“Stuff The Bus” Campaign Raises $15,000+ In Wesley Chapel!

The Pasco Education Foundation (PEF) has raised more than $15,000 in school supplies for its Wise Supplies program in three separate “Stuff the Bus” events held in and near Wesley Chapel (similar events are held throughout the county) in July and August. Wise Supplies program manager Sierra Johnson says that all told, the “Stuff the Bus” events held at the Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills Walmart stores (almost $5,000), at Bubba’s 33 (in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, which raised nearly $6,000) and the most recent event hosted jointly by Rock & Brews and Main Event on S.R. 56 on Aug. 25 together (about $5,000) were “hugely successful and will help many teachers provide school supplies for their students who need them throughout the school year.” 

According to PEF’s website, “Wise Supplies is a Free Teacher Resource Store founded by the Pasco Education Foundation to help alleviate the financial burden for families and teachers. Many times teachers spend their own funds before letting their students go without. We want every student to have the basic supplies they need for academic success.” Johnson says that even though the Main Event/Rock & Brews event (which ended up being held the same day as a previously scheduled car show on the 25th), had to be rescheduled from Aug. 4 and wasn’t held until after the 2024-25 school year had started, “Pasco teachers need these supplies throughout the year for their students. The need doesn’t go away just because school starts.” 

To help PEF’s Wise Supplies program, which provided more than $154,000 in supplies for more than 1,300 teachers in 83 Pasco schools during the 2023-24 school year and will accept donations throughout this school year, visit PascoEducationFoundation.org.

PHSC Porterโ€™s Campus Adds Nursing & Allied Health Advancement Instituteย 

The ribbon at the new Nursing & Allied Health Advancement Institute was cut by (l.-r., all holding scissors) PHSC Trustee & BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel president Becky Schulkowski, State Rep. Randy Maggard & Dr. Jesse Pisors.ย 

I was proud to attend the Nursing & Allied Health Advancement Instituteโ€™s Grand Opening and ribbon cutting on July 17 at Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC)โ€™s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch (where the Institute will be housed), where the room selected was so crowded (with probably in excess of 100 people in attendance) that I couldnโ€™t get close enough to sit down and take notes (or record the proceedings). My story in the August 6 Wesley Chapel issue is therefore drastically different from what youโ€™re reading, as I didnโ€™t receive the video of the actual proceedings until after that Wesley Chapel issue went to press. 

At any rate, PHSC received $1.5 million in state appropriations in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisโ€™ most recent state budget to fund the establishment of the new Nursing & Allied Health Advancement Institute and the event on July 17 brought together local healthcare leaders, community stakeholders and PHSC staff and faculty to celebrate the establishment of the Institute. 

Among those who spoke at the Grand Opening of the Nursing & Allied Health Advancement Institute at Pasco Hernando State Collegeโ€™s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch on July 17 were (below right) PHSC President Dr. Jesse Pisors, (below left) State Senator Danny Burgess (who appeared via Zoom) and (above) Dr. Lisa Richardson, PHSCโ€™s VP of Advancement, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships.ย 

According to Lisa Richardson, Ed.D., PHSCโ€™s VP of Advancement, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships, this innovative and collaborative institute will address the well-documented allied healthcare and nursing shortage in the state of Florida and can be used as a model nationwide. 

โ€œWe are committed to building strong relationships, driving innovation and making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve,โ€ Richardson said. 

Through a multi-pronged, comprehensive and collaborative approach, the institute will increase nursing and allied health pipelines on both sides of the equation โ€” increasing the talent pipeline for faculty as well as for future nursing and allied health employees. 

Andrea Brvenik, PHSCโ€™s General Counsel and VP of Government Relations, said that, โ€œThere really was a lack of harmony in trying to address our workforce issues. Synergy is what we hope to achieve with this Institute, with the idea of bringing funding to a problem that is needed. We do get state funding to buy equipment, but we donโ€™t get state funding to truly address the workforce issues. But, this whole thing started to come together when (District 54) State Representative Randy Maggard called to ask me, โ€˜What are the things we can do here?โ€™ And then, this whole thing started to come together.โ€ 

Rep. Maggard said he was proud to get the ball rolling for the state appropriation for the new Nursing Institute at PHSC. 

โ€œWell-trained nurses and medical staff are needed over the next several decades not only for our community, but for our entire state,โ€ said Rep. Maggard. โ€œI was honored to sponsor this funding request for my Alma Mater, so that we can ensure our best and brightest have the opportunity to study nursing right here in our community. Through this program, these future nurses and medical professionals will have the tools they need to prevent a crisis level nursing shortage in the future.โ€ 

Rep. Maggard also noted that, โ€œItโ€™s no secret that this area is becoming the medical hub of the state. We have doctors calling us from Europe and Asia wanting to come here.โ€ He added that he and District 20 State Senator Danny Burgess, who appeared at the meeting via Zoom, are committed to trying to get additional funding for the new Nursing & Allied Health Advancement Institute in next yearโ€™s budget, too. 

โ€œWe both asked, โ€˜Whatโ€™s our next step to keep this growing and growing?,โ€™โ€ Maggard said. 

The Institute will be housed at the collegeโ€™s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel. The first step in establishing the new institute will be to develop a strategic plan. 

โ€œThis isnโ€™t going to be a new building,โ€ PHSC President Jesse Pisors, Ed.D., said. โ€œThis is an effort to solve a problem. [This nursingย shortage] is one of the major workforce problems our entire nation is facing and in the Tampa Bay area, with our growing and aging population, it is particularly acute.โ€ย 

Pisors pointed to PHSCโ€™s 47-year history of adding nurses to the workforce โ€” including more than 160 last year alone โ€” โ€œIn fact,โ€ he said, โ€œNursingProgress.org listed PHSC as the best on-line and in-person LPN (Licensed Practical Nursing) program in the state of Florida, but the shortage has still grown, so we still need to do more.โ€ 

He added, โ€œHigher education institutions, including PHSC, desperately seek highly qualified faculty, and institutions of health services struggle with significant gaps in nursing and allied health employees. The circumstance is amplified because improved retention and development strategies are critically needed, and without a plan in place, a real threat exists in the health care system. The Nursing and Allied Health Advancement Institute will provide these plans and focus on solutions in collaboration with significant stakeholders.โ€ 

Pisors also noted that the state budget was tight at the State level his year, โ€œSo I am grateful to Governor DeSantis for preserving this particular initiative. This wasnโ€™t an easy year for him to do that, but I think this [allocation] is indicative of his commitment to workforce in the health care industry.โ€ 

In addition to Dr. Pisors, Rep. Maggard, Dr. Richardson and Brvenik, other speakers at the event included PHSC Trustee Becky Schulkowski and Billie Gabbard, Ed.D., the Dean of Nursing & Allied Health Programs at PHSC. 

โ€œI am here wearing two hats today,โ€ Schulkowski said. โ€œAs a Trustee for the Board of PHSC and as a member of the health care community. As the president of BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, I can tell you that this institute is greatly needed by our community and our entire state. Hiring and retaining qualified nurses and allied health care professionals is a top priority for not only our hospital but for hospitals across our entire state. We simply can not provide the quality of care that our patients deserve without a qualified pool of candidates from which to hire.โ€ 

Schulkowski also noted that since so many nurses and allied health care workers left the workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic, โ€œthe industry has been slow to recover. But, through this new institute, we hope to find solutions to facilitate greater engagement among those who may be interested in pursuing a medical career and provide a clear pipeline from education to employment.โ€ 

She added that it is estimated that Florida will need โ€œan additional 59,000 nurses over the next ten years to meet [the stateโ€™s] demand. That is why this Institute is such an important need in this community and our state.โ€ 

Meanwhile, Gabbard hailed the establishment of the new Institute as a โ€œmajor accomplishment. This Institute will further strengthen the symbiotic relationships that already exists between PHSC and our community health care partners. Together, we can move forward and ensure that the health care needs of Pasco and Hernando counties are met. It is an honor to be part of such an innovative endeavor.โ€ 

Among the many dignitaries who attended the Grand Opening event in person was County Commissioner Seth Weightman, whose District 2 includes the Porter Campus. 

The ribbon at the Grand Opening was cut by Schulkowski, Dr. Pisors and Rep. Maggard. 

For more information about the Pasco Hernando State College Nursing & Allied Health Advancement Institute, contact Lisa Richardson, Ed.D., VP of Advancement, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships, at (727) 816-3404. 

The room for the Grand Opening event was packed to standing room only.ย 

2023-24 Schools Grades Are In โ€” So, How Did Wesley Chapelโ€™s School Fare?ย 

The chart above shows all of the letter grades received by all 18 public and charter schools located in Wesley Chapel after both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.ย 

The Florida Department of Education released school grades for the 2023-24 school year on July 24, assigning a B grade for Pasco County Schools. Pasco has maintained a B rating since 2017. 

Superintendent Kurt Browning said in a release, โ€œWe are incredibly proud of our students, teachers, and staff for their hard work and dedication. These grades show that we are on the right track, and our efforts are paying off.โ€ 

All of Wesley Chapelโ€™s schools earned an โ€œA,โ€ โ€œBโ€ or โ€œCโ€ letter grade, along with 85 percent of schools throughout the county. 

While the vast majority of Wesley Chapel schools maintained the same grade as last year (14 of the 18 schools stayed the same from 2023), only one improved by a letter grade โ€” Pinecrest Academy K-8 school, which improved to an A from last yearโ€™s B, while three dropped a letter grade, with Quail Hollow and Veterans elementary schools moving from a B to a C, and Sand Pine moving from an A to a B. 

In a letter to Sand Pine families, principal Angie Shauger explained the disappointing change. โ€œWe missed the A grade by just one point, scoring 61 when the cut score for an A was 62,โ€ she wrote. โ€œWhile this news is disappointing, it is important to recognize the hard work and dedication that our staff and students have shown throughout the year.โ€ 

She said sheโ€™s โ€œvery proud of all the progress we have made and the commitment everyone has shownโ€ and is optimistic that Sand Pine will earn an A again next school year. 

Five schools maintained their A status, including Seven Oaks Elementary, Union Park Charter Academy, John Long Middle School, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, and Wiregrass Ranch High School. While Kirkland Ranch has earned an A both school years since opening in 2022, Wiregrass Ranchโ€™s history of A ratings goes back to 2018. 

Principal Robyn White says itโ€™s a team effort that creates such consistent excellent performance. โ€œThe teachers work really hard and the kids are very motivated to do well,โ€ she says. โ€œThey take what the teachers are providing them and make use of that.โ€ 

She says the grade is maintained by encouraging success across the board, not in just one area, but in English, math, social studies, science and more. One area of measurement is the schoolโ€™s graduation rate, which was an impressive 97 percent for 2022-23, the year that was evaluated for this yearโ€™s school grade. 

White says that her goal has always been to get a 100-percent graduation rate. She plans to retire from Wiregrass Ranch at the end of the 2024-25 school year, so she has one last chance to hit that mark. 

โ€œWe look at each individual student and do whatโ€™s best for kids,โ€ she says. โ€œI firmly believe thatโ€™s why weโ€™re an A school.โ€ 

For more information about school grades, visit FLDOE.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/.

Congratulations To Wesley Chapelโ€™s Top Of The Class Of 2024!ย 

Itโ€™s that time of year when parents and students count the days remaining until graduations, from pre-kindergarten to college. At our local public high schools, hundreds of graduates are moving on to a new phase of their lives, whether itโ€™s starting a career, joining the military, going to a distant university, attending a local college, or taking some time to find themselves. The students below are the top-10 graduating seniors of the Class of 2024 at each of Wesley Chapelโ€™s three public high schools by grade point average (GPA). Congratulations to everyone listed on these pages for their extraordinary achievements โ€” and to all of their peers and classmates moving on to the next phase, too. Note โ€” One school did not disclose student GPAs or other info to protect the studentsโ€™ privacy and another didnโ€™t include pictures other than for the Valedictorian & Salutatorian. We apologize but we can only show here what weโ€™ve been provided. โ€” Celeste McLaughlinย 

Cypress Creek High

1. Brandon Adams (Valedictorian) 

GPA: 4.7391 

Clubs/Activities: Published research in Journal of Student Research, co-founded standardized testing support program, President of National Honor Society (NHS), Author of โ€œOn Questions of Transformations,โ€ cross country, volunteer at PetSmart, Spanish NHS, VP of English NHS. 

College planning to attend: Undecided 

Planned Major or Future Career: Pre-Med 

Best thing about high school: Extra-curricular activitiesย 

2. Jordan Fulop, Salutatorianย 

GPA: 4.6154 

Clubs/Activities: NHS parliamentarian, Spirit Club Secretary, FBLA Historian, First Priority co-founder and leader, Best Buddies, Soccer, Tennis, Cross Country 

College planning to attend: Florida State University 

Planned Major or Future Career: Business Management 

Best thing about High School: Football gamesย 

3. Jerry Phan

GPA: 4.6053 

Clubs/Activities: NHS, Science NHS, Robotics club, volunteer at PetSmart 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Pre-Med 

Best thing about high school: Peers that I met along the wayย 

4. Jayna Katanani 

GPA: 4.6 

Clubs/Activities: NHS, Science NHS, Fiction Addiction book club 

College planning to attend: University of South Florida 

Planned major or future career: Pre-Med 

Best thing about high school: Itโ€™s a trial for real life.ย 

5. Jack Niemann 

GPA: 4.5778 

Clubs/Activities: Football captain/quarterback, track, volunteer at Tampa General Hospital 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned Major: Health Sciences 

Best thing about high school: Football gamesย 

6. Abby Outtrim

GPA: 4.566 

Clubs/Activities: President of HOSA (Future Health Professionals), VP of NHS, public relations officer of English NHS, member of American Sign Language HS, member of Interact Club, intern at USF College of Nursing. I did most of my volunteering at my local church, PetSmart, Feeding Tampa Bay & Metropolitan Ministries 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Nursing 

Best thing about high school: You meet so many new friends, teachers and mentors. You will make lifelong connections and can form a network! Iโ€™ve learned about so many opportunities available to me through my teachers (especially Ms. Adley!)ย 

7. Roman Sercu 

GPA: 4.5625 

Clubs/Activities: NHS, founding president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Student Government (SGA) Senator, Creekin Crazies spirit club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Interact Club, S4TL (Seminar for Tomorrowโ€™s Leaders), Chik-Fil-A Leadership Academy, Best Buddies, Special Olympics basketball buddy 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Business Management & Finance 

Best thing about high school: Times spent with friends and watching people who I have known since Elementary School change over the years and achieve their goals.ย 

8. Miguel Rosario 

GPA: 4.5538 

Clubs/Activities: NHS, SGA Treasurer, Creekin Crazies Ambassador 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Computer Eng. 

Best thing about high school: Football gamesย 

9. Addison Hellwig 

GPA: 4.5463 

Clubs/Activities: Varsity lacrosse Captain, NHS 

College planning to attend: Mars Hill University 

Planned major or future career: Biomed. Sci. 

Best thing about high school: Leading the team to Pasco Countyโ€™s first womenโ€™s Lacrosse team regional appearance and completing full time dual enrollment and receiving my AA 

10. Ramiro Salazarย 

GPA: 4.5426 

Clubs/Activities: NHS, volunteer at Pasco County Animal Shelte 

College planning to attend: University of South Florida 

Planned major or future career: Computer Science 

Best thing about high school: Students, friends.ย 

Wesley Chapel Highย 

ย 

1.Taylor Himmelberger, 

Valedictorian

College planning to attend: University of South Floridaย 

2. Nayana (Ninny) Chennupati, Co-Salutatorian 

College planning to attend: University of Floridaย 

2. Syed Yasir, Co-Salutatorian 

College planning to attend: University of Floridaย 

In alphabetical order, here are the rest of the top-10 graduates by GPA at WCH:ย 

Jendayah Cajuste 

College planning to attend: University of South Floridaย 

Dylan Dorrย 

College planning to attend: University of Floridaย 

Sophia Herrera 

College planning to attend: University of Floridaย 

Courtney Marks 

College planning to attend: Western Carolina Universityย 

Sayuri Ranatunga 

College planning to attend: Florida State Universityย 

Joshua Vasquez 

College planning to attend: University of Florida

Erick Zayas Ramos 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Wiregrass Ranch High

1. Aniah Florise Mathurin,ย Valedictorianย 

Clubs/Activities: National Merit Commended Scholar, FSU Young Scholars Program, Pasco County All-Star, All-American, Varsity Cheerleader, Class of 2024 Student Government Senator, Student Council, VP of NHS, VP of Haraya, Director of Fundraising of Junior Statesmen of America, Outreach Officer of MEDLIFE, FBLA, HOSA, Relay for Life, NEHS, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Rho Kappa History Honor Society, Science NHS, FCA, Key Club, SADD 

College planning to attend: Duke University 

Planned major or future career: Biology (Pre-Med) 

Best thing about high school: Memories Iโ€™ve made with my friends during Friday Night Lightsย 

2. Meghna Manjith, Salutatorianย 

3. Sydnie Maher Alagal 

Clubs/Activities: Varsity cross country, varsity track, SADD club & leadership, NHS, NEHS, Key Club, NSHSS 

College planning to attend: Florida State University 

Planned Major/Future Career: Psychology/ Criminology 

Best thing about high school: The people I metย 

4. Kylie Ryan Bennington 

Clubs/Activities: Varsity soccer, club soccer, NHA, Mu Alpha Theta, Key Club 

College planning to attend: North Carolina State Univerrsity 

Major/career: Environmental Engineering 

Best thing about High School: The people you meet.ย 

5. Haley Brooke Strawser 

Clubs/Activities: Varsity volleyball, club volleyball, Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Psi Beta 

College planning to attend: University of Alabama (Huntsville) 

Planned major or future career: Mechanical Engineering or Math 

Best thing about high school: I loved my teachers and loved being a student at Wiregrass, (which) gave me the opportunity to challenge myself both academically and personally.ย 

6. Abdullah (No last name provided) 

Clubs/Activities: FBLA, Science NHS 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Electrical & Computer Engineering 

Best thing about High School: Some really good and caring teachers and made a really good friend.ย 

7. Meghan E. Childers 

Clubs/Activities: Odyssey of the Mind, Tri-M, NHS, PTA, Swim & dive team 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Animal Science, Veterinary Doctorate 

Best thing about high school: Getting to hang out with friends while participating in different clubs.ย 

8. Taylor Monique Blythe 

Clubs/Activities: NHS, English NHS, Black History Committee 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Major: Political Science & History; Pre-law track 

Best thing about high school: Spending time with my close friends at school spirit events and growing into my interests in the past four years.ย 

9. Isabell Barrios 

Clubs/Activities: Varsity softball, National Honor Society, Key Club, Student Council 

College planning to attend: Florida Southern College 

Planned major or future career: Physician Assistant 

Best thing about high school: Discovering my true passion for the medical fieldย 

10. Omari Redmond (No info provided)

Pasco Hernando State Collegeโ€™s Porter Campus Turns 10!ย 

ย The Porter Familyโ€™s Land Donation Celebrates A Decade Of Adding Skilled Workers To The Local Economy!ย 

Many of the people in this picture have been with the Porter Campus of Pasco Hernando State College since PHSC first opened back in January of 2014. Current Provost Dr. Davina Jones (second from left) hosted an outstanding 10th Anniversary Celebration for the Porter Campus on April 6. Holding the sign, front and center in this picture, is Sonia Rodriguez Thorn, who was the first Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Porter Campus under the campusโ€™ first Provost Dr. Stanley Giannet. (Photos by Charmaine George)ย 

When Sonia Rodriguez Thorn first arrived in 2013 at the not-yet-open Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch of what was then called Pasco Hernando Community College (PHCC), her name was only Sonia Rodriguez, as she was not yet married. 

Soniaโ€™s last name was still Rodriguez when the schoolโ€™s Porter Campus opened in January 2014 as the fifth campus of the freshly renamed Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC) and she served as the first Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Porter Campus, and the right hand to the Porter Campusโ€™ first Provost, Dr. Stanley Giannet. Sonia did get married in December of that year, so both she and the school had new names to start the Porter Campusโ€™ second year. 

โ€œItโ€™s an honor to come back here, after 30 years of service and especially, opening this campus,โ€ Sonia said when she was introduced by the current Provost of the Porter Campus Dr. Davina Jones, โ€œwhen my first hire Mildred (Santiago Diaz) and I couldnโ€™t even get into the building yet. Mildred (who is one of several employees introduced by Dr. Jones as having been at the Porter Campus for all ten years of its existence) and I and all of our new hires were housed in one room, with six tables and chairs, at the West Campus in New Port Richey until this building (at seven total stories, the tallest in Pasco County) opened.โ€ 

She added, โ€œIโ€™ve been involved with this institution in one form or another since 1991 and itโ€™s been a blessing and a privilege for me to serve not only the community and our stakeholders but also the institution that helped develop me both personally and professionally and Iโ€™m very honored by that. So, to come here today is really special for me, to see all that the Porter Campus has done for the Wesley Chapel community and Pasco County. Thank you so much!โ€ 

โ€œSonia gave us her best,โ€ said Dr. Jones, who introduced her to those in attendance on Apr. 6, prior to the festivities celebrating the Porter Campusโ€™ tenth anniversary as a PHSC campus.ย 

โ€œSo, of course, we invited her back to be here for this event today.โ€ 

Next, Dr. Jones mentioned that the three previous Porter Campus Provosts โ€” Dr. Stanley Giannet, Dr. Bonnie Clark and Dr. Kevin Oโ€™Farrell โ€” also were immortalized in the new PHSC โ€œHall of Fameโ€ with a commemorative photo framed and displayed in the Provostโ€™s conference room. 

โ€œWe are also going to send each of them a photo of this tribute,โ€ Dr. Jones said. โ€˜We just think itโ€™s important that the Porter Campus never forget the excellence and the greatness that led this place.โ€ 

She also related a story she had heard about Dr. Giannet: โ€œI heard that when he pulled up to this campus, he had a car full of beautiful art he brought with him and placed it all around the โ€œAโ€ Building and donated it. That is the mark of excellence that he brought to this campus…So, we want to continue to celebrate and honor all of our Provosts.โ€ 

She also gave gifts to each member of the campusโ€™ inaugural staff and, before concluding the introduction to the day, Dr. Jones received a surprise herself. She handed off the microphone to Ann Coppola, the associate director of the library at the Porter Campus, who mentioned that Dr. Jones also was an original member of the campusโ€™ faculty, as a public speech communication professor.ย 

Current PHSC Porter Campus Provost Dr. Davina Jones (left) and Somia Rodriguez Thorn pose with the special shadow box presented to Dr. Jones by her staff. Dr. Jones was named by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in 2022 as someone who inspired the replacement of a statue of a Confederate general in the U.S. Capitol statuary hall with one of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.ย 

โ€œSince then, your talent for diplomacy, your love of education and students and your strong work ethic has placed you as our campus leader and we could not be more fortunate to have you as Provost. You strive for excellence unapologetically, you advise personal accountability, you advocate for staff, faculty and students with pure intentions and most importantly, you do all of this with civility and kindness…Your core team has learned so much from you… and your leadership sets the tone for this campus.โ€ 

To that end, Ann mentioned that, at the dedication ceremony of the statue honoring Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune at the U.S. Capitol in July 2022, a statue that replaced one of a Confederate general that stood at the Capitol since the Jim Crowe era, Dr. Jonesโ€™ contribution to making that statue a reality was mentioned by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.ย 

โ€œDr. Jones served as a front-line partner, as Florida and our nation prepared to receive and embrace this historic statue in the Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. Dr. Jones advocatedย for the statue of Dr. Bethune as a far superior representative of the values and diversity of the Sunshine State.โ€ย 

Ann added, โ€œWe curated this shadow box (photos above and right) to honor the work you did and still do for education. Thank you.โ€ Dr. Jones was clearly moved by the impressive gift.ย 

After that, she posed for a group photo with all of the original, former and current faculty members on hand and told everyone in attendance about the Business Expo and free food out on the schoolโ€™s promenade, the tours (including virtual simulations) of the campusโ€™ renowned nursing department and โ€œBombaโ€ Afro- Latin dance lesson (see photos on next page). 

Meanwhile, Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter, whose family trust donated the 65 acres upon which the Porter Campus sits, said that he was sad he wasnโ€™t able to attend the festivities. 

โ€œMy family couldnโ€™t be more proud of the Porter Campus and its students, faculty and staff,โ€ Porter said afterwards. โ€œI believe it is the most successful of the five PHSC campuses โ€” and for good reason. Itโ€™s a great resource, and not just for the hospitals and medical offices throughout Wiregrass Ranch, but also the local business community. If you need to update your technical training for pretty much any type of business, we have this amazing local resource right here. PHSC has room to expand the Porter Campus and I am confident that will happen sooner than later.โ€ 

If you attended the 10th Anniversary Celebration of PHSCโ€™s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch on Apr. 6, you got to check out (left) a โ€œBombaโ€ Afro-Latin Dance Lesson, (middle left) tours of the PHSC Nursing Department and virtual simulation and a free business expo with a number of community-oriented businesses meeting with attendees.