By Gary Nager
All too often, it seems, we hear people say, โHow come thereโs not a lot of good news about young people in this or any other publication?โ
Well, for 14 years now, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) has been doing its part to make sure that outstanding young people at every school located in the area we call Wesley Chapel receive their just due at the Chamberโs annual โStudent Pride Awards Ceremony,โ which was held this year on April 30 at the Center for the Arts auditorium at Wesley Chapel High (WCH).
Chamber president Jeff Novotny of American Consulting Engineers (ACE) reminded the literally hundreds of students, parents and local business and community leaders in attendance at this yearโs breakfast ceremony that, when he moved to the area 14 years ago, โThere were only two schools in Wesley Chapel โ Thomas E. Weightman Middle School and Quail Hollow Elementary. Today, Wesley Chapel is home to eight elementaries, two middle schools and two high schools and more than 12,000 students, or about 18 percent of all of the public school students in Pasco County. We are proud to honor the top 10 percent or so (more than 100) of those local students at this breakfast this year and every year.โ
Novotny said he also is proud of the scholarship funds donated to some of Wesley Chapelโs top college-bound high school seniors at the event, monies that have been donated to the Chamber by local businesses, including ACE.
โLast year, we were only able to donate four $500 scholarships and four $250 scholarships,โโNovotny said. โThis year, weโve given out eight $500 scholarships and we hope to double that total again next year.โ
Pasco County clerk &โcomptroller Dr. Paula OโNeil served as the eventโs emcee this year and Paula said she was proud of not only the students, but also the parents and families of the students and the Chamber member businesses and local resident volunteers (one of each of whom was named a โPride Partnerโโfor each school)
No comment yet, add your voice below!