The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce and its foundation, Chamber Education Training Association (CETA), recently hosted the 44th Annual Student Recognition Banquet at Heritage Pines Country Club in Hudson.
This year’s Keynote speaker was Dr. Joanie Davis of Davis Family Hearing. The Master of Ceremonies was Steve Schurdell, Managing Partner of HITS 106. The event chair was Beverly Reso, with Ackley Dental Group.
This event could not have been possible without our Event Sponsors! Event Sponsors included:
- Trustee
- Care One of Florida – In memory of Steve Terry
- Benefactors
- Ackley Dental Group
- Barrette Outdoor Living
- Cemex, Inc.
- Domino’s of Hernando County
- Florida Department of Health in Hernando County
- Kiwanis Club of the Adventure Coast
- Saint Leo University
- The Mirador
- Walmart Distribution Center
- Patrons
- Brown & Brown Insurance
- Campbell & Company
- HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital
- Heron Publishing
- Senica Air Conditioning
- Westbridge, Inc.
Over the past 43 years, the honor student banquet has evolved from recognizing only the top 5% of high school seniors into today’s incredible Student Recognition Banquet that recognized 53 students for their outstanding contributions and excellence in the categories of Academics, Community Service, Leadership, Career & Technical, Entrepreneurial, and The Arts from the following schools:
- Central High School
- Thomas Annitto
- Ely Bor
- Coral Davis
- Kaylee Heinzman
- Pedro Moss Jr.
- Sydney Rye
- Ghordann Smith
- Brenda Trokthi
- Hernando High School
- Madison Jewel Bleich
- Joy Daniels
- Karli Kimbrough
- Michael Lineberry
- Madison Muniz
- Alison Courtney Pager
- Kay-Sha Perkins
- Ivey Whitaker
- Nature Coast Technical High School
- Morgan Culp
- Zachary Funkhouser
- Andrea Gemmati
- Leonard Iacopelli
- Gabriel Laverghetta
- Nimra Mahmood
- Mackenzie Radtke
- Olivia Schlum-Hughes
- Justin Van Cleave
- Faith Williams
- Springstead High School
- Alyssa England
- Ava Gomez
- Richie Hopper
- Talia Jaeger
- Kyle Manuel
- Joseph Masotti
- Briana Morgan
- Rowen Nardini
- Bradley Pearce
- Natalie Persaud
- Christopher Rocanelli
- Weeki Wachee High School
- Matthew Armstrong
- Victoria Goldner
- Taylor Haardt
- Sydney Hudson
- Marissa Piccinich
- Alexandra Santiago
- Sarah Santiago
- Alayna Vance
- Trista Whiteaker
- Austin Wright
- West Hernando Christian
- Stephanie Margetto
- Hannah Prack
- Spring Hill Christian Academy
- Ashley Banas
- Austin Farmerie
- Wider Horizons School
- Hannah Lindsay Chua
- Keryth Rowland
Later that evening, the Chamber and their partners awarded $23,750 in scholarships to the following:
- Academics
- Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Brenda Trokthi of Central High School
- Davis Family Hearing Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Olivia Schlum-Hughes of Nature Coast Technical High School
- Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Trista Whiteaker of Weeki Wachee High School
- Crystal Automotive / Motorcycle Group Scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Joseph Masotti of Springstead High School
- Ackley Dental Group Scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Alison Courtney Pager of Hernando High School
- President’s Award presented by Dr. Timothy Beard , President of PHSC for $1000 was awarded to Stephanie Margetto of West Hernando Christian.
- Suncoast Credit Union Scholarship for $1500 was awarded to Briana Morgan of Springstead High School
- Community Service
- A New Generation Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Ely Bor of Central High School
- Tampa Bay Times Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Morgan Culp of Nature Coast Technical High School
- Kiwanis Club of the Adventure Coast Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Alexandra Santiago of Weeki Wachee High School
- United Way of Hernando County Scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Andrea Gemmati of Nature Coast Technical High School
- Kiwanis Club of Brooksville Scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Ivey Whitaker of Hernando High School
- Accuform Scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Alyssa England of Springstead High School
- Access Health Care Scholarship for $1500 was awarded to Karli Kimbrough of Hernando High School
- Leadership
- Domino’s of Hernando County Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Joy Daniels of Hernando High School
- Kiwanis Club of the Adventure Coast Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Michael Lineberry of Hernando High School
- The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Thomas Annitto of Central High School
- The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hernando Alumni Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Victoria Goldner of Weeki Wachee High School
- The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce Board of Director Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Ava Gomez of Springstead High School
- United Way of Hernando County Scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Alayna Vance of Weeki Wachee High School
- Superintendent’s Award presented by Dr. Lori Romano for $1000 was awarded to Faith Williams of Nature Coast Technical High School
- Career & Technical
- Spring Hill Dental Associates Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Sydney Rye of Central High School
- Pasco Hernando Workforce Board Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Nimra Mahmood of Nature Coast Technical High School
- Oak Hill Hospital Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Ghordann Smith of Central High School
- Tropic Shores Realty Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Natalie Persaud of Springstead High School
- Brooksville Elementary School Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Gabriel Laverghetta of Nature Coast Technical High School
- Complete Technology Solutions Scholarship for $750 was awarded to Austin Wright of Weeki Wachee High School
- Kelly Educational Staffing Scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Madison Jewel Bleich of Hernando High School
- Century 21 Alliance Realty Scholarship for $1000 was awarded to Kaylee Heinzman of Central High School
- THE ARTS
- Anew Dawn Complete Salon Experience Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Zachary Funkhouser of Nature Coast Technical High School
- The Law Offices of Lucas/Magazine Scholarship for $500 was awarded to Talia Jaeger of Springstead High School.
Congratulations to all students of Hernando County Schools Class of 2018! A special thank you also goes out to all the sponsors and volunteers who made this incredible event possible for our future leaders.
For more information on the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce and their Pillars of Success, please contact 352-796-0697 or visit www.hernandochamber.com
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[Background] The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer-led membership organization that has over 975 members and is the only chamber in Hernando County. They are currently recognized as the 7th Largest Chamber of Commerce in the Tampa Bay Area. President/ CEO is Patricia Crowley. It was established in 1925, making it the oldest business referral source in Hernando County. The Chamber has four pillars of success: Networking, Marketing, Training and Advocacy. These four pillars identify the critical factors determining Hernando County business growth and future. Each pillar has its own events, viewpoints and objectives.
The Chamber’s non-profit, 501c3 foundation, Chamber Education Training Association (CETA) is very active in the educational arena. The mission of CETA is to receive and disburse funds which effectively operate to further the economic development, education and business training of individuals of Hernando County.
For more information on the Chamber or to donate to CETA contact, Patricia Crowley, President/CEO at 352-796-0697 or visit www.hernandochamber.com