuel Martin, with Garon Keuten coaching.
The Lady Bulldogs won two and lost two during the Baker Round of competition. They were stopped by The Villages, 755-718, and Somerset Canyons, 656-558, and defeated Cypress Lake, 823-782, and East River, 799-716. The Lady Bulldogs were represented by Carlie McLauchlin, Alyssa Burns, Aaliyah Alexander, Alisya Sprague and Lila Tooley, with Dustin Seymour doing the coaching. McLauchlin was the 17th individual bowler, with the top 16 advancing to the individual championships.
The winter season has opened for the Bulldogs, with girls’ weightlifting, girls’ and boys’ soccer, girls’ and boys’ basketball and wrestling on the calendar.
The DHS winter calendar for the upcoming week has the wrestling team holding a preseason competition in the Bulldog gym at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, followed on Monday, Nov. 21, by the Bulldog boys’ basketball team playing host to The Bridge to Independence School at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Stetson University
At the most recent meeting of the board of trustees for Stetson University, the board selected Steven Alexander as the chairman. He is a 1985 graduate of Stetson and is currently the vice chair of the board and the chair of the Athletics Committee.
Homecoming this year found 1,300-plus Hatter alumni returning to campus with more than 1,600 students and alumni attending the Joe Gatto performance.
Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University Hatters basketball team won its second preseason exhibition game by defeating St. Leo, 54-53. Jalin Blackmon dropped in 20 points, Wheza Panza added 13 points, with two blocked shots, and Josh Smith pulled down six rebounds and collected three blocks.
The Stetson football team was stopped by Drake at Homecoming, 24-17, and was stopped by Davidson in double-overtime, 56-48. The game ended in regulation, with the score knotted at 41 all. The first overtime period found both teams scoring 7 points, and in the second overtime period, Davidson added on 8 more points.
The Stetson men’s soccer team knotted the score at 2 apiece with Bellarmine, which forced the game into three overtime periods. The Bellarmine team won the game with penalty kicks. The score was tied at 2 all, with Luis Lara Delgado and Gia Rodriguez scoring the Hat goals.
The Stetson volleyball team went 2-1 during the week, defeating Eastern Kentucky, 3-2, (25-22, 21- 25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-10) and Bellarmine, 3-0, (25-15, 25-20, 25-22), but losing to Jacksonville State, 3-0, (25- 14, 25-14, 25-20).
The winter sports calendar features both men’s and women’s basketball. The men play in Ireland on Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19. The Hats face Rider at 6 a.m. on the 18th and Niagara at 1 p.m. on the 19th. The Lady Hatters welcome Furman at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, in the Edmunds Center.
College honors
Grace Bishop, of DeLand, and Cornelius Oostwouder, of DeBary, were named to the spring 2022 President’s List at Flagler College in St. Augustine. Bishop is a sophomore majoring in criminology, and Oostwouder is a sophomore majoring in public history.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.
