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MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS, EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Jessica Vaughn: THE BOARD RECOGNITION MEETING OF APRIL 15, 2025, IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.

I'M JESSICA VAUGHN, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN STARTING WITH OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND CONTINUING WITH ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. I'M KAREN PEREZ, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE, WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. [SPEAKING SPANISH] OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32.

MEMBER GRAY, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MOMENT OF SILENCE DEDICATED TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS. THANK YOU. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] OKAY. THANK YOU ALL.

MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS, EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Jessica Vaughn: THE BOARD RECOGNITION MEETING OF APRIL 15, 2025, IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.

LET'S PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER PEREZ. AS WE BEGIN THIS EVENING'S RECOGNITION MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT FOR OUR RECOGNITION MEETING. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. AT RECOGNITION MEETINGS, WE RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AMONG OTHERS, BUT WILL NOT BE APPROVING ANY ITEMS OF BUSINESS. KEEP IN MIND THAT STAFF HAS WORKED HARD TRYING TO KEEP A TIGHT SCHEDULE SO THAT THIS MEETING FLOWS SMOOTHLY AND CONCLUDES TIMELY. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS BRIEF. THE MEETING WILL ADJOURN AFTER THE LAST RECOGNITION. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PHOTOGRAPH THE STUDENTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME UP WHEN CALLED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR RECOGNITION MEETING. NOW WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR RECOGNITIONS. A 101, RECOGNITION OF DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR 2025, DR.

MEMBER GRAY, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MOMENT OF SILENCE DEDICATED TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS. THANK YOU. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] OKAY. THANK YOU ALL.

CLAYTON NILON, SUPERVISOR OF 9-12 SCIENCE AND DR. GAIL STUART, SUPERVISOR OF 9-12 MATH WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD CHAIR VAUGHN, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND DISTRICT STAFF. THIS EVENING, DR. NYLON AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HIGHLIGHTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLARS. EACH YEAR, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SEEKS OUT THE HIGHEST ACHIEVING MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE STUDENTS IN GRADE 11 FROM ACROSS FLORIDA. THIS YEAR, WE SELECTED THREE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS TO REPRESENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS OUR SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLARS. THESE THREE STUDENTS HAVE EXEMPLIFIED EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH, AND WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR THEM HERE TONIGHT. EACH STUDENT HAS EARNED RECOGNITION FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THEY ARE ALSO EARNING A MEDAL AND CERTIFICATE FROM US. THIS YEAR'S SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLARS ARE CASEY AYRES FROM NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL.

LET'S PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER PEREZ. AS WE BEGIN THIS EVENING'S RECOGNITION MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT FOR OUR RECOGNITION MEETING. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. AT RECOGNITION MEETINGS, WE RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AMONG OTHERS, BUT WILL NOT BE APPROVING ANY ITEMS OF BUSINESS. KEEP IN MIND THAT STAFF HAS WORKED HARD TRYING TO KEEP A TIGHT SCHEDULE SO THAT THIS MEETING FLOWS SMOOTHLY AND CONCLUDES TIMELY. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS BRIEF. THE MEETING WILL ADJOURN AFTER THE LAST RECOGNITION. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PHOTOGRAPH THE STUDENTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME UP WHEN CALLED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR RECOGNITION MEETING. NOW WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR RECOGNITIONS. A 101, RECOGNITION OF DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR 2025, DR.

LUIS RONDON FROM LETO HIGH SCHOOL. AND ROHAN MORGAN FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: DO WE WANT TO STAND FOR PICTURES? THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT WAY TO START THE MEETING. A 02, RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS STUDENT SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIMENTS PROGRAM. AND THE MISSION PATCH COMPETITION MISSION 19. DR. KATHERINE WHITE, SUPERVISOR OF K-12 S.T.E.M. WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD CHAIR VAUGHN, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND DISTRICT STAFF. TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HIGHLIGHTING THE SSEP STUDENTS WHICH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADES 5-8 TO HAVE THEIR SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FLOWN TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SSEP PROPOSALS BY STUDENTS WERE JUDGED BY A COMMITTEE OF LOCAL STEM LEADERS. IT WAS THEN SUBMITTED TO SSEP IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE A TEAM OF PRACTICING SCIENTISTS EVALUATED THE PROPOSAL AND SELECTED THE TOP EXPERIMENT TO FLY. THIS IS THE DISTRICT'S 12th YEAR TO LAUNCH A PROJECT TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, MAKING US THE LONGEST THERE YOU WILL K-12 DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY TO DO SO.

CLAYTON NILON, SUPERVISOR OF 9-12 SCIENCE AND DR. GAIL STUART, SUPERVISOR OF 9-12 MATH WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD CHAIR VAUGHN, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND DISTRICT STAFF. THIS EVENING, DR. NYLON AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HIGHLIGHTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLARS. EACH YEAR, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SEEKS OUT THE HIGHEST ACHIEVING MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE STUDENTS IN GRADE 11 FROM ACROSS FLORIDA. THIS YEAR, WE SELECTED THREE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS TO REPRESENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS OUR SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLARS. THESE THREE STUDENTS HAVE EXEMPLIFIED EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH, AND WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR THEM HERE TONIGHT. EACH STUDENT HAS EARNED RECOGNITION FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THEY ARE ALSO EARNING A MEDAL AND CERTIFICATE FROM US. THIS YEAR'S SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLARS ARE CASEY AYRES FROM NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL.

ADDITIONALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE MISSION PATCH COMPETITION WHERE STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 CREATED A MISSION PATCH WHICH WILL ALSO FLY INTO SPACE AS PART OF THE PAYLOAD CONTAINING THE EXPERIMENT. THE TWO WINNING PATCHES WILL BE RETURNED TO THE STUDENTS WITH AN EMBOSSED CERTIFICATE STATING THAT THE PATCH FLEW INTO SPACE. THE SSEP PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY OUR PARTNERS AT THE SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION THROUGH THEIR FOUNDATION. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. LORI BRADNER, THE LEAD FACILITATOR AT RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL. THANK YOU, DR. WHITE. MADAM CHAIR, HONORABLE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES AND ALL THE SUPERINTENDENT STAFF, OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY IMMENSELY PROUD OF THESE STUDENTS AND THE HARD WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THIS CHALLENGING MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR DEDICATED TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS.

LUIS RONDON FROM LETO HIGH SCHOOL. AND ROHAN MORGAN FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: DO WE WANT TO STAND FOR PICTURES? THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT WAY TO START THE MEETING. A 02, RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS STUDENT SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIMENTS PROGRAM. AND THE MISSION PATCH COMPETITION MISSION 19. DR. KATHERINE WHITE, SUPERVISOR OF K-12 S.T.E.M. WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD CHAIR VAUGHN, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND DISTRICT STAFF. TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HIGHLIGHTING THE SSEP STUDENTS WHICH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADES 5-8 TO HAVE THEIR SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FLOWN TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SSEP PROPOSALS BY STUDENTS WERE JUDGED BY A COMMITTEE OF LOCAL STEM LEADERS. IT WAS THEN SUBMITTED TO SSEP IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE A TEAM OF PRACTICING SCIENTISTS EVALUATED THE PROPOSAL AND SELECTED THE TOP EXPERIMENT TO FLY. THIS IS THE DISTRICT'S 12th YEAR TO LAUNCH A PROJECT TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, MAKING US THE LONGEST THERE YOU WILL K-12 DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY TO DO SO.

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. COLIN GIRDING FROM RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL. TAMMY AT MANISCALCO K-8. THE STEM DIRECTOR, STEVIE HODGKINS AND ALL OUR DEDICATED STAFF, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND CERTAINLY OUR HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK-YOU TO MS. MARY VAUGHN. WITHOUT MARY VAUGHN'S DREAM, HER PASSION, HER SUPPORT, AND HER CONTINUED EFFORT, I WILL TELL YOU THIS SSEP PROGRAM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A REALITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. INDEED, ALL OF US TOGETHER, WE ARE THE LAUNCHPAD FOR OUR STUDENTS SUCCESS. I AM PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT OUR SSEP TEAM, OUR WINNING TEAM, THEY WILL BE -- THEY ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO FLY THEIR EXPERIMENT ON MAY 21. AS WITH ALL THINGS NASA, WE ARE IN A HOLDING PATTERN. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE INDEFINITE HOLD AS DREAM CHASER ORB ONE RIGHT NOW IS ON AN INDEFINITE DELAY. WE ARE STILL CHASING THE DREAM AND WE ARE WAITING TO FIND OUT WHEN THEY WILL ACTUALLY LAUNCH.

ADDITIONALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE MISSION PATCH COMPETITION WHERE STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 CREATED A MISSION PATCH WHICH WILL ALSO FLY INTO SPACE AS PART OF THE PAYLOAD CONTAINING THE EXPERIMENT. THE TWO WINNING PATCHES WILL BE RETURNED TO THE STUDENTS WITH AN EMBOSSED CERTIFICATE STATING THAT THE PATCH FLEW INTO SPACE. THE SSEP PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY OUR PARTNERS AT THE SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION THROUGH THEIR FOUNDATION. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. LORI BRADNER, THE LEAD FACILITATOR AT RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL. THANK YOU, DR. WHITE. MADAM CHAIR, HONORABLE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES AND ALL THE SUPERINTENDENT STAFF, OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY IMMENSELY PROUD OF THESE STUDENTS AND THE HARD WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THIS CHALLENGING MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR DEDICATED TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR TEAM IS ACTUALLY COMMITTED AND SCHEDULED TO PRESENT AT THE SSEP CONFERENCE. IT IS A NATIONAL CONFERENCE THAT WILL BE HELD JULY 2 AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IS TO MEET OUR STUDENT SCIENTISTS. I HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE TO WELCOME THEM UP. IF YOU WOULD LINE UP, INCLUDING OUR MISSION PATCH WINNERS. YOU MAY COME UP. AS I CALL YOUR NAME. PLEASE STAY IN FRONT FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPH. FOR THE EXPERIMENT, MUNG BEANS IN MICROGRAVITY, THE TEAM FROM RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS GRAYSON JONES, SIXTH GRADE. SHRAVAN KARTHICK, 6th GRADE AND PLATON DROZDOV, 7th GRADE. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL OF YOU. OUR MISSION PATCH WINNERS WE'LL GET THEM ALL UP, HONORABLE BOARD. MISSION PATCH COMPETITION, PLEASE CONNECT STUDENTS WITH THE ARTS IN S.T.E.M. IT INTEGRATES THE ARTS IN S.T.E.M. THE WINNING PATCHES AS DR. WHITE SAID WILL FLY WITH THE EXPERIMENT.

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. COLIN GIRDING FROM RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL. TAMMY AT MANISCALCO K-8. THE STEM DIRECTOR, STEVIE HODGKINS AND ALL OUR DEDICATED STAFF, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND CERTAINLY OUR HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK-YOU TO MS. MARY VAUGHN. WITHOUT MARY VAUGHN'S DREAM, HER PASSION, HER SUPPORT, AND HER CONTINUED EFFORT, I WILL TELL YOU THIS SSEP PROGRAM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A REALITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. INDEED, ALL OF US TOGETHER, WE ARE THE LAUNCHPAD FOR OUR STUDENTS SUCCESS. I AM PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT OUR SSEP TEAM, OUR WINNING TEAM, THEY WILL BE -- THEY ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO FLY THEIR EXPERIMENT ON MAY 21. AS WITH ALL THINGS NASA, WE ARE IN A HOLDING PATTERN. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE INDEFINITE HOLD AS DREAM CHASER ORB ONE RIGHT NOW IS ON AN INDEFINITE DELAY. WE ARE STILL CHASING THE DREAM AND WE ARE WAITING TO FIND OUT WHEN THEY WILL ACTUALLY LAUNCH.

THEY WILL COME BACK WITH A CERTIFICATE. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISPLAYED AT THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR WINNER FROM GRADE K-5, OUR SSEP MISSION 19 WINNER, FIFTH GRADE, SAMANTHA YANEZ CUERVO. COME ON UP. A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO HER TEACHER, STACY SUMMERS, FOR HER SUPPORT. AND I AM PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT THE MUNG BEAN TEAM, THAT INCLUDES GRAYSON JONES, SHRAVAN KARTHICK AND PLATON DROZDOV ARE THE SECOND MISSION PATCH WINNERS. THEY WILL NOT ONLY HAVE THEIR EXPERIMENT BUT THEIR MISSION PATCH FLY. SO CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN. HONORABLE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, I CAN ASSURE YOU SCIENCE AND THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE AND OUR DISTRICT ARE IN GOOD HANDS AND WE ARE ALL GO FOR LAUNCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR TEAM IS ACTUALLY COMMITTED AND SCHEDULED TO PRESENT AT THE SSEP CONFERENCE. IT IS A NATIONAL CONFERENCE THAT WILL BE HELD JULY 2 AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IS TO MEET OUR STUDENT SCIENTISTS. I HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE TO WELCOME THEM UP. IF YOU WOULD LINE UP, INCLUDING OUR MISSION PATCH WINNERS. YOU MAY COME UP. AS I CALL YOUR NAME. PLEASE STAY IN FRONT FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPH. FOR THE EXPERIMENT, MUNG BEANS IN MICROGRAVITY, THE TEAM FROM RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS GRAYSON JONES, SIXTH GRADE. SHRAVAN KARTHICK, 6th GRADE AND PLATON DROZDOV, 7th GRADE. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL OF YOU. OUR MISSION PATCH WINNERS WE'LL GET THEM ALL UP, HONORABLE BOARD. MISSION PATCH COMPETITION, PLEASE CONNECT STUDENTS WITH THE ARTS IN S.T.E.M. IT INTEGRATES THE ARTS IN S.T.E.M. THE WINNING PATCHES AS DR. WHITE SAID WILL FLY WITH THE EXPERIMENT.

Jessica Vaughn: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, MEMBER COMBS. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO A 03, RECOGNITION OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND SECONDARY WINNERS OF THE 2025 HILLSBOROUGH REGIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS FAIR AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2025 STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR. THE SUPERVISOR OF K-5 SCIENCE AND NICOLE, SUPERVISOR OF K-8 SCIENCE, DR. CLAYTON, SUPERVISOR OF 9-12 SCIENCE AND DR. KATHERINE WHITE, SUPERVISOR OF K-12 S.T.E.M. WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, AGAIN, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD CHAIR VAUGHN, SUPERVISOR AYRES AND DISTRICT STAFF. THE K-12 SCIENCE SUPERVISORS AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HIGHLIGHTING THE BEST OF FAIR WINNERS, STATE OF FLORIDA, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR TEAM AND OUR INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR REPRESENTATIVES. 45th REGIONAL STEM FAIR FEBRUARY 11 AND 12 AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER. OVER 1400 STUDENT PROJECTS WERE SHOWCASED DURING THE K-12 EVENT WITH HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS BEING RECOGNIZED AS CATEGORICAL AND SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS.

THEY WILL COME BACK WITH A CERTIFICATE. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISPLAYED AT THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR WINNER FROM GRADE K-5, OUR SSEP MISSION 19 WINNER, FIFTH GRADE, SAMANTHA YANEZ CUERVO. COME ON UP. A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO HER TEACHER, STACY SUMMERS, FOR HER SUPPORT. AND I AM PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT THE MUNG BEAN TEAM, THAT INCLUDES GRAYSON JONES, SHRAVAN KARTHICK AND PLATON DROZDOV ARE THE SECOND MISSION PATCH WINNERS. THEY WILL NOT ONLY HAVE THEIR EXPERIMENT BUT THEIR MISSION PATCH FLY. SO CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN. HONORABLE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, I CAN ASSURE YOU SCIENCE AND THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE AND OUR DISTRICT ARE IN GOOD HANDS AND WE ARE ALL GO FOR LAUNCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PROVIDED SPECIAL AWARDS, HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER JUDGES, THE TAMPA BAY ARTS & EDUCATION NETWORK AND SPONSORS INCLUDING BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB AND TECO FOR HELPING US MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR ELEMENTARY SUPERVISOR, SHAWNA TOE RADO. THANK YOU. OUR REGIONAL FAIR INCLUDED A VIRTUAL OPTION FOR OUR K-5 STUDENT SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND INVENTORS, ALLOWING OVER 6,000 STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN THE COMPETITION. STUDENTS OF THE S.T.E.M. FAIR WERE SELECTED AS FINALISTS FROM THEIR SCHOOLS, RECOGNIZED DURING THE VIRTUAL BROADCAST AND RECEIVED A LANYARD, PEN AND MANY AWARDS. THEY REPRESENT OUR FUTURE SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND INVENTORS WITH CREATIVE AND INSPIRING IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS. EACH YEAR, WE RECOGNIZE BEST OF FAIR WINNERS. THE WINNING PROJECTS ARE SELECTED BY A COMMITTEE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND S.T.E.M.

Jessica Vaughn: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, MEMBER COMBS. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO A 03, RECOGNITION OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND SECONDARY WINNERS OF THE 2025 HILLSBOROUGH REGIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS FAIR AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2025 STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR. THE SUPERVISOR OF K-5 SCIENCE AND NICOLE, SUPERVISOR OF K-8 SCIENCE, DR. CLAYTON, SUPERVISOR OF 9-12 SCIENCE AND DR. KATHERINE WHITE, SUPERVISOR OF K-12 S.T.E.M. WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, AGAIN, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD CHAIR VAUGHN, SUPERVISOR AYRES AND DISTRICT STAFF. THE K-12 SCIENCE SUPERVISORS AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HIGHLIGHTING THE BEST OF FAIR WINNERS, STATE OF FLORIDA, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR TEAM AND OUR INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR REPRESENTATIVES. 45th REGIONAL STEM FAIR FEBRUARY 11 AND 12 AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER. OVER 1400 STUDENT PROJECTS WERE SHOWCASED DURING THE K-12 EVENT WITH HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS BEING RECOGNIZED AS CATEGORICAL AND SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS.

PROFESSIONALS. I PRESENT TO YOU OUR ELEMENTARY BEST OF FAIR WINNERS. OUR GRADE 3 BEST OF FAIR WINNER, MARLOWE DOUGHERTY FROM ROLAND PARK K-8. MARLOWE'S PROJECT, SUN SMARTS FOR JDM TESTING OUR BEST DEFENSES, THROUGH THE USE OF UV BEADS, MARLOWE DISCOVERED THE TYPE OF SUN SHIRT THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE STRONGEST PROTECTION FOR KIDS LIKE HER WITH JDM, A RARE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE WORSENED BY SUN EXPOSURE. MARLOWE IS JOINED BY HER PRINCIPAL CARA VON ANCKEN. OUR FOURTH GRADE BEST OF FAIR, EVELYN HILL FROM PRIDE ELEMENTARY. EVELYN'S PROJECT DEBRIVATOR IS AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE THAT CAN PICK UP DEBRIS AFTER A STORM. EVELYN IS JOINED BY HER TEACHER, CRYSTAL CAM RENO. OUR GRADE 5 BEST OF FAIR JUSTIN GALLO-CASTILLO FROM LUTZ K-8. HIS PROJECT LAND HO! , JUSTIN COLLECTED DATA ON THE SHAPE OF A SAILBOAT SAIL TO DETERMINE WHICH DESIGN WOULD ALLOW THE BOAT TO GET TO ITS DESTINATION FASTEST.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PROVIDED SPECIAL AWARDS, HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER JUDGES, THE TAMPA BAY ARTS & EDUCATION NETWORK AND SPONSORS INCLUDING BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB AND TECO FOR HELPING US MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR ELEMENTARY SUPERVISOR, SHAWNA TOE RADO. THANK YOU. OUR REGIONAL FAIR INCLUDED A VIRTUAL OPTION FOR OUR K-5 STUDENT SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND INVENTORS, ALLOWING OVER 6,000 STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN THE COMPETITION. STUDENTS OF THE S.T.E.M. FAIR WERE SELECTED AS FINALISTS FROM THEIR SCHOOLS, RECOGNIZED DURING THE VIRTUAL BROADCAST AND RECEIVED A LANYARD, PEN AND MANY AWARDS. THEY REPRESENT OUR FUTURE SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND INVENTORS WITH CREATIVE AND INSPIRING IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS. EACH YEAR, WE RECOGNIZE BEST OF FAIR WINNERS. THE WINNING PROJECTS ARE SELECTED BY A COMMITTEE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND S.T.E.M.

JUSTIN IS JOINED BY HIS PRINCIPAL, JOSHUA PHILLIPS. Jessica Vaughn: CONGRATULATIONS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPERVISOR, NICOLE AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL SUPERVISOR DR. CLAYTON NYLON. THE SECONDARY PORTION OF THE REGIONAL FAIR HOSTS STUDENTS AND PROJECTS IN 13 MAJOR CATEGORIES. THE WINNING PROJECT IN EACH OF THE 13 CATEGORIES ARE SELECTED BY A COMMITTEE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND S.T.E.M. PROFESSIONALS. FROM THOSE 13 FIRST-PLACE WINNING PROJECTS, ONE BEST OF FAIR IS SELECTED FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL JUNIOR DIVISION AND ONE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DIVISION. EACH YEAR IT IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO SELECT THE STUDENT AND PROJECT THAT IS AWARDED BEST OF FAIR, WHICH MAKES THIS AWARD SUCH A HIGH HONOR TO RECEIVE. WE PRESENT TO YOU OUR SECONDARY BEST OF FAIR WINNERS. FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL JUNIOR BEST OF FAIR STUDENT TANISHKA CHINTHAMANENI. TANISHKA IS FROM WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS BROOKLYN AND BENSON MSEBELE.

PROFESSIONALS. I PRESENT TO YOU OUR ELEMENTARY BEST OF FAIR WINNERS. OUR GRADE 3 BEST OF FAIR WINNER, MARLOWE DOUGHERTY FROM ROLAND PARK K-8. MARLOWE'S PROJECT, SUN SMARTS FOR JDM TESTING OUR BEST DEFENSES, THROUGH THE USE OF UV BEADS, MARLOWE DISCOVERED THE TYPE OF SUN SHIRT THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE STRONGEST PROTECTION FOR KIDS LIKE HER WITH JDM, A RARE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE WORSENED BY SUN EXPOSURE. MARLOWE IS JOINED BY HER PRINCIPAL CARA VON ANCKEN. OUR FOURTH GRADE BEST OF FAIR, EVELYN HILL FROM PRIDE ELEMENTARY. EVELYN'S PROJECT DEBRIVATOR IS AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE THAT CAN PICK UP DEBRIS AFTER A STORM. EVELYN IS JOINED BY HER TEACHER, CRYSTAL CAM RENO. OUR GRADE 5 BEST OF FAIR JUSTIN GALLO-CASTILLO FROM LUTZ K-8. HIS PROJECT LAND HO! , JUSTIN COLLECTED DATA ON THE SHAPE OF A SAILBOAT SAIL TO DETERMINE WHICH DESIGN WOULD ALLOW THE BOAT TO GET TO ITS DESTINATION FASTEST.

WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE. HER TEACHER COULD NOT BE HERE. THE PROJECT TITLE: CHEMISTRY: BLOOD VERSUS BLEACH WON HER BEST OF FAIR IN THE JUNIOR CATEGORY. FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR BEST OF FAIR, WE HAVE DANIEL PARK FROM KING HIGH SCHOOL. DANIEL'S PROJECT WHICH IS TITLED: OPTIMIZING PERCHLORATE BIOREMEDIATION ANALYZING THE ROLE OF FE-S COMPLEXES AND SULFATES IN PCRABCD PROTEIN ACTIVITY THROUGH NOVEL DOCKING SIMULATIONS. DANIEL IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PRINCIPAL GREGORY BASHAM. CONGRATULATIONS, DANIEL. THE STUDENTS CAN STAY. IN ADDITION TO OUR REGIONAL AWARDS, 34 MIDDLE AND SECONDARY STUDENTS QUALIFIED TO COMPETE AT THE STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN LAKELAND. FROM MARCH 25th TO THE 27th. THREE OF THESE STUDENTS WILL MOVE ON TO REPRESENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, IN MAY, COMPETING AGAINST OVER 2,000 STUDENTS FROM EVERY STATE AND MORE THAN 70 COUNTRIES. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PROJECTS THAT WERE SELECTED TO COMPETE AT THE STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN LAKELAND INCLUDE TANISHA CHINTHAMANENI.

JUSTIN IS JOINED BY HIS PRINCIPAL, JOSHUA PHILLIPS. Jessica Vaughn: CONGRATULATIONS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPERVISOR, NICOLE AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL SUPERVISOR DR. CLAYTON NYLON. THE SECONDARY PORTION OF THE REGIONAL FAIR HOSTS STUDENTS AND PROJECTS IN 13 MAJOR CATEGORIES. THE WINNING PROJECT IN EACH OF THE 13 CATEGORIES ARE SELECTED BY A COMMITTEE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND S.T.E.M. PROFESSIONALS. FROM THOSE 13 FIRST-PLACE WINNING PROJECTS, ONE BEST OF FAIR IS SELECTED FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL JUNIOR DIVISION AND ONE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DIVISION. EACH YEAR IT IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO SELECT THE STUDENT AND PROJECT THAT IS AWARDED BEST OF FAIR, WHICH MAKES THIS AWARD SUCH A HIGH HONOR TO RECEIVE. WE PRESENT TO YOU OUR SECONDARY BEST OF FAIR WINNERS. FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL JUNIOR BEST OF FAIR STUDENT TANISHKA CHINTHAMANENI. TANISHKA IS FROM WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS BROOKLYN AND BENSON MSEBELE.

A GROUP PROJECT. WE HAD MAHI PATEL FROM LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL. TANEESH. LUCA SANTAYANA AND AVI TYAGI AND RUTHIE FRIDY FROM ROLAND K 8. Jessica Vaughn: CONGRATULATIONS. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH HIGH SCHOOL. THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PROJECTS THAT WERE SELECTED TO COMPETE AT THE STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN LAKELAND INCLUDE RUDRA PATEL. KRISH TANEJA, DANIEL PARK, BODAKA, MAK AND GUPTA. SHIVIN ANAND. VIDYARTH. KOHANA AND NAVITA. SRIJAN, SIDDHARTH, DAKSHESH. ARJUN SURESH. YOUSSEF ALHAMZAWI. SWARA PATEL. Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT, PARENTS. HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO TAKE YOUR PICTURES. FANTASTIC. OUTSTANDING. CONGRATULATIONS. ONE LAST THING I NEED TO MENTION, THE THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE GOING TO THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR ARE DANIEL PARK FROM KING HIGH SCHOOL. TANISHA FROM STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH SCHOOL. AND RUJA PATEL. AND THEY WILL BE HEADING THERE IN MAY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, I SAY GOOD LUCK, BUT I HAVE THE FEELING YOU WON'T NEED IT.

WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE. HER TEACHER COULD NOT BE HERE. THE PROJECT TITLE: CHEMISTRY: BLOOD VERSUS BLEACH WON HER BEST OF FAIR IN THE JUNIOR CATEGORY. FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR BEST OF FAIR, WE HAVE DANIEL PARK FROM KING HIGH SCHOOL. DANIEL'S PROJECT WHICH IS TITLED: OPTIMIZING PERCHLORATE BIOREMEDIATION ANALYZING THE ROLE OF FE-S COMPLEXES AND SULFATES IN PCRABCD PROTEIN ACTIVITY THROUGH NOVEL DOCKING SIMULATIONS. DANIEL IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PRINCIPAL GREGORY BASHAM. CONGRATULATIONS, DANIEL. THE STUDENTS CAN STAY. IN ADDITION TO OUR REGIONAL AWARDS, 34 MIDDLE AND SECONDARY STUDENTS QUALIFIED TO COMPETE AT THE STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN LAKELAND. FROM MARCH 25th TO THE 27th. THREE OF THESE STUDENTS WILL MOVE ON TO REPRESENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, IN MAY, COMPETING AGAINST OVER 2,000 STUDENTS FROM EVERY STATE AND MORE THAN 70 COUNTRIES. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PROJECTS THAT WERE SELECTED TO COMPETE AT THE STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN LAKELAND INCLUDE TANISHA CHINTHAMANENI.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET THESE RECOGNITIONS KEEP GOING. THEY ARE FANTASTIC. NEXT A 04, RECOGNITION OF HILLSBOROUGH ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS 2025 BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL STUDENT CHAMPIONS. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERVISOR AYRES, ON BEHALF OF DR. ANDREW BEVERLY, I'M HERE WITH OUR SUPERVISOR OF SOCIAL STUDIES, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MARIE ROGERS, MIDDLE SCHOOL ERIC GAVIN AND HIGH SCHOOL KELLY BRENNAN. I AM THE PAST PRESIDENT OF HABSE, HILLSBOROUGH ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS, WHO WAS FOUNDED IN 1993 BY DR. SAM HORTON WHO OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES CENTER IS NAMED AFTER. ALONG WITH OTHER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATORS. HABSE WORKS TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT OBSTRUCT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS AND SUPPORTS ADULTS WHO SERVE THEM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TO PRESENT OUR WINNERS OF THE HABSE BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY TASK FORCE AND PRESENTED BY HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

A GROUP PROJECT. WE HAD MAHI PATEL FROM LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL. TANEESH. LUCA SANTAYANA AND AVI TYAGI AND RUTHIE FRIDY FROM ROLAND K 8. Jessica Vaughn: CONGRATULATIONS. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH HIGH SCHOOL. THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PROJECTS THAT WERE SELECTED TO COMPETE AT THE STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR IN LAKELAND INCLUDE RUDRA PATEL. KRISH TANEJA, DANIEL PARK, BODAKA, MAK AND GUPTA. SHIVIN ANAND. VIDYARTH. KOHANA AND NAVITA. SRIJAN, SIDDHARTH, DAKSHESH. ARJUN SURESH. YOUSSEF ALHAMZAWI. SWARA PATEL. Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT, PARENTS. HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO TAKE YOUR PICTURES. FANTASTIC. OUTSTANDING. CONGRATULATIONS. ONE LAST THING I NEED TO MENTION, THE THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE GOING TO THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR ARE DANIEL PARK FROM KING HIGH SCHOOL. TANISHA FROM STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH SCHOOL. AND RUJA PATEL. AND THEY WILL BE HEADING THERE IN MAY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, I SAY GOOD LUCK, BUT I HAVE THE FEELING YOU WON'T NEED IT.

THE STUDENTS LEARNED THE HISTORY AND STUDIED FOR NUMEROUS MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR THE COMPETITION. AT MANY SCHOOLS, SITE-BASED COMPETITIONS WERE HELD TO DETERMINE WHO WAS GOING TO BE ON THEIR TEAM. DURING THE SEMIFINALS, ONE POINT DETERMINED WHO WAS GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE FINALS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN APPLAUDING TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE STUDENTS WHO WERE DEDICATED TO LEARNING THE HISTORY AND COMPETING AND CONGRATULATING OUR WINNERS. WE HAD OVER 100 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE AND WE ARE GROWING EVERY YEAR. THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE TEAM MEMBERS AND SCHOOLS WON PRIZES AND FIRST PLACE TEAMS WON TROPHIES. TEAMS, AS YOUR NAMES ARE CALLED AND SCHOOLS ARE CALLED, PLEASE COME ON UP. WE HAVE THIRD PLACE, ADUM K-8, COACHES JULIET RODRIGUES AND WE HAVE RAMSAY SCHRUTT, LEO PHAM, OWEN FLEISHER, GAVIN BRITT AND CHRISTIAN BONNICI AND MR. COSTANZA REPRESENTING AS THE ADMINISTRATION. SECOND PLACE, WE HAVE CLARK ELEMENTARY WITH ERIK FASSEL AS COACH.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET THESE RECOGNITIONS KEEP GOING. THEY ARE FANTASTIC. NEXT A 04, RECOGNITION OF HILLSBOROUGH ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS 2025 BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL STUDENT CHAMPIONS. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERVISOR AYRES, ON BEHALF OF DR. ANDREW BEVERLY, I'M HERE WITH OUR SUPERVISOR OF SOCIAL STUDIES, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MARIE ROGERS, MIDDLE SCHOOL ERIC GAVIN AND HIGH SCHOOL KELLY BRENNAN. I AM THE PAST PRESIDENT OF HABSE, HILLSBOROUGH ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS, WHO WAS FOUNDED IN 1993 BY DR. SAM HORTON WHO OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES CENTER IS NAMED AFTER. ALONG WITH OTHER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATORS. HABSE WORKS TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT OBSTRUCT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS AND SUPPORTS ADULTS WHO SERVE THEM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TO PRESENT OUR WINNERS OF THE HABSE BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY TASK FORCE AND PRESENTED BY HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

STUDENTS, LUCY SHERWOOD, LILA SHERWOOD, EFRATA KIBIREGETA. AND OUR FIRST PLACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNERS, THE WILD CATS OF RIVERHILLS ELEMENTARY. PRINCIPAL CRYSTAL BROWN, VERONICA REED AND TERESA KELLY. JADA WILSON, AMARRE SALES, VIVAAN PANDITHARAJAN, AALIYAH JACKSON, RANIYA HERRING. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE TEAMS. BOARD, IF WE COULD PLEASE HAVE YOU STAND WITH A PICTURE. NICE JOB! GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE HAVE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAMPIONS. THIRD PLACE, WE HAVE ADUM K-8 AGAIN. WITH MR. COSTANZA, TRACY TILOTTA AS COACH. CAMILLA TARPEY, MADELEINE SCHMIDT, NATALIE PLATS, BLAKE, YANCARLOS. SECOND PLACE, BENITO MIDDLE SCHOOL. AIDEN WICHMAN. ALAYNA WASHINGTON. SIA VYAS. THE FIRST GRADE, MUSTANGS OF MULRENNAN MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH CHRISTY BROOKS AND CHAD VAN HOOVER. STUDENTS PEYTON HOOVER. TRINABH HAINA. KALEB KUBERSKI, ROSEANNE JOE AND BLAKE IILAND. BOARD, IF YOU COULD STAND UP FOR A PICTURE. Jessica Vaughn: FANTASTIC. WE DO WANT TO SAY THERE ARE NUMEROUS EVENTS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING IN TODAY, SO A LOT OF THEM WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT FROM SPORTING, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION, SENIOR NIGHTS.

THE STUDENTS LEARNED THE HISTORY AND STUDIED FOR NUMEROUS MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR THE COMPETITION. AT MANY SCHOOLS, SITE-BASED COMPETITIONS WERE HELD TO DETERMINE WHO WAS GOING TO BE ON THEIR TEAM. DURING THE SEMIFINALS, ONE POINT DETERMINED WHO WAS GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE FINALS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN APPLAUDING TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE STUDENTS WHO WERE DEDICATED TO LEARNING THE HISTORY AND COMPETING AND CONGRATULATING OUR WINNERS. WE HAD OVER 100 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE AND WE ARE GROWING EVERY YEAR. THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE TEAM MEMBERS AND SCHOOLS WON PRIZES AND FIRST PLACE TEAMS WON TROPHIES. TEAMS, AS YOUR NAMES ARE CALLED AND SCHOOLS ARE CALLED, PLEASE COME ON UP. WE HAVE THIRD PLACE, ADUM K-8, COACHES JULIET RODRIGUES AND WE HAVE RAMSAY SCHRUTT, LEO PHAM, OWEN FLEISHER, GAVIN BRITT AND CHRISTIAN BONNICI AND MR. COSTANZA REPRESENTING AS THE ADMINISTRATION. SECOND PLACE, WE HAVE CLARK ELEMENTARY WITH ERIK FASSEL AS COACH.

WE ARE MISSING A FEW, BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SAY THEIR NAMES BECAUSE THEY WORKED HARD AND EARNED TO HAVE THEIR NAMES SPOKEN ACROSS THE MICROPHONE. NEXT WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD PLACE TEAMS. THIRD PLACE, WE HAVE GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL, PRINCIPAL TOMMY MOREL. STUDENTS SABRINA, ASIA, AINSLEY, NICOLAS AND SOL' E. COACH SUZETTE. WE HAVE OUR SECOND PLACE TEAM, STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH SCHOOL WITH PRINCIPAL MARK WATSON AND COACH JILL McEWEN. CATHERINE, ABIGAIL, SELENA, LANDON. AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST PLACE TEAM, I HAVE TO SAY IT, ROBINSON! KNIGHTS! PRINCIPAL DAVE BROWN. COACH MELISSA MOUSSEAU. STUDENTS, SARAH WILLIAMS, RACHAEL WATTS, ASHLIN, ARIANA AND LAEL. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS. WE'LL DO ONE LAST PICTURE. GET YOU GUYS CENTERED AND THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: CONGRATULATIONS. THAT WAS FIERCE.COMPETITION. FIERCE COMPETITION. CONGRATULATIONS. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO A 06, RECOGNITION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OUTSTANDING SCHOOL VOLUNTEER AWARD.

STUDENTS, LUCY SHERWOOD, LILA SHERWOOD, EFRATA KIBIREGETA. AND OUR FIRST PLACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNERS, THE WILD CATS OF RIVERHILLS ELEMENTARY. PRINCIPAL CRYSTAL BROWN, VERONICA REED AND TERESA KELLY. JADA WILSON, AMARRE SALES, VIVAAN PANDITHARAJAN, AALIYAH JACKSON, RANIYA HERRING. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE TEAMS. BOARD, IF WE COULD PLEASE HAVE YOU STAND WITH A PICTURE. NICE JOB! GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE HAVE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAMPIONS. THIRD PLACE, WE HAVE ADUM K-8 AGAIN. WITH MR. COSTANZA, TRACY TILOTTA AS COACH. CAMILLA TARPEY, MADELEINE SCHMIDT, NATALIE PLATS, BLAKE, YANCARLOS. SECOND PLACE, BENITO MIDDLE SCHOOL. AIDEN WICHMAN. ALAYNA WASHINGTON. SIA VYAS. THE FIRST GRADE, MUSTANGS OF MULRENNAN MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH CHRISTY BROOKS AND CHAD VAN HOOVER. STUDENTS PEYTON HOOVER. TRINABH HAINA. KALEB KUBERSKI, ROSEANNE JOE AND BLAKE IILAND. BOARD, IF YOU COULD STAND UP FOR A PICTURE. Jessica Vaughn: FANTASTIC. WE DO WANT TO SAY THERE ARE NUMEROUS EVENTS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING IN TODAY, SO A LOT OF THEM WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT FROM SPORTING, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION, SENIOR NIGHTS.

MONICA NARAIN WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE MANY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEERS PLAY AN INVALUABLE ROLE IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF IN COUNTLESS WAYS. FROM TUTORING STUDENTS TO MENTORING YOUNG MINDS TO ORGANIZING EVENTS AND FUND-RAISING, PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR CLASSROOMS, YOUR EFFORTS TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THIS MONTH, WE HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE SELFLESS CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO GIVE THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND TALENT TO ENSURE OUR SCHOOLS THRIVE. VOLUNTEERS HELP CREATE A RICH, ENGAGING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT ENHANCES THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS. TO ALL VOLUNTEERS, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR COMMITMENT. YOUR INVOLVEMENT HELPS TO BUILD A STRONGER SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND FOSTERS A SENSE OF UNITY AND PURPOSE THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.