STUDENTS EMBRACE ENVIRONMENT DURING EARTH WEEK
The Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel hosted several events in a special Earth Week celebration in April . Students , faculty , staff and community members participated in an Earth Festival — a family-friendly event with local vendors dedicated to promoting a healthy environment . Children enjoyed creating bird feeders from recycled materials , painting pet rocks , planting flowers and build-a-bunny and egg-hunt activities .
Porter Campus students with guest panelists Jennifer Wiatrowski , PHSC associate professor , biological sciences and Neal Halstead , Ph . D ., senior ecologist , Wildlands Conservation ; and Moderator Davina Jones , Ph . D ., PHSC professor , English / speech communications , offered environmentally themed presentations .
Other events included : “ Protecting the Environment Matters ” by Margo McKnight , senior vice president of conservation , research , and husbandry , Florida Aquarium ; “ Aquaponics : Where Technology Meets Sustainable Farming ” by Preston Coursey , CMF International ; and “ Designing Sustainable Communities ” by Research Professors JoAnne Fiebe and Taryn E . Sabia , University of South Florida .
The free Earth Week celebration , sponsored by The Florida Aquarium , supports PHSC ’ s commitment to engage the community in exploring and facilitating dialogue on environmental issues .
OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADERS NAMED PHSC honored 11 students with the Dr . Felisha R . Barker Outstanding Student Leader award at the 2017 Student Activities Awards Banquet held in April at the West Campus . The prestigious awards are presented in memory of the late Dr . Felisha R . Barker , a former PHSC financial aid advisor , instructor and academic and club advisor . Also a former student leader at PHSC , Barker inspired students to excel in the classroom , on campus and in the community . Dr . Barker passed away in 2005 at age 31 , after nearly a decade of employment at the college .
Dr . Felisha R . Barker Outstanding Student Leaders named in 2017 include :
Monica Baione ( West Campus , New Port Richey ) – Dedicated to helping others , Baione volunteered with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization while earning a 4.0 GPA and participating in several honor societies . After organizing a flash mob to bring mental health awareness to campus , the group was invited to re-enact the dance at the opening ceremony for the Southern Organization of Human Services Conference .
Ashley Bozarth ( Spring Hill Campus ) – Starting with a desire to help others , Bozarth grew into a true leader , establishing the Rotaract Club on the Spring Hill Campus . With her club , the talented artist won the local Swamp Monster Competition at Weeki Wachee last spring . Events she organized benefited pet adoption and built awareness of social issues .
Diana Castro Jaramillo ( Spring Hill Campus ) – A Phi Theta Kappa ( PTK ) and Psi Beta member , Jamarillo was named to the All-Florida Academic Team . Courage and determination helped Castro succeed at PHSC . Originally , from Manizales , Colombia , learning English was among the many challenges Jaramillo has faced since arriving in the United States .
Devon Chavarria ( Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch , Wesley Chapel ) – Chavarria faces challenges , boldly , thinking outside the box and making difficult decisions . As a full-time student taking rigorous engineering coursework , he also managed to work full time and serve as Porter Campus Student Government Association president .
20 PHSC Perspective