Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, as part of Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neill’s Constitutional Officers Essay Contest, announces the winning student chosen from essays submitted by middle school students throughout Pasco County. Students from public, private, parochial, charter, online and home schools all entered the contest, which ran during the month of March. The entrants, students in Grades 6-8, were asked to answer the question “Which taxes impact you the most: local, state or federal? Why?”
A panel of judges, not knowing the age, gender, grade or school of each entrant, chose the essay written by Angie Bolton, a student at Saint Anthony’s Catholic School in San Antonio, as the winning submission. Angie’s essay best communicated her response to the topic question all while meeting the contest criteria of overall essay structure, appearance and readability.
“I am very proud of all the students who participated in this essay contest,” states Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “With some very well-written essays to choose from, the judges had a fun but difficult task to perform. Any time a student puts time and effort into their work, such as writing a lengthy essay, narrowing excellent choices down to one overall winner is always a tough call to make. However, Angie Bolton’s essay stood out as the clear choice among many excellent entries. I would like to thank Sister Alice Ottapurackal and her staff at Saint Anthony’s Catholic School for encouraging their students to participate in the contest.”
Angie Bolton was awarded a $300 Best Buy gift card at a ceremony held at Saint Anthony’s Catholic School in San Antonio on May 3, 2018. School principal Sister Alice Ottapurackal was on hand to introduce Tax Collector Mike Fasano as well as Angie Bolton and her family. The prize was awarded to Angie in front of an assembly of her peers (see photo attached). All entrants in the contest received a personal letter from Tax Collector Mike Fasano thanking them for their participation in the contest.
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office plans on participating in the essay contest again in 2019. Students who did not win this year may have the opportunity to enter again during the next school year if they are still in middle school. Additionally, the student essay contest is just one of many community-related events the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office participates in throughout the year. For more details about next year’s contest or other upcoming promotions and activities coordinated by the tax collector’s office, please do not hesitate to contact Greg Giordano, Assistant Tax Collector at 727-847-8179 or visit www.pascotaxes.com
[Photo Attached – from left to right – Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Angie Bolton, with Sister Alice Ottapurackal, Principal, standing behind]