AdventHealth, a Volusia County Schools community partner, went above and beyond for student-athletes at two Volusia County high schools, Pine Ridge High in Deltona and Atlantic High in Port Orange, with recent floor-to-ceiling renovations of their athletic training rooms. AdventHealth donated nearly $20,000 worth of new equipment and supplies, including ice machines, cabinets, flooring and fresh paint.

These renovations highlight AdventHealth’s ongoing investment in the well-being of local students and their future. The schools are now better positioned to support the physical health of their athletes, ensuring they have the care needed to succeed both on and off the field.

The first FACT (Families and Community Together) Fair will take place 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach. The second one will be Thursday, Feb. 13, at Deltona Middle School. The fairs will have all kinds of items available to families through local community agencies.

Deltona Lakes Elementary School

Deltona Lakes Elementary School will have “Doughnuts With Grown-Ups With a Side of Math” 7:15-7:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, on the center crosswalk. Parents are invited to enjoy the sweet treats while learning about the math best standards to support student achievement.

Deltona Lakes will have a “Color Run” for Deltona Lakes students Friday, Nov. 22. Proceeds from this event will be used toward student and staff incentives.

Manatee Cove Elementary School

Manatee Cove Elementary School in Orange City will have the “Great American Teach-In” 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20. This event provides the opportunity for members of the community to speak with students about their occupations, while encouraging students to explore their hopes and dreams and get excited about a career path.

To RSVP or to get more information, send an email to jgalarza@volusia.k12.fl.us.

Starke Elementary School

The next meeting of the School Advisory Council at Starke Elementary School in DeLand will be at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. This will include a meeting of the PTA.

DeLand Middle School

DeLand Middle School has new recognition boards supplied by the Volusia County Schools print shop. The first use of the boards found them listing the Terriers of the Month, who were Reid Bridges in sixth grade, Yanisia Donjuan Villa in seventh grade and Dahiomy Salgado in eighth grade.

Teacher of the Month, the “Terry,” is Andrea McTyer, with Alexandra Herrera being named the Staff Member of the Month. Teacher of the Month Displaying Pride is Carrie Peck, Displaying Commitment is Jon Hansen and Displaying Excellence is Dianellys Encarnacion.

Mackenzie Cunningham, a Future Farmers of America member at DeLand Middle, has received the American FFA degree. This is the highest degree a member can earn in FFA, and is based on a student’s Supervised Agricultural Experience program, FFA experiences, community service and academics. Less than 1 percent of FFA members earn this honor.

Southwestern Middle School

Kellie Reid-Lacey has been named the Staff Member of the Quarter at Southwestern Middle School in DeLand.

DeLand High School

Daytona State College admission representatives will be on campus to help DeLand High School seniors enroll. See your guidance director to make an appointment.

FSU Virtual Senior Watch Party will be on the DeLand High campus 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, so students can learn about the FSU admission process. Students were to RSVP by Nov. 11 for this event.

Deltona High School

Grad Bash for Deltona High School seniors will be Friday, April 25, and cost $120. Tickets will be on sale through Friday, Jan. 31.

Family Financial Aid Night for Deltona students will be 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the Learning Commons.

Taylor Middle-High School

Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson found its Robotic Club taking third place at the VMA Robot Brawl.

University High School

University High School in Orange City congratulates coach Matt Weaver for being nominated for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Florida Chapter.

The University Titan Regiment Band competed in the Ocala Marching Band Festival at West Port High School. The band had an outstanding day at the festival. They received superior ratings in music, general effects and percussion, while gathering superior with distinction honors for their Color Guard, marching and maneuvering and drum majors (student conductors).

The honors did not stop there, as they were named Best in Class for Color Guard, percussion, general effects, music, marching and maneuvering.

All of this led them to taking first place in 5A Classification and being named Grand Champion of Big Bands. The director of bands is Jarrod Koskoski.

West Volusia high-school football

On Nov. 1, DeLand High School topped Lake Gibson in Lakeland, 42-21, while Pine Ridge won its first game of the season by stopping Atlantic, 20-18. Pierson Taylor lost to Cocoa Beach, 21-20, while Seven Rivers Christian downed Deltona Trinity Christian, 22-7. Deltona and Orange City University had the week off.

Nov. 7 marked the date for the makeup games from the hurricane, followed in the next week with the start of the FHSAA state elimination series.

West Volusia high-school golf

The week of Oct. 27 marked the first round of the FHSAA golf elimination tournaments. The DeLand High boys finished fourth in their tournament, with Caleb Williams and Stanton Bonk tying for seventh with a round of 79 and the right to advance to regionals. The DeLand girls finished fifth, with Madison Dusenbury finishing fifth with an 84.

The Orange City University boys were seventh, while the girls team also finished seventh in 3A competition.

In 2A competition, the Pine Ridge boys were ninth, with the Deltona squad ending up 11th. The Deltona Trinity boys team was 10th in the 1A division.

West Volusia high-school cross-country

During the same week as golf, the West Volusia cross-country teams competed, with the top eight teams advancing to regionals, as well as the top four individuals whose teams did not qualify.

DeLand and Orange City University competed in the 4A-2 District, with the Bulldog boys finishing ninth. The Titan squad did not have a complete team, while the Lady Bulldogs were 11th, and the Orange City University girls were 10th.

However, Connor York of the DeLand boys squad will advance as an individual in 14th place with a time of 17:04.2.

Orange City University’s Hannah Judge was third in her race, with a time of 19:03.5, and will be advancing. The front-runner for the DeLand girls was Sydney Bordeaux with a time of 22:16.0, while the front-runner for the Orange City University boys was Aasen Watson at 19:49.8.

Deltona and Pine Ridge ran in the 3A-3 District, with the Deltona boys finishing eighth and advancing. They were led by Lowell Cummings in second place at 17:00.7, and Renn Tellis in 10th at 17:45.0.

The Pine Ridge boys were led by Anthony Amato at 22:52.3, with Jackie Kemp leading the Panther girls at 27:28.4. Deltona did not have a girls team entered.

Pierson Taylor Middle-High ran in the 2A-3 District, with the boys finishing 10th. The girls did not have a full team. Ashley Fuentes led the Lady Wildcat runners with a 23:38.1 time, while Thomas Sistrunk led the boys at 20:54.1.

DeLand High School Athletics

The DeLand High School Bulldog male swimmers finished second in district, while the girls were fifth. Moving on to the regional meet for the girls will be Hannah Luznar, Hayley Luznar, Piper Jemison, Jaidyn Lott, Mattie Lindemann, Samantha Mott, Kate Denigan and Kate Baker. Gaining a place in the regional meet for the boys are Massimo Brunacci, Jake Naumovitz, Toma Vedder, Owen O’Neil, Devin Davidson, Tim Dobyns and Gavin Thomas.

The Lady Bulldog weightlifting team took two third places at the Flagler Palm Coast meet in the Olympic- and Traditional-style lifts. In the Olympic style, Addison Ruocco and Elena Cruz took firsts, with Sierra West getting a second and Katherin Rodriguez a third. In the Traditional-style lifts, Rodriguez and Cruz took first while Ruocco gained a second.

The DeLand boys golf team finished its regular season with a 7-1 mark, losing by a total of two strokes. They finished as runners-up in the Five Star Tournament, while freshman Caleb Williams, senior Stanton Bonk and junior Hagen Stanger earned First Team Five Star honors. The team ended the season ranked 31st out of 162 in the large-school classification in Florida. Williams set the best mark for DHS freshmen scoring average. The team also had an unweighted 3.51 GPA.

The team was composed of Williams, Bonk, Stanger, Taylor Birnie, Cooper Smith, Trinden Treichel, Billy Donathan and Jaxson Van Horn, with Steve Allen serving as coach.

The Lady Bulldog volleyball team had their season closed by Winter Park in the regional championship, 3-0, (25-20, 25-22, 25-23). DeLand finishes with a 25-3 mark, with two losses to Winter Park.

The sports calendar finds on Thursday, Nov. 14, that the girls soccer team plays at Mainland at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

On Friday, Nov. 15, the girls soccer squad competes at Pedro Mendez at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 18, has the boys soccer team at New Smyrna Beach at 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., with the girls team playing host to Spruce Creek at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The boys basketball team opens Tuesday, Nov. 19, with a home match with Lake Brantley at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, brings the DHS girls weightlifters home against Spruce Creek and Deltona for Senior Night at 4:30 p.m.

The Bulldog soccer team greets Winter Springs at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Lady Bulldog soccer players play host to Lake Buena Vista at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 21, is the preseason Green and Gold for the wrestling team at 5 p.m.

On Friday, Nov. 22, the girls soccer team plays at Flagler Palm Coast at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Stetson University basketball

The Stetson University Hatter men’s basketball players picked up their second exhibition win over Lynn, 98-83. Mehki Ellison scored 26 points, with 12 assists, while Jordan Wood also made 26 points along with seven rebounds. Jamie Phillips Jr. added 21 points, with eight rebounds, while Abramo Canka scored 14 points, with six rebounds and two blocked shots.

Saturday, Nov. 16, sends the men to Oklahoma, while the women basketball players are at UCF at 4 p.m.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the women play host to FAU at 7 p.m., with the game being presented by Pepsi Cola.

Thursday, Nov. 21, the men face Toledo in the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach at 5:30 p.m., and then Jacksonville State or East Carolina Friday, Nov. 22. They will play again Saturday, Nov. 23, in the three-day tournament at the Ocean Center.

Stetson University Athletics

Charles Ahl scored the Stetson University Hatter men’s soccer team’s lone goal to knot the score at 1 with the men’s soccer team from Lipscomb.

The Lady Hatter volleyball team lost to Queens, 3-0, (25-19, 25-19, 25-23), with Jenna Simmons getting 13 kills, three blocks and two aces.

The Stetson cross-country team traveled to Jacksonville University for the ASUN meet. The Stetson men were ninth, while the women were 11th. Blair Durda led the Lady Hatters at 18:03.7 for the 5K race, with Conrad Voigt leading for the men on the 8K course at 25:15.1.

The Stetson women’s golf team placed 10th at the Hurricane Invitational at the University of Miami. Stetson was led by Filippa Jansson and Isaki Sakashita, who were 10th and 17th, respectively, even though there was a two-stroke difference.

The Stetson men golfers were fourth out of 12 teams at the Florida Atlantic Invitational. Simon Engman led the Hatters with a seventh-place tie.

Thursday, Nov. 14, has the Stetson volleyball team playing host to JU at 6 p.m., while on Friday, Nov. 15, the cross-country team is at the regional NCAA meet in Tallahassee.

Saturday, Nov. 16, sends the football team to San Diego at 1 p.m., while the volleyball team is in the Edmunds Center against North Florida at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 23, is Senior Day for the Hatter football team while hosting Drake at 1 p.m.

College honors

Bailey Savanna Marie Hart, of Orange City, earned a Bachelor of Science in general studies from University of Maryland Global Campus in summer 2024.