Orange County school board holds recognition ceremony for CTE scholars, educators and community partners
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Summary
The Orange County School Board held a recognition ceremony honoring 47 career-and-technical-education scholars, multiple scholarship donors and several employees and volunteers for service to students.
Chair Jacobs opened the Orange County School Board’s recognition ceremony, saying the event “is so special that we only do this twice a year.” The board honored 47 high school seniors who completed dual enrollment through Orange Technical College and maintained an average weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher, along with AP/IB or rigorous dual-enrollment coursework.
Rosa Grant, executive leader for career and technical education, introduced the CTE scholars by name and program, and each was invited forward for a photograph and certificate. The board also recognized donors and nonprofits that provide scholarships and program support, including the Orange County Retired Educators Association and the Harris Rosen Foundation.
David McGee, chair of the Retired Educators Foundation of Orange County, told the board the foundation awarded multiple scholarships this year: 12 academic scholarships at $2,000 each, 10 Orange Technical College awards at $1,000 each, and two educator awards of $2,000 each. He named two teacher recipients, Amy Lynn Matson and Brianna Walsh, who each received $2,000.
Chair Jacobs announced a new three-year scholarship program from the Harris Rosen Foundation and invited Frank Santos, CEO of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, to speak. Santos said the Rosen Foundation’s Tangelo Park programs — free preschool, family support and college scholarships — have served as a cradle-to-career model and that the foundation intends the new OCPS scholarship program to continue beyond the initial three years. Jacobs also recounted that Santos asked permission to allow the foundation to give each board member $2,500 to award to graduating seniors; Santos then joined the board for photos with a ceremonial check.
Board members used the ceremony to recognize additional individuals and community partners. Member Vannos honored Christy Hodges, a Glenridge Middle School theater teacher whose program has advanced to state competition; another member recognized Edgewater High senior Adam Mendelson for raising more than $30,000 to bring a Holocaust exhibit to his school and for his volunteer tutoring work. Vice Chair Bird recognized Nikisha Branton, a behavior specialist at Lakeville Elementary, for performing the Heimlich maneuver to save a student, and James Wallace, a veteran bus driver, was honored for decades of service and work with students with autism. Member Felder recognized community volunteers including Doris Carlton and the Apopka Kiwanis Club for ongoing school support.
The board invited honorees and their families for photos and held a brief reception after the ceremony. Chair Jacobs closed by thanking attendees and noting the reception in the lobby.