A Kindergarten Supply Drive is going on to help little learners thrive, hosted by You Thrive Early Learning Programs at 803 S. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand.
Needed items include backpacks, folders, composition wide-ruled notebooks (no spirals), 1-inch binders, boxes of 10-count classic-colors broad-tip Crayola markers, boxes of eight-count classic fine-tip Crayola markers, 24-count boxes of Crayola crayons, Elmer’s glue sticks, Expo dry-erase markers, No. 2 pencils, plastic pencil boxes and Fiskars children’s scissors.
For more information, call 386-527-1328.
Earlier, this column informed readers of the Jennifer White Service Scholarship presented by the Junior Service League of DeLand to a female student at DeLand High School. The deadline to apply is Thursday, April 10.
For last-minute information, visit
https://forms.gle/944DrR8qMZWM1q2t5.
Volusia County Schools
The Volusia County Schools 2025 Home Run 5K starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. Registration and details can be found at www.runsignup.com or by emailing ljmeinel@volusia.k12.fl.us.
Several schools have been recognized as PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supporters) model schools for their dedication to creating positive and supportive learning environments. It is a proactive approach that fosters positive behavior and enhances school climate. It is a state-level recognition program that honors schools that have successfully implemented PBIS and achieved meaningful outcomes for students.
The following schools were honored: Gold – Deltona Lakes Elementary; Silver – Timbercrest Elementary in Deltona, Volusia Pines Elementary in Lake Helen, Port Orange Elementary and Champion Elementary in Daytona Beach; and Bronze – DeLand Middle School and Cypress Creek Elementary in Port Orange.
Blue Lake Elementary School
Blue Lake Elementary School in DeLand has nominated Carolyn Dunn as its ESE Paraprofessional of the Year, and congratulates Brayan Nunez Vega for being named as its SuperStar Student of the Month.
Friendship Elementary School
Math Night will be 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 10.
Several teachers were recognized for their years of service, including Dayana Garcia and Brittany Hall for 10 years, Diane Teasley for 20 years and Diana Dean for 25 years.
Sunrise Elementary School
Sunrise Elementary recognizes Morgan Davis as its First-Year Teacher and Melissa Waechter as Rookie Teacher.
Timbercrest Elementary School
Crystal Lavallee has been Timbercrest’s Support Staff of the Year. She is always helpful, positive and looking for ways to add flare for students, staff and families.
Southwestern Middle School
Middle-school basketball competition is underway. The Southwestern Tigers in DeLand will host Galaxy Middle School Thursday, April 10, with the boys playing at 5:30 p.m. and the girls following.
Pine Ridge High School
Grad Bash at Universal Studios will be Saturday, April 5. Don’t be late.
The Final Senior Assembly is Friday, April 11, and it’s mandatory for graduation.
DeLand High School Athletics
During Spring Holiday, the baseball team participated in the Seminole Tournament. The Bulldogs lost to IMG Silver, 12-0, to Dr. Phillips, 7-6, and Horizon, 7-6, while stopping Martin County, 6-2.
On Friday, April 4, the softball team greets Seminole at 6 p.m., the flag-football team plays at Deltona at 6 p.m., the JV baseball team meets Pine Ridge at 4 p.m., and the track team, with select members, competes at the Florida Relays in Gainesville on the University of Florida track.
Monday, April 7, brings Pine Ridge to DeLand for a softball game at 5 p.m. Flag football takes place at University at 6 p.m.
The JV baseball team competes in the Ormond Beach Sports Complex Tournament on Monday, April 7, Tuesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 10.
Tuesday, April 8, has the softball team hosting Taylor at 7 p.m., the baseball team hosts Deltona Trinity Christian at 7 p.m., and the boys and girls tennis teams host New Smyrna Beach at 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 10, sends the softball team to University at 4 p.m., the track team to the Five Star Championships at Spruce Creek at 3 p.m., and the girls tennis team to University at 4 p.m.
On Friday, April 11, the baseball team plays host to Creekside at 7 p.m. and the JV baseball team greets University at 4 p.m.
Stetson University basketball
Now that basketball season is over, here are some stats for the men’s and women’s programs at Stetson University. The women finished with a 16-15 season mark and a 10-0 ASUN record. The team averaged 67.6 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 13.3 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.4 blocks. Cameron Thomas averaged 17.1 points per game, and Diawna Carter-Hartley averaged 6.5 rebounds.
The men finished with an 8-24 record and a 6-12 ASUN mark. The team averaged 71.1 points per game, 33.0 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 5.2 steals and 3.1 blocks. Mehki Ellison averaged 14.8 points per game, with Josh Massey collecting an average of 4.9 rebounds.
Stetson University baseball/softball
The softball team lost to North Florida, 9-1, and to USF, 9-1 and 8-0, but returned to the win column with a 9-0 victory over FGCU. Addison Foster and Dylan Anthony hit home runs, and Amber Chumley hit a double. They finished with a loss to FGCU, 2-0.
The baseball team beat FGCU, 7-3, with Isaiah Barkett and Landon Moran doubling and Jayden Hylton collecting four RBIs. The Hatters lost to UCF, 3-0, and JU, 5-2, but bounced back to beat JU, 4-1, with Juan De La Cruz homering, and Foster Apple and Jordan Taylor doubling.
Friday, April 4, has the baseball team hosting Queens at 6:30 p.m., again on Saturday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m., and on Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m.
The team travels to USF Tuesday, April 8, for a game at 6 p.m. and then greets North Florida Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, at 6:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Stetson University spring sports
Robbie Champa of the Stetson cross-country team broke the 800 school record with a 1:55.47 clocking at the UCF Black and Gold Invite. Eduardo Diaz placed fourth in the 5000 with a time of 14:43.07, while Conrad Voigt placed sixth in the 10,000 with a 31:12.55 time.
The Lady Hatter lacrosse team defeated Manhattan, 21-17, with Kaitlin Pani scoring five goals, Kathleen Nichols and Miya Scanlan making four each, and Samantha King and Katie Kornacki getting three goals apiece. The team lost to JU, 18-3.
The men’s tennis team stopped FGCU, 5-2, and Eastern Kentucky, 7-0, while the women topped New Jersey IT, 6-1, Central Arkansas, 6-1, and Eastern Kentucky, 6-1.
The beach-volleyball team downed Erskine, 5-0; lost to No. 7 FSU, 5-0, and defeated Palm Beach Atlantic, 5-0, and FAU, 3-2.
The women’s golf team competed in the Spring Break Shootout and took third out of 13 teams competing. In front of the Lady Hatters in team scoring were FGCU and Illinois. The Lady Hatters tied with New Mexico. Isaki Sakashita tied for third overall with a 1 over total strokes. Sakashita was also named the ASUN Co-Golfer of the Week.
The lacrosse team hosts Coastal Carolina at noon Saturday, April 5, while the beach-volleyball team goes to the Long Beach and California Poly, with the women’s rowing team hosting the Stetson Invite at 7 a.m.
Sunday, April 6, finds the women’s tennis team at North Florida at 10 a.m. The men play at 2 p.m.
On Monday, April 7, the men’s golf team competes at the University of Missouri.
Thursday, April 10, finds the lacrosse team hosting Queens at 1 p.m.
College honors
Brittany Campbell, of DeLand, was recently elected to membership into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida.
