041521 SWB DIGITAL EDITION

n Et Al
The deadline to submit applications
for The Danniel J. Petro
Scholarships, in partnership with
the West Orange Foundation,
are due April 19, 2021, for eligible
high school seniors. This scholarship
opportunity is provided through
West Orange Foundation Inc. and
administrated by West Orange
Chamber of Commerce. The
scholarship fund was established
to make it possible for eligible students
from local high schools in
Orange County (public or private)
to further their education at Valencia
College (any campus), Orange
Technical College or the University
of Central Florida. The West Orange
Foundation is able to fund the scholarships
through the generous contributions
of the Petro Family Foundation.
To qualify, eligible senior students
must live in Dr. Phillips, Gotha,
Horizon West, Lake Avalon,
MetroWest, Oakland, Ocoee,
Orlo Vista, Pine Hills, Windermere
or Winter Garden; attend a high
school in one of those service areas;
have a current GPA of 2.75
(weighted or unweighted); and have
applied to attend Valencia College,
the University of Central Florida,
or Orange Technical College. Two
student-recipients will be awarded
a $2,500 scholarship from the Petro
Family Foundation. Download the
application at wochamber.com/
danniel-j-petro-foundation-scholarships/.
In partnership with local supporting
agencies, Orange County
Public Schools hosted the inaugural
Biomedical Science Challenge,
featuring Project Lead-the-Way’s
Biomedical Science module — the
COVID-19 Pandemic — earlier this
year. A first-of-its-kind student competition
for the district, the BMS
Challenge served to demonstrate
and model the importance of Project-
Lead-the-Way’s Biomedical Science
program to the community and showcase
the talents of OCPS students and
teachers. The challenge provided
students the opportunity to develop
Daniella Sullivan (left), Orange County
health services administrator, and Andrea
Wesser-Brawner, Orange County chief
innovation and emerging technology officer,
serve as judges for Orange County Public
Schools’ Biomedical Science Challenge.
the in-demand, transportable skills of
problem-solving and critical thinking
essential to working in today’s health
care field. Students examined the
impact of potential solutions to realworld
problems and discussed topics
that required them to consider ethical
choices. Orange County Mayor and
Southwest resident Jerry Demings
provided the keynote virtually to the
teens representing Apopka, Cypress
Creek, Ocoee, Olympia and
Windermere highs.
Orange County Public Schools officials
announced graduation dates
for the Class of 2021. They have preliminary
plans to hold all high school
graduation ceremonies in person
at Amway Center. This schedule is
based on the availability of Amway
Center during the NBA playoffs or
Solar Bears games, as well as safety
conditions due to COVID-19. Safety
precautions will include, but are not
limited to, the mandatory wearing
of face masks; social distancing;
limited ticketing (exact number per
graduate to be determined); and
strict arrival, departure and stage
procedures. All guidelines and protocols
are being developed in conjunction
with the Florida Department
of Health in Orange County and the
Amway Center. Dates and times for
www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com x April 15 — May 5, 2021 x 25
Southwest-area high school graduations
are May 17 at 8:30 a.m. for
Windermere High, May 20 at
2 p.m. for West Orange High,
May 20 at 7:30 p.m. for Olympia
High, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. for Dr.
Phillips High, and May 27 at 7:30
p.m. for Ocoee High.
The second annual OnWord
Writing Competition, presented by the
American Writers Museum (AWM),
is open for entries through June 15,
2021. The free writing competition is
part of AWM’s efforts to motivate and
inspire young writers of tomorrow.
When students are at the museum
or on a virtual field trip, they start to
better understand why writing matters
Southwest
Orlando
Teacher of
the Month
Congratulations to Southwest
Orlando Bulletin April 2021 Teacher
of the Month Roger Harvey. Mr.
Harvey was nominated by parent
Sheri Lerner. Mr. Harvey teaches
economics and government at The
First Academy. At the start of the
school year, Mr. Harvey announced
his goal to make this year the most
special year ever for seniors despite
all the restrictions of the pandemic.
He held true to his promise. While
event after event was canceled, Mr.
Harvey was hard at work creating
new opportunities. He started The
Rolling Royals bowling team, which
had more than 80 students participate
every week. Not only did this
and how they can make a difference
through their own writing. AWM invites
teachers to submit entries from
their third grade through 12th-grade
students about how they would use
writing to create change they want to
see in the world and explore it in any
form of writing that works for them: an
essay, a short story, poem, play, song,
etc. Prizes from $500 to $2,000 will
be awarded to two winners in each
grade category. Complete details
and instructions on how to enter can
be found at americanwritersmuseum.
org/onword-writing-competition.
The six winners will be filmed reading
their work, and the videos will
air at OnWord, AWM’s annual benefit,
be livestreamed on the museum’s
website, YouTube and Facebook
Aug. 31, 2021.
group give the students an activity,
but it bridged the gap of all different
groups of kids in school. Athletes,
art students, bookworms, etc., all
participated. Mr. Harvey attends
his students’ local sporting events
and regularly travels several hours
to watch them participate in postseason
competitions. Each student
receives a personal robust version of
Happy Birthday from Mr. Harvey on
his or her special day. He also finds
creative ways to teach material that
is not always interesting. Above all,
he cares most about the well-being
and character of his students, and
makes himself available for any and
all needs that arise.
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