nflaonline.com LLiigghhtthhoouussee CChhrriissttiiaann AAccaaddeemmyy ggrraadduuaattiioonn Mayo cceerreemmoonnyy,, PPaaggee 77AA Final Nine Weeks ACD HONOR Free Press ROLL Page 3A Vol. 126, No. 17 USPS 334-600 THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014 , Lafayette County, Florida 1 SECTION 16 PAGES 50¢ Gov. Scott presents SHINE award to LES teacher During a recent meeting of named District Teachers of and brightest in the nation worked in Lafayette County the Florida Cabinet, Gover - the Year for their respective thanks to the dedication of for the past nine years. She nor Rick Scott recognized counties. teachers across our state.” began as a VPK teacher and eight outstanding educators Governor Scott said, “I am The eight 2014-2015 District then transitioned into second for their contributions to proud to present the Gover - Teachers of the Year winners grade where she has taught learning with the Governor’s nor’s Shine Award to the invited to the meeting came the past eight years. Wimber - Shine Awards. 2014-2015 District Teachers of from Alachua, Columbia, ley was chosen as Teacher of The Shine Award is pre - the Year as we celebrate their Gadsden, Hamilton, Hillsbor - the Year because of her out - sented to Florida educators commitment to education. ough, Lafayette, Liberty and standing leadership within who have impacted the lives Every day, our great teachers Sumter counties. her second grade team of of students through the class - work to prepare our students Sunny Wimberley, Lafayette teachers, her willingness to room. The teachers recog - for success in their education County, Lafayette go above and beyond her dai - nized during the Florida Cab - and in their careers. Florida’s Elementary School inet meeting were recently students are among the best Sunny Wimberley has SEE GOV. SCOTT, PAGE 2A Sunny Wimberley Fizz, Boom, Read! Election qualifying ends Last day to register for August primary is July 28 By Joyce Marie Taylor [email protected] Qualifying for candidates wishing to run for local offices in the upcoming elec - tion ended Friday, June 20, at noon. The last day to register to vote in the August primary is Monday, July 28, when books will close. According to the Lafayette County Su - pervisor of Elections Office, the following people have qualified for each of the local offices up for election this year: County Commission District 2 Kevin Barrington (D) Gail Garrard (D) (incumbent) Thomas E. "Boogie" Pridgeon (D) Donald Becton (R) County Commission District 4 Jack Everette Byrd (D) Michael Harris (D) Martha Drew Humphries (D) Anthony Adams (R) School Board District 1 (Nonpartisan) Drummond Community Bank’s Chan Perry and new Three Rivers Library Director Dale Collum show off the Fizz, Boom, Read Darren Driver (incumbent) shirts. -Photo: Joyce Marie Taylor School Board District 3 (Nonpartisan) Marion McCray Timothy Pearson (incumbent) Children’s summer reading program Lindsey Thomas School Board District 5 (Nonpartisan) By Joyce Marie Taylor at the Rotary Club of Mayo on Lafayette County Public Library. Taylor McGrew [email protected] Wednesday, June 18, not only to Collum explained that Three Reba Trawick (incumbent) introduce himself, but to remind Rivers is the administrative head Three Rivers Regional Library everyone of the exciting summer Director Dale Collum stopped in reading program going on at SEE CHILDREN’S, PAGE 2A Mayo student receives STEM Scholar CodeRED Florida educator recognized for 34 years service commendation By Andrew McGee olution in appreciation for her many In small and rural Registration [email protected] years of service as a teacher in the districts across the Florida education system. She served state of Florida, 150 Information The Lafayette County School Board for 34 years and 28 of those were high school graduat - The Lafayette County recognized Lydia Kay Witt with a res - served in Lafayette County. ing seniors were re - Sheriff’s Office has an cently awarded the important message for STEM Scholar Com - all residents and busi - mendation from nesses located in Florida’s Commis - Lafayette County. We sioner of Education, have licensed the in recognition of CodeRED Community their completion of Ashlin Morgan Notification System to the FloridaLearns help disseminate impor - STEM Scholars program of study. tant or critical informa - In order to achieve this distinction, stu - tion through your tele - dents must meet rigorous academic re - phone systems. If you have not already SEE MAYO, PAGE 2A done so, we encourage Teacher Lydia Kay Witt, all residents and busi - center, accepts resolu - nesses to go to Lafayette tion of appreciation from the Lafayette SEE CODERED, PAGE 2A County School Board. LCSB members from left, Reba Trawick, Amanda Hickman, Su - 8 0 perintendent Robbie Ed - 1 0 0 wards, Timothy L. Pear - 3 son, Jeff Walker and F o r K i d s 12 & Under No Purchase Necessary 1 Darren Driver. - Photo: 7 8 Must Present Coupon 7 Limit 1 Per Person 6 Andrew McGee 8 Lafayette County’s news source since 1888. We’re proud to serve! PAGE 2A ~ THE MAYO FREE PRESS , Mayo, FL THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014 Mayo student receives STEM Scholar commendation Continued From Page 1A ognized that her partici - Math, and English, Ad - of forensics, she made Florida Department of The Project is focused pation in the Flori - vanced Program Com - the connection between Education’s Race to the on serving gifted and quirements by success - daLearns STEM Scholars pleter with High law and science, and de - Top award and involves talented students in fully completing Level Project had made a ma - Achievement, Florida cided to major in Crimi - a partnership among grades 9 – 12 who re - Three STEM courses in jor difference in her high Academic Scholar, and nology and pursue a ca - Florida’s three educa - side in the small and Grades 9-12, earning a school experience, and “A” Honor Roll. She not reer as a forensic scien - tional consortia, which rural school districts minimum of five to eight had influenced her fu - only graduated from tist. provide critical educa - served by PAEC, HEC, credits, based on the ture career choices. She Lafayette High School, Morgan is well on her tional support services and NEFEC. It affords number of years they expressed gratitude for but also from North way to securing not only to Florida’s small and rich opportunities for have participated in the the opportunity to par - Florida Community Col - a bright future for her - rural school districts. the participants, includ - STEM Scholars pro - ticipate in the STEM ac - lege (NFCC) Summa self, but by keeping her The consortia are Pan - ing collaborative prob - gram. tivities. Cum Laude with an amazing talents here handle Area Educational lem-solving experi - Students must have Morgan completed A.A. degree. and remaining in Florida Consortium (PAEC) in ences, leadership devel - also participated in a over 350 hours in STEM She is a member of the for higher education and northwest Florida, opment, and informa - minimum of 60 hours of related activities, which NFCC Phi Theta Kappa future careers, she is also Heartland Educational tion and experiences STEM-related extended included attending sev - Honor Society, and was helping assure a bright Consortium (HEC) in which ensure that the student learning oppor - en STEM Regional Fo - recognized as the NFCC future for Florida’s econ - south central Florida, students and their fami - tunities, such as intern - rums, two weeklong 2013-14 Environmental omy. and North East Florida lies are well informed ship/externship experi - summer camp experi - Science Outstanding The FloridaLearns Educational Consortium about STEM higher ed - ences, Summer Chal - ences, and participating Student. She also earned STEM Scholars Project is (NEFEC) in the north - ucation and career op - lenges, the University of in a variety of leadership a place on the NFCC funded through the east part of the state. tions in Florida. Florida Immersion into and volunteer services. President’s List. She will STEM, Regional Fo - She accomplished this be attending Florida rums, leadership devel - while being immersed in State University (FSU), Gov. Scott presents SHINE opment activities, and her academic studies and has received the STEM-related volunteer and a multitude of ex - FSU Freshman Scholar - and community service. tracurricular activities. ship, FSU Leadership award to LES teacher Congratulations to all In addition to receiv - Scholarship, University the STEM scholars who ing the STEM Scholar of North Florida Presi - Continued From Page 1A The Florida Teacher of edge of the subject have achieved this hon - Commendation, each of dential Scholarship, the Year is chosen from taught, professional de - or! the students accumulat - Elk’s Lodge Scholarship, ly duties and her gen - 192,000 public school velopment, philosophy Ashlin Morgan from ed a long list of achieve - and a Coca Cola Scholar - uine care and concern teachers throughout the of teaching and out - Lafayette High School in ments, honors and ship. about her students’ aca - state by a selection com - standing school and Mayo is one of the exem - scholarships. Coming into the FLSS demics and them be - mittee representing community service. The plary STEM Scholars Morgan was Valedic - project, Morgan was coming well-rounded teachers, principals, par - most important qualifi - who received the Com - torian of her senior class planning on becoming a individuals. ents and the business cation is the teacher’s mendation this year. She and received many lawyer, but after attend - Each of Florida’s 67 community. Florida’s ability to inspire a love was asked to share her awards, including the ing a Regional Forum at school districts selects a top educator is selected of learning in students of experiences with the Vocational Completer in the University of Flori - Teacher of the Year who on the basis of the supe - all backgrounds and STEM Scholars program Business & Computers da’s Center for Pre-colle - is then considered for rior ability to teach and abilities.