
This is an early announcement for registration for the Volusia County Volunteer Pre-Kindergarten Program, which will begin Monday, March 3, for the 2025-26 school year. Volusia County Schools offers three VPK hours for free, and/or a tuition-based full-school-day program.
For eligibility, contact the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia. More on this as registration nears. Visit the VCS Learning website for locations and info.
Another early notification is for free dental care, which will take place at Mainland High School Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22. This will be offered by the Florida Mission of Mercy.
The clinic offers exams, cleaning, fillings, extractions, anterior root canals, limited partials and pediatric dentistry.
For more information on who will be eligible and what is needed, visit flamom.org.
The DeLeon Springs Community Association Inc. is accepting applications for the 2025 DSCA Inc. Merit Scholarship. An applicant must be a resident of DeLeon Springs and a high-school senior enrolled in a DeLeon Springs homeschool program, a private school or public high school, who has been accepted into an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational school.
The scholarship purpose, qualifications and criteria and the scholarship application can be found at www.deleonspringscommunityassociation.com under the “Info” tab. The completed application must be postmarked by Monday, March 31.
Awards shall be made in the amount of $1,000 per recipient, which will be sent directly to the educational institution in which the recipient is enrolled.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties has a new executive director. She is Dr. Camesha Whittaker-Samuel. Dr. Whittaker-Samuel served as the chief learning and innovation officer at the Propel Center in Atlanta. She started her new assignment Jan. 20.
The next FACT (Families and Community Together) Fair will be at Deltona Middle School 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. This is free family fun and information for everyone.
Discovery Elementary School
Discovery Elementary School in Deltona is once again offering BAM Athletics, an after-school club for grades three through five 2:45-4 p.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays. Students will only attend one day. The fee to join is $10, and the program will run through Thursday, April 24. For information, visit the front office or email jalee1@volusia.k12.fl.us.
Discovery congratulates Aubrey Badall for winning the Discovery Spelling Bee. Ethan Edwards was the runner-up. The bee was put together by Paul Falk.
Enterprise Elementary School
Enterprise Elementary School is offering its Ties and Tiaras (Father/Daughter) Dance 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. The cost is $25 per father figure (the child attends for free), and includes a deejay-hosted dance party and a professional digital photographer, with the photo emailed to the father-daughter duo. Concessions, pizza by the slice, and drinks will be offered at a cost of $2 per item. Space is limited, so purchase your tickets early.
Freedom Elementary School
A PTA general-membership meeting at Freedom Elementary School in DeLand will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in the multipurpose room.
Orange City Elementary School
Orange City Elementary School will host a Light Up the Night Sweetheart Glow Party 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in the school’s cafe. The cost is $5 per person. Girls are invited to bring fathers, uncles, grandfathers or any special male guest.
The school will host the Orange City Elementary Road Race 5K Saturday, March 1. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for those ages 1-17 through Friday, Feb. 14. After that, the cost moves up to $30. More on this event as the date draws closer.
Osteen Elementary School
The Osteen Elementary School PTA will host a Daddy-Daughter Dance Under the Sea 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in the school’s cafeteria. Tickets cost $10 per person and must be preordered by Wednesday, Feb. 5. See the school’s website for additional information.
Timbercrest Elementary School
Timbercrest Elementary School in Deltona is making reading fun and easy with the Reading Progress AI Program. Students get real-time help with their reading, while they can hear themselves practice tough words and get better every day. VCS students across the district have access to this amazing tool.
Woodward Avenue Elementary School
Woodward Avenue Elementary School in DeLand congratulates Susan Hoyer for being one of 200 students in the state to qualify for the FMEA All-State Honors Choir. She is the first Woodward student to make all-state. The choir will perform in Tampa at the FMEA State Conference.
DeLand Middle School
DeLand Middle School will have Terrier Rising 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, on the patio. This program is for those fifth-graders who will be students at DeLand Middle next year.
Deltona Middle School
Registration for those sixth-grade students coming to Deltona Middle School in the fall will be 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Students and parents will learn more about academies and programs at the school. While there, students will pick their electives for the 2025-26 school year. Contact the school counselor for information.
Galaxy Middle School
The Galaxy Rockettes of Galaxy Middle School in Deltona won third place in the Deltona Christmas Parade.
Pine Ridge High School
Permission slips and payments for Grad Bash for students at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona can be turned in at the Activities Office through Friday, Feb. 14. Grad Bash is Saturday, April 5.
University High School
It has been reported that head football coach Justin Roberts of University High School in Orange City has resigned his coaching position. He is stepping down for personal reasons, but will remain at the school.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School Lady Bulldog basketball team defeated Calvary Christian, 70-8, stopped Mount Dora Christian, 35-27, and topped Palatka, 59-22.
The Bulldog boys basketball team went into overtime with Flagler Palm Coast, before losing 54-46. Daniel Rodriguez made 16 points, Justin Suarez added 13 points, and Tauren Nicholson dropped in 12 points.
The Lady Bulldog soccer team stopped Pine Ridge, 5-1, with Katelynn Hatfield scoring three goals, and Brianne Yocum and Savanna Bruno each scoring one. The team stopped Taylor, 9-1, with Hatfield scoring four goals. Alexis Martinez scored three, and Yocum and Bruno made one each. The team then lost to Sanford, 4-0.
The Bulldog boys soccer team knotted the score at three with Pine Ridge, and downed Mainland, 5-1.
Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1, find the DeLand wrestlers at the Flagler Palm Coast IBT Tournament.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the DeLand boys weightlifters travel to Spruce Creek at 4 p.m., and the girls basketball team goes to Viera at 7 p.m. That same day, the wrestlers are at home against Seabreeze at 5 p.m. for Senior Night.
Stetson University basketball
The Stetson University Hatter men’s basketball team lost to Queens, 95-60, with Mehki Ellison scoring 19 points and Josh Massey scoring 12. The team then downed West Georgia 82-78, with Massey scoring 17 points, Abramo Canka adding 16 points, Jamie Phillips Jr. with 15 points and two steals, Jordan Wood scoring 13 points with seven rebounds, one block and two steals, and Ellison adding 11 points.
The Lady Hatter basketball team lost to North Alabama, 75-57, with Diawna Carter-Hartley scoring 12 points while grabbing 12 rebounds for the double-double. Quentarra Mitchell and Tyra Myers each scored 11 points.
The team then lost to Central Arkansas, 85-64, with Carter-Hartley scoring 22 points with seven rebounds. Cameron Thomas added 14 points with three steals, and Mitchell scored 10 points and one block.
Saturday, Feb. 1, sends the men to FGCU, while the women are home against Lipscomb at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 6, brings the men home against Jacksonville at 7 p.m. in a game sponsored by AdventHealth, while the women travel to Eastern Kentucky at 7 p.m.
Jalen Blackmon, former Stetson player now at the University of Miami, has played in 17 games, starting in seven. He is averaging 7.9 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per game. He has collected three blocks and nine steals.
Stetson University baseball/softball
The annual Dick Westervelt First Pitch Banquet, presented by the Hatter Collective Group, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Stetson Room. Reservations need to be made for this event.
Earlier in the day, the annual Alumni Game will take place at 1 p.m. on Melching Field. Alumni planning to participate in this game need to register as well.
The Stetson softball team opens its 2025 season Friday-Sunday, Feb. 7-9. Feb. 7 pits Stetson against Fairleigh Dickerson at 3 p.m., and Binghamton at 5:30 p.m. On Feb. 8, they face FDU again at 3 p.m. and Chattanooga at 5:30 p.m. On Feb. 9, the Lady Hats face Chattanooga at 12:30 p.m.
Stetson University Athletics
The Pre-Season Coaches Poll places the Stetson University men’s and women’s tennis teams at the top of the poll. The Stetson men received seven first-place votes, while the women earned six. North Florida was second for the men, while Lipscomb was second for the women.
The Stetson women’s tennis team opened against Embry-Riddle Jan. 18, losing 4-3. Cheri Darley and Alanna DiFrancesco won single matches and teamed together to win a doubles match.
Saturday, Feb. 1, has the men’s tennis team hosting Wofford at 2 p.m., while the lacrosse team greets Lynn at 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 6, has the men’s tennis team at home against FAU at 2 p.m. The women greet FAMU at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, and Bethune-Cookman at 3 p.m. that same day.
College honors
Savannah Rodgers, of Lake Helen, an early childhood, elementary and special ed major, was named to Samford University’s dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester. Samford University is in Birmingham, Alabama.
Asny Phillips, of Deltona, has earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.
Alina Jones, an Integrated Art and Design major from Deltona, has been named to the dean’s list at East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Baylee J. Eads, of Orange City, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Tyler Michalak, of DeLand, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.
Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire, congratulates the following students on being named to the fall 2024 dean’s list and President’s List. The dean’s list includes Crystal Phillips and Jared Evans, both of Deltona; Brooke Peterson, Jennifer Bryant Mulcahy and Courtney Kehrley, all of DeLand; and Thomas Templeton, of DeBary. The President’s List includes Samantha Garcia, Tarick Paul, Gerald Alicea, Bethany Green and David Broking, all of Deltona; Caroline Davila, Jessica Rodriguez and Haley Chester, all of DeLand; and Rose Hays, Victoria Hausmann, Amanda Ploof and Ronald Barrow, all of DeBary.
Shane Rodriguez, of DeLand, has been named to the fall 2024 Chancellor’s List at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Salvador Barragan, of DeLand, has graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Florida Campus in Port Orange.