School

Courtesy photo.

Five undergraduates from Stetson University are among the 515 graduate and under-graduate classes to receive degrees. At left, Stetson President Wendy Libby President Wendy B. Libby gives the "charge" to graduates May 8 in the university's Edmunds Center.

DELAND – Stetson University awarded degrees to 515 students, including five from Southeast Volusia, during two Spring Commencement ceremonies.

The local under-graduates were Christopher Gebhardt, Edgewater - majoring in both American Studies and English; Kristen Cass, New Smyrna Beach - General Business Administration; Kayla Renfroe, Oak Hill - Accounting; Pamela Peterson, New Smyrna Beach - Finance; and Jordan Slingo, New Smyrna Beach - Finance.

Courtesy photo. State Rep. Dorothy Hukill sponsos a bill that that is more prorective of children in need of restraint in school.

TALLAHASSEE  - The Restraint and Seclusion bill sponsored by State Rep. Dorothy L. Hukill, R-Port Orange, passed the Pre K-12 Policy Committee of the Florida House of Representatives, by unanimous vote on Thursday.

This bill establishes standards and procedures for the use, monitoring and reduction of unnecessary restraint and seclusion on students with disabilities and is the first of its kind in the State of Florida.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Stingray Stingers, under the direction of Shannon Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor and Jodi Alligood, won a National Championship in Hip Hop at Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

NSB Middle's Jazz team placed second.

DELAND --New Smyrna Beach Middle School took home first place in a recent Black History Brain Bowl at Stetson University.

Members of the middle school team were Breon Clark, Anthony Little, Jalen Merrick and Devon Robinson. They were coached by Florida Crooms.

Courtesy photo. Martha Wheeler has been named "Volunteer of the Year at New Smyrna Beach Middle School for investing in the lives of children at the school.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Martha Wheeler, a volunteer at New Smyrna Beach Middle School for more than eight years, was recently named "Volunteer of the Year."

She volunteers in the media center each week and serves on the Mentor Program Board of Directors, keeping the files and records of the program in perfect order.

DEBARY -- Paul Lachelier will discuss “Communities in America” at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 210 Sunrise Blvd.

Courtesy photos / Volusia Cty. Gov't / Michelle Coats. "Hot Shot" Aundre Branch of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters visits Samsula Academy in Samula on Monday. At left, fourth-grader Donnie Padgitt with Hot Shot. At right, children see some of Hot Shot's cool basketball-handling tricks.

SAMSULA -- Fourth-grader Donnie Padgitt was among the many children at Samsula Academy on Monday to receive a fast-break visit from "Hot Shot: Aundre Branch, a member of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here are the winners of the recent regional fair at New Smyrna Beach Middle School:

Two students won Best of Show, and with it, a trophy and a prize valued at $50.
They were
Life Science: Victoria Sachs
Physical Science: Sydney Levy

FAST FACTS: Here are key numbers for the New Smyrna Beach High School graduating class of 2009

Number of graduates: 314

Valedictorian: Jurate Juozas Lukosaityte

Salutatorian: Alexander Ashley Chisholm

Total scholarships offered to graduates: $1,348,725

* In area and local scholarships: $264,500

* In college, organization, and military scholarships: $791,400

* In Bright Futures scholarships: $292,825

Courtesy photo. Jurate Lukosaityte is valedictorian of the New Smyrna Beach High School class of 2009. The 18-year-old will attend the University of Florida and major in health science. She gave the following speech to her classmates at Wednesday's graduation ceremony at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach: