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Students, teachers and business partners recognized for STEM, Envirothon and entrepreneurship
Summary
The board recognized dozens of students and community partners for district science and entrepreneurship programs: Tomoka Regional and state science fair qualifiers, Envirothon winners, pitch competition awardees and VMA-supported STEM initiatives were highlighted.
The Volusia County School Board used part of its April meeting to recognize student and community achievements in science and STEM-related programs.
Highlights: Spruce Creek High School’s Envirothon team placed second at the Florida state competition and was recognized by the board. The district named 20 projects that advanced from the Tomoka Regional Science and Engineering Fair to the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair; several students and teams received state-level recognitions and special awards. A Burnside Tech team (Abigail Aldridge and Amanda King) earned an award that will send their project to the international fair in May.
The board also presented awards and thanked the Volusia Manufacturers Association (VMA) for funding mini-grants, sponsoring STEM events and supporting young-women-in-STEM programs. VMA’s work was credited with providing more than $400,000 in mini-grant funding to local classrooms over multiple years and recent fundraising that will support more than 340 girls through the district’s young women in STEM initiatives.
The district’s pitch competition winners were named: first place went to Spruce Creek senior Gio Hoffman for a food-insecurity/waste project; second place to Spruce Creek junior Peyton Bonino for a nickel-free jewelry cleaning system concept; third place to Mainland senior Peyton Garner for a college move-in kit called The Essential Cube.
Why it matters: School and community partnerships help fund classroom resources, supplement district programs and provide hands-on career pathways for students. Board members and administrators said the awards demonstrate a pipeline from elementary science fairs to state and international competitions and reinforce partnerships with local businesses and universities.
Ending: The board took pictures with students and acknowledged volunteers, teachers and donors who staffed and sponsored the events.
