The Florida High School Athletic Association has announced the 29th annual Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team. Twelve boys and 12 girls have been selected to be recognized. These 24 student-athletes excel in both athletics and academics. Each winner receives a $1,700 scholarship and a commemorative medallion.
West Volusia has one of the 12 girls to be proud of: Ava Ramos of Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson. Ramos has a 4.0 GPA, and ranks third in her senior class. She has earned varsity letters in cross-country, volleyball, basketball, weightlifting and softball during the past four years, and was a member of the FHSAA girls’ volleyball state runner-up team in 2021 and a two-time state qualifier for girls’ weightlifting.
This year, she is serving as president of the National Honor Society, while also being a member of the Beta Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has collected more than 175 volunteer service hours with the Lions Club of Pierson, the Rotary Club Toy Drive and Vacation Bible School.
Ava is the daughter of Tony and Tanya Ramos, and will be attending St. Johns River State College to develop a career in communication and broadcasting.
Volusia County Schools is offering a Job Fair for teens ages 16-18.
The fair will take place twice, with the first time being Thursday, April 27, at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd. (U.S. Highway 92). University High School in Orange City, at 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave., will host the second fair Monday, May 1. Both fairs will be 5-7:30 p.m.
Volusia County Schools has launched its annual Volusia County Schools Survey, including a parent survey and a community survey.
The survey is available until Friday, May 5. It can be found at www.vcsedu.org.
The Florida Department of Health invites you to Family Fun Day at the Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave., 2-6 p.m. Thursday, April 27. There will be rock painting, a photo booth, games, music, an Expo of Community Services, raffles, giveaways and tornado makers.
For more information, call 386-281-6547.
Summer VPK registration kicked off recently. The sites of VPK in West Volusia this summer will be DeBary Elementary School, Freedom Elementary School in DeLand and Friendship Elementary School in Deltona.
The requirements for a child to be in Summer VPK are the following: The child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2023; must be a resident of Volusia County; and must have a Certificate of Eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler & Volusia Counties.
For more information, call 386-734-7190, ext. 20505, or go to www.vcsedu.org/VPK.
Blue Lake Elementary School
The Student of the Month at Blue Lake Elementary School in DeLand is Aaminah Crawford.
Discovery Elementary School
Liam Alexander has been named by the Deltona City Commission as the Superstar Student of the Month for Discovery Elementary School in Deltona.
Manatee Cove Elementary School
The students of Manatee Cove Elementary School in Orange City will be putting on Disney Jr.’s The Lion King at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 24, through Wednesday, April 26, in the school cafeteria. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
Tickets bought in advance cost $6, but tickets purchased at the door will cost $8. Kids age 3 and younger can attend for free.
Snacks will be available for purchase.
DeLand Middle School
Bridgette Gordon, former DeLand Middle School student and an Olympic gold medalist in basketball, will be honored at the school during the Terriers’ basketball game against River Springs Middle School. The game is at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, with tickets costing $5.
The FFA chapter at DeLand Middle has been named one of the finest chapters in the state of Florida.
The School Advisory Council at DeLand Middle will meet at 5:15 p.m. Monday, April 24.
Galaxy Middle School
Galaxy Middle School in Deltona congratulates four teachers for earning professional honors: Sheryl Carroll-Rhoden, the school’s nominee for a Crystal Apple Award; Melissa Jackson, who was named the VCS Mentor of the Year; Careline Maldonado, the school’s nominee for ESE Inclusion Teacher of the Year; and Shilpa Sharma, the school’s nominee for ESE Teacher of the Year.
The Galaxy Middle School band earned superior and excellent ratings at the Band Students Music Performance Assessment. The band also played at the Xfinity NASCAR Race. Its spring concert will be Friday, May 5. The band is directed by Brianna Hanks.
Superstar Students of the Month at Galaxy are Sierra Johnson and Alice Barton.
The home games for the Galaxy basketball teams will be on April 25, and May 4, 9 and 11, with games starting at 5:30 p.m.
River Springs Middle School
The Advanced Band at River Springs Middle School in Orange City earned a superior rating at the Music Assessment Performance.
Southwestern Middle School
The Symphonic Band at Southwestern Middle School in DeLand earned two excellents and two superiors at the District 6 Music Performance Assessment. The band is directed by Michelle Lugo.
Deltona High School
The FFA chapter at Deltona High School has been named one of the finest FFA chapters in the state of Florida. This honor is based on the national chapter application and completing 15 different activities within the chapter.
Carlos Cerrud, Anjelo Lott and Tanae Harris won events at Deltona High’s last home track meet of the year.
Pine Ridge High School
Friday, April 28, is the deadline for students to apply for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona. Those applying must submit a completed application in an envelope to the school’s front office, with Attention: Ms. Ruby Encarnacion.
For more information, call 386-575-4195, ext. 43859, or email to emencarn@volusia.k12.fl.us.
The Pine Ridge track team won four events at the Deltona track meet. Javan Beckford and Chelsea Hunt (2) won individual events, and the boys’ 4X8 relay claimed victory.
Taylor Middle-High School
Students Emily Prosock, Hailey Whidden, Christian Alcaraz and Victoria Sanchez of Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson competed in the VCS District Business Pitch Competition. The students will be submitting their video to the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship for a chance at the state semifinals.
University High School
University High School in Orange City competed at the Coach Ernest McPherson Invitational Track Meet at Seminole High School and came away with two first-place finishes. Nyrania Barr-Miller won the 400 meters at 58.76, and was second in the 100 high hurdles at 15.17.
Andreas Schulz also gained a first in the adaptive shot put with a 27-foot-1-inch effort.
The track team also competed at the Deltona meet, with Nathan Thomas, Morgan Northey (2) and Barr-Miller (2) winning events.
DeLand High School Athletics
Four players on the DeLand High School Bulldog boys’ soccer team were selected for the Florida East Coast Senior All-Star game, which took place April 13: Andreas Tate, Seth Policke, Aurelio E. Silva and Noah Lovell.
The Bulldog baseball team lost to East River, 6-5, in nine innings. DeLand scored three in the top of the seventh to force the extra innings. The DeLand squad also lost to Pine Ridge, 6-2, and Spruce Creek, 2-1.
The Lady Bulldog softball squad stopped Father Lopez, 17-3, with Alexandra Trenholm and Brighton Hiss tripling. The team also topped Atlantic, 12-2, with Brianne Yocum hitting two triples and three RBIs, while Payton Mathis doubled twice.
The flag-football team defeated Deltona Trinity, 19-0, with Bianca Calderon making four catches for 73 yards and a TD. They lost to New Smyrna Beach, 6-0.
The beach-volleyball team lost to New Smyrna Beach, 5-0, but outscored Atlantic, 5-0, and nearly lost to Spruce Creek, 3-2.
The Bulldog track teams were at the Coach Ernest McPherson Invitational Track Meet in Sanford, with Kylie Neira winning the pole vault at 10 feet, 11 inches. Emily Lamb won the javelin at 103 feet, 4 inches, while taking second in the discus at 102 feet, 11 inches.
Anna Vandell took second in the high jump at 4 feet, 11.75 inches, as did Jarius Jeffers in the discus at 129 feet, 7 inches.
Amy Nguyen took third in the pole vault, while Jamil Cunningham was third in the long jump. Owen York took third in the shot put, and Gabe Snyder took third in the discus. The boys were fifth out of 15 at the meet, while the girls were sixth.
The Bulldog sports calendar has the baseball team at University at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 21. On Monday, April 24, the beach-volleyball team enters district competition, and the baseball team plays host to Sanford at 7 p.m. that day in Conrad Park for Senior Night.
Tuesday, April 25, sends the softball team to Eustis at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., while the baseball team is at West Port at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 26, sends the track team to FHSAA district competition. That same day, the softball team greets Flagler Palm Coast at 4 p.m. for varsity and at 6 p.m. for junior-varsity action.
DeLand Lightning Bolts Track Club
Members of the DeLand Lightning Bolts Track Club recently participated in the fourth annual Birthplace of Speed Track Invitational in Daytona Beach. Jamil Cunningham won the 400, the 200 and the long jump for 17- and 18-year-old boys. His efforts, respectively, were 53.24, 23.01 and 19 feet, 8.5 inches.
Lane Roberts won the 13- to 14-year-old boys’ shot put at 38 feet, 5 inches, while the 9- and 10-year-old group’s Jacob Kinnan won the javelin at 200 feet, 5 inches.
Stetson University
Dr. Elizabeth Skomp has been named the Stetson University provost and vice president of academic affairs. She has been at Stetson since 2019, and has served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of world languages and cultures (including Russian).
Stetson University Athletics
Stetson University Hatter alumni, fans and friends are invited to meet with the members of the Hatter football coaching staff 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 21, at Miller-Leaman Inc., 800 Orange Ave. in Daytona Beach. The coaching staff will be at Cooper’s Hawk in Jacksonville 6-9 p.m. Monday, April 24; at Ulele in Tampa on Friday, April 28; and at Torched Hop Brewing Co. in Atlanta on Saturday, May 20.
The Hatter baseball team stopped North Alabama, 9-7; FIU, 6-4; and Bellarmine, 6-3; but lost 11-6 and 14-3 to Bellarmine. During these games, Cameron Hill, Landon Moran, Christian Pregent (3), Daniel Labrador, Yohann Dessureault (2), Brandon Hylton, Andrew Estrella, Jayden Hylton and Trae Harmon hit home runs.
The lacrosse team inched by Lindenwood, 18-17, but was outscored, 14-12, by Kennesaw State. In those games, Jordyn Humphrey had five goals, and Camden Frissora and Kaitlin Pani had four each.
Stetson beach volleyball is currently ranked 20th nationally. They defeated No. 11 Georgia State, 3-2, No. 16 South Carolina, 3-2, and UT-Martin, 3-2, but lost to UAB, 4-1.
The Lady Hatter softball team stopped Lipscomb, 1-0, with Juls Schumacher hitting a home run. Lauren Hobbs pitched a four-hit shutout with four strikeouts. The Lady Hatters lost to Jacksonville State, 7-3, but came back with a 6-0 win and a 2-1 win.
On Saturday, April 22, the lacrosse team greets Coastal Carolina at noon, and the softball team hosts FGCU at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
On Sunday, April 23, the softball team has a third game with FGCU at 1 p.m.
On April 28-30, the Hatter baseball team faces Liberty in Conrad Park at 6:30 p.m. for the first two games, and at 1 p.m. for the third game.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.
