The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners held its regular meeting on October 1, 2025, focusing on community engagement and youth leadership. The meeting began with a pledge and invocation led by Commissioner Gwen Myers, who emphasized gratitude for the county's budget and services as the new fiscal year commenced.

A significant highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Anti-Bullying Recognition Awards, which honored local youth for their efforts to combat bullying in the community. Commissioner Myers introduced Dr. Oliver Massey, chair of the Anti-Bullying Advisory Committee, who discussed the prevalence of bullying and the importance of community involvement in addressing it.

This year’s individual award went to Angelina Sike, a tenth-grade student at Tampa Preparatory School. Angelina founded a club called "Encourage Not Discourage" to raise awareness about cyberbullying among her peers. She organized meetings, gathered pledges against cyberbullying, and created a YouTube video to educate students on the issue. During her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude for the support from her family and the community.

The team award was presented to Alfredo Martel and Leandro Griffin, eighth-grade students from Wells Middle School. They developed a concept for an anti-bullying application that allows users to report bullying anonymously and provides educational resources for those who bully. Although Leandro was unable to attend, Alfredo represented their efforts and thanked his family and principal for their support.

The meeting concluded with remarks from Aliyah Ewing, a private wealth advisor, who praised the students for their proactive approach to bullying and highlighted the importance of using technology for positive change. The Board expressed pride in the youth's leadership and commitment to making a difference in their community.