The DeLand & Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce has named the four recipients of the 2025 Crystal Apple Awards, which honor the outstanding teachers of West Volusia. The four are Brett Brandner of DeLand High School, Nicole Steele of Starke Elementary School in DeLand, Kermit Quisenberry of Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson, and Carrie Peck of DeLand Middle School. Steele also won the drawing to drive a Kia Sportage, courtesy of DeLand Kia, for a year.
The other nominees were Allison Walters, Spirit Elementary in Deltona; Amanda Andrews, Forest Lake Elementary in Deltona; Amanda Griggs, Discovery Elementary in Deltona; Amy Hagopian, McInnis Elementary in DeLeon Springs; Amy Hudick, DeBary Elementary; Bethany Wilson, Enterprise Elementary; Brian Innes, Galaxy Middle in Deltona; Nicci Heard, Pride Elementary in Deltona; Chrysti Ayres, River Springs Middle in Orange City; Colleen Adkins, George Marks Elementary in DeLand; Cynthia Vieira, St. Peter Catholic School in DeLand; Ericca Cantlay, Freedom Elementary in DeLand; Gregory Dale Finn, Deltona High; Heather Baker, Blue Lake Elementary in DeLand; Iliana Torres-Insignares, Sunrise Elementary in Deltona; Jessica Boldt, Volusia Pines Elementary in Lake Helen; Kathryn Marsh, Citrus Grove Elementary in DeLand; Kelly Treadaway, Deltona Lakes Elementary; Kimberly Sheppard, Pierson Elementary; Matthew Trumbly, University High in Orange City; Michelle Farmer, Pine Ridge High in Deltona; Michelle Polgar, Osteen Elementary; Mikeeta Ephraim, Manatee Cove Elementary in Orange City; Nancy Rodriguez, Friendship Elementary in Deltona; Rylee Bryant, Timbercrest Elementary in Deltona; Sandra Castro, Deltona Middle; Sonia Larrabee, Woodward Avenue Elementary in DeLand; and Cathy Popow, Stetson Baptist Christian in DeLand.
Saturday, April 19, the Coach Deke Classic Track Meet will take place on the track at DeLand High School. The DeLand Lightning Boltz youth track team is the sponsor. The gates will open at 7:30 a.m., with a gate fee of $15.
Volusia County Schools
The inaugural State of Our Schools took place during the last week of February, presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Volusia County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin, other members of district leadership, and School Board members shared key achievements and future initiatives.
Sponsors included Florida Health Care Plans and Family Health Source as platinum sponsors, while the gold sponsor was Joe Hearn Events, with Launch Credit Union being the silver sponsor, and FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools serving as the bronze sponsor.
Entertainment was provided by the DeLand High School Jazz Combo, the Deltona Middle School Charger Orchestra, the University High Show Choir and the Pine Ridge High color guard.
At a recent School Board meeting, the top nine students from elementary, middle and high schools who excelled in Dr. Balgobin’s Winter Reading Challenge were recognized. Sixty-seven schools had participants, with 346 students logging 400-499 minutes of reading, which earned them an arcade card from Family Fun Town. Earning a 90-minute jump session from SkyZone were 767 students who read 600-plus minutes.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee Regional Qualifier has taken place and advancing on to the Regional 2 Bee will be Aubrey Badall of Discovery Elementary in Deltona, Dante Torres Santiago of Deltona Lakes Elementary, and Lydia Chen of Deltona Middle School.
The VCS 2025 Home Run 5K will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 12, with the start at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. Registration and more details can be found at www.runsignup.com or, for more information, email
ljmeinel@volusia.k12.fl.us.
Both VCS and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office are promoting internet safety for students, which involves fostering thoughtful online connections, encouraging cautious behavior and reporting cyberbullying incidents, and stresses the significance of open communication for parents to actively contribute to a secure online environment.
They stress that students connect only with people they know, adjust privacy settings, avoid suspicious links and report cyberbullying, and take breaks and limit screen time. Parents should talk to kids about their online activity and use parental controls and stay informed on digital trends.
Spring Holiday is Monday, March 17, through Sunday, March 23, with students returning to classes Monday, March 24. Also, there is no school for students Friday, March 14, while teachers have a duty day. The end of the third grading period is Thursday, March 13.
Sunrise Elementary School
The Rotary Club of DeBary-Deltona-Orange City is sponsoring a 5K road race Saturday, April 12, at Gemini Springs in DeBary. The Rotary Club adopted Sunrise Elementary School in Deltona this year, and is helping the school create a positive school culture and learning experience for all students. For registration information, contact Sunrise Elementary.
Southwestern Middle School
The Southwestern Middle School family, which includes current and past staff and students, recently lost a valued retired member in the death of Don Tutt, a 36-year teacher and media specialist at the school, and a friend to all. Arrangements were handled by Lankford Funeral Home.
DeLand High School
The Junior Service League of DeLand is offering two $1,000 scholarships to a graduating senior girl of DeLand High School. The Jennifer White Service Scholarship recognizes young women for their outstanding achievements in education and community service.
The scholarship honors White, a dedicated former JSL board member who made a lasting impact on DeLand. The criteria for application includes being a female senior at DeLand High, a 3.0-plus cumulative GPA, active involvement in community service and school leadership, and an essay response to “What does community service mean to you, and how have you been involved in impacting your community?” The deadline to apply for the scholarship is Thursday, April 10, at https://forms.gle/944DrR8qMZWM1q2t5.
Taylor Middle-High School
Students in grades six through eight at Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson recently participated in the annual Spelling Bee. The champ was Ethan Carruthers, with Julian Salinas Vega taking the runner-up spot.
University High School
The Titan Orchestra of University High School in Orange City scored a superior at the Florida Orchestra Association District 6 Music Performance Assessment Concert.
The track teams at University went to the Hagerty Meet, with Hannah Judge taking second in the 3,200, and two relay teams taking places below third.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School Bulldog boys weightlifting team moved their season mark to 4-1 in both Olympic and traditional competition by downing Mainland, 64-24, in Olympic and 63-26 in traditional. Those lifting first-place finishes were Jaxson Van Horn (2), Xavier Caraballo, Ayden Molina, Rishi Patel, Wyatt Dunne (2), Lukas Gibbs, Fard Williams, Erik Copeland, Mo Knio, Luke Patterson (2) and Noah Isaacson (2).
Seconds were earned by Knio, Copeland, Ryan Hurd (2), Jonathan Baker, Elijah Laureno (2), Jayson Galindo (2), Jordan Ferrell, Noah Hatcher and Aidan Keeley (2), while thirds were gained by Johan Rodriguez (2), Sam Trivett (2), Gibbs, Jacob Lubell (2) and Baker.
At the Mainland meet, all Bulldog senior lifters were honored prior to the start of the meet by head coach Damion Dunn and assistant coach Steven Mosley Jr. The senior team members are Baker, Tyler Boyer, Caraballo, Dunne, Galindo, Gibbs, Hatcher, Mark Higbee, Hurd, Isaacson, Knio, Laureno, Lubell, Julian Mancuso, Kaden Nelson, Patel, Rodriguez, Trivett and Williams.
The Lady Bulldog softball team has been busy, losing to The Villages, 13-1, stopping Lecanto, 11-8, and losing to Space Coast, 7-3. During these three games, De-Niya Padgett tripled, with Yanelie Echevarria and Tameeya Hill doubling.
The Bulldog baseball team lost to Venice, 7-0, and to Providence, 6-0, but stopped Orangewood Christian, 4-2.
The boys tennis team stopped University, 4-3, and New Smyrna Beach, 7-0, with Tyson Sarnes, Blake Griffin, Oliver Hall, Zachary Sampson, Stephen Lin and Harrison Butler picking up single wins.
The girls tennis team lost to University, 4-3, and to New Smyrna Beach, 6-1. Aria Fernandez-Gonzalez, Sydney Hoover, Mia Jackson and Julia Yocum won in singles competition.
The track team’s Big D Relays were canceled, so the team went to the Hagerty Invitational, where the boys finished third, 9 points behind Lake Mary and Flagler Palm Coast, who tied for first. The girls took 12th out of 14 teams competing.
Michael Mandell won the 800 at 2:01.94; Owen York won the javelin throw at 174 feet, 2 inches. Seconds were gained by Hiram Cook in the 400, York in the discus, and Keylani Cates in the discus. Also earning points, with places between third and eighth in individual events, were Nalin Rogers, Connor York (3), Cook, Owen Smith, Logan Blades, James Johnson and O. York. DeLand also had two relay teams scoring points.
The Bulldog track team also competed at the Spruce Creek Developmental meet earlier in the week. Anna Vandell was the lone winner, taking first in the high jump at 5 feet, 1.75 inches. Also gaining points were Cook, Johnny Grubbs, Josiah Esteves, Mateo Isaac, Owen Smith, Matthew Pica, C. York, Blades, Jayme Dillon and Khiana Hatton-Gray.
The Bulldog spring sports calendar is very thin due to Spring Holiday. On Saturday, March 15, select members of the track team will be at the Bob Hayes Invite at North Florida University.
Monday-Thursday, March 17-20, the Bulldog baseball team will be participating in the Seminole Invite, with a game each day.
EMPOWERING FUTURE TRADESWOMEN — An all-female high-school-student group in Volusia County Schools’ Career & Technical Education programs had a hands-on up-close experience at New Smyrna Speedway Feb. 28, thanks to Northern Tool + Equipment and guided by a group of female industry experts. The opportunity was part of Northern Tool + Equipment and their Tools for the Trades™ program, designed to help address the trades labor shortage by igniting a passion for the trades in the next generation. The women met with women already working in the trades, and learned how they entered trade-related careers and how those careers are in demand. They also watched dozens of racers and their crews on their motorcycles.
Stetson University basketball
The Stetson University Lady Hatter basketball team lost to Queens, 75-64, with Shelby Calhoun scoring 16 points, with one block and two steals. Cameron Thomas added 12 points with five rebounds.
The team then topped North Florida, 71-63, with Thomas scoring 25 points, Quentarra Mitchell adding 10 points with seven rebounds and one block, Diawna Carter-Hartley scoring 10 points with nine rebounds, and Tyra Myers adding 10 points.
They then lost to FGCU in their last regular-season game, 86-60, with Thomas scoring 18 points, Mitchell adding 16 points and Tiasia McMillan making 12 points with seven rebounds.
The men’s team defeated Bellarmine, 69-67, with Jamie Phillips Jr. scoring 17 points, Mehki Ellison dropping 14 points, Josh Massey adding 12 points with five rebounds, Blaize Sagna scoring 11 points with three steals, and Finley Sheridan scoring 10 points with six rebounds and one block.
The Hatters then lost to JU, 77-72, with Ellison scoring 10 points with six rebounds and three steals, Phillips added 20 points and six rebounds and two steals, and Massey dropped 10 points.
Stetson University baseball/softball
The Stetson University Lady Hatter softball team has been busy with an 8-0 win over Long Island, with Addison Foster and Nadia English homering. They lost to Marist, 6-2; FAU, 5-3; Ohio State, 9-1; and Georgia, 5-2. The team bounced back with a 14-2 win over UMBC, with Kami Eppley and Foster tripling, but came back with a very close 1-0 loss to Georgia.
The baseball team lost to Iowa, 7-0; Notre Dame, 8-2; Florida, 6-1; and Indiana, 8-1, but rebounded against the Hoosiers with an 8-4 win, with Evan Griffis doubling.
Friday-Sunday, March 14-16, the baseball team greets FGCU at 6:30 p.m. on the 14th and 15th, and at 1 p.m. on the 16th.
Tuesday, March 18, brings UCF to town at Conrad Park at 6:30 p.m.
On Friday, March 21, the baseball team goes to JU at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 15, has the softball team hosting North Florida at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and again on Sunday, March 16, at 1 p.m. Monday, March 10, brings USF to the Stetson softball field at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Stetson University spring sports
The Stetson University beach-volleyball team topped Stephen F. Austin and Eckerd, 5-0, but lost to No. 11 Arizona State and No. 18 Grand Canyon, 4-1, in both matches. The team then beat Arizona, 3-2, and Oregon, 5-0.
In tennis, the men defeated UAB, 6-1, and lost to UCF, 6-1, while the women downed Bellarmine, 6-1.
The lacrosse team lost to St. Bonaventure, 17-6.
The women’s golf team won the Babs Steffens Invitational played on the DeBary Golf Club course. They beat more than 15 teams in the tournament. Isaki Sakashita and Filippa Jansson tied for second place.
The men traveled to Utah to take fourth among 15 teams in the Lake Las Vegas Invitational. Simon Engman tied for second for the Hatters. The Hats were headed by Long Beach State, Northern Illinois and West Virginia.
On Friday, March 14, the women’s tennis team goes to Central Arkansas, while the men play host to Cleveland State at noon.
The beach-volleyball team travels to Boca Raton to play Tampa, Georgia State, TCU and USC on the 14th and 15th.
Saturday, March 15, has the rowing team offering the Stetson Showdown at 7 a.m.
On Sunday, March 16, the men’s tennis team competes at FGCU at 10 a.m. and the lacrosse team plays host to Manhattan at 1 p.m., with the women’s tennis team greeting New Jersey Institute of Technology at 10 a.m., and the women golfers going to Western Kentucky.
Friday, March 21, has the Lady Hatter tennis players hosting Eastern Kentucky at 10 a.m., and the men playing the same foe at 2 p.m., while beach volleyball is back home to play Erskine at 9:15 a.m. and FSU at 2 p.m.
