Stetson University has reported that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s FY 2024-25 Focus on Florida’s Future budget June 12. This budget includes Stetson University’s $500,000 matching grant to reconstruct Hulley Tower. The funds became available July 1 to aid in the documentation, assessment and reconstruction of the mausoleum base of the tower on the Stetson campus.
The Volusia County School System has announced numerous new school administrative positions that affect the west side of the county, including Dr. Christina Lapnow as principal of Deltona High, Amanda Wiles as principal of University High in Orange City, Julian Doster as principal of Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, and Melissa Fratus as principal of Sunrise Elementary in Deltona.
The following have been appointed as assistant principals: Dr. Leslie-Ann Amaro at Galaxy Middle in Deltona, Michelle Brown at Pine Ridge High School, Tiffany Cook Grant at River Springs Middle School in Orange City, Albert Kelleher at Southwestern Middle School in DeLand, Connie Hope Noga at Pride Elementary in Deltona, Adrienne Palmer at Sunrise Elementary in Deltona, and Susan Seidel at Deltona High.
FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools is accepting classroom grant requests (Find It Fund It) from Volusia County teachers. This started June 1. Those needing more information should go to https://www.finditfunditflorida.com/volusia.
It has been reported that Blake Hinson, former basketball player at Deltona High School and at the University of Pittsburgh, will be signing a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to league sources. A two-way contract allows for a player to play for both the NBA and the G-League, while being under the control of an NBA franchise for the duration of the season.
These contracts are limited to two per team and can only be given to players with less than four years of NBA experience. Players on a two-way contract do not count against an NBA team’s 15-man roster.
The Florida High School Athletic Association has announced several dates toward the start of athletics in the fall. Monday, July 29, is the first practice date for cross-country, bowling, golf, swimming and diving, girls volleyball, and the first day of noncontact football practice.
Saturday, Aug. 3, is the first day for football practice with contact. Monday, Aug. 12, is the start of preseason classics for football, bowling and golf.
River Springs Middle School
Candace Ezell, ESE assistant principal at River Springs Middle School in Orange City, has been presented with her pin for 30 years in Volusia County schools.
Deltona High School
Deltona High School senior Olivia Puranda is the recipient of the Williams FloorCenter Scholarship. It is awarded to one incoming first-year student enrolled at Stetson University, who graduated from a West Volusia high school and plans to major in business.
Stetson University Athletics
Stetson University freshman rower Endrik Brettmann has received honorable mention from the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association on its Empacher-IRCA All-American list. He was part of the four-man Head of the Charles first-place boat last fall, and in the spring as a member of the Varsity 8+ boat and the Varsity 4+ boat. Brettmann hails from Bremen, Germany.
The Stetson men’s tennis team has been honored with the presentation of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Community Service Award for the Southeast Region. It is the first of this kind of award presented to the team.
The award honors the team who gives back to their campus and community throughout the academic year. The men’s tennis team engaged in activities that included volunteering at the NASCAR races, helping during orientation week on campus, helping with Monsters on MainStreet during Halloween, and helping with cleaning New Smyrna Beach.
Earlier this year, it was announced by the Stetson Athletic Department that the department and AdventHealth have expanded their partnership. AdventHealth will help the 450 student-athletes maintain peak performance throughout the sports seasons.
College honors
Cierra Holmes, of Deltona, has earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Valdosta State University in Georgia.
Bailey Carlisle, of DeLand, has been named to the dean’s honor roll for the spring 2024 semester at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.
Hailey Echevarria, of Deltona, has been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. The daughter of Robert Echevarria and Lisa Echevarria, Hailey is majoring in chemistry.
Katherinne Rodriguez, of DeLand, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
