I'M KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME TO YOU HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORK FORCE PROGRAM. >> I'M NADIA COMBS, 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. >> 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. >> MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS.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. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 21st, 2026, IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER COMBS WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU.
NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Karen Perez: MEMBER COMBS, THANK YOU. WILL YOU NOW PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? >>Nadia Combs: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ROCK BAND ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL DR. DELIA ROBBERA AND SHAWN MOATS AND JENNIFER MOATS. THEY ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE'D INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> HI. MY NAME IS KYLIE. I PLAY THE DRUM SET. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. >> HI. MY NAME IS ADDISON HAWKINS. I SANG AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. >> HI. MY NAME IS SAWYER. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I SING. >> HI. MY NAME IS RITA. I'M IN FOURTH GRADE AND I'M A BASS PLAYER. >> HI. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I PLAY ELECTRIC GUITAR. >> HI. MY RECLAIM IS IS VEROLIKA, I PLAY THE KEYBOARD.
>> I'M IN FOURTH GRADE AND PLAY ELECTRIC GUITAR. >> HI. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I PLAY THE PIANO. >> HI. MY NAME IS ROCKSHAWN. I'M IN FOURTH GRADE AND PLAY THE GUITAR. >> HI. MY NAME IS CHRIS. FIFTH GRADE, I PLAY THE KEYBOARD. >> HI. MY NAME IS LOGAN. FIFTH GRADE AND PLAY THE DRUM SET. >> HI. MY NAME IS JENNIFER MOATS, I'M ONE OF THE PROUD MUSIC TEACHERS AT CLARK ELEMENTARY. >> AND I AM SHAWN MOATS, THE OTHER PROUD MUSIC TEACHER FROM CLARK ELEMENTARY. >> HI. DELILAH ROWERA, THE VERY PROUD PRINCIPAL OF CLARK ELEMENTARY. >> I'M KELLY, THE VERY PROUD ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF CLARK ELEMENTARY. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Henry "Shake" Washington: I LIKE THEM SHIRTS. >>Karen Perez: ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE PRESENT TODAY ARE 11 PARENTS WHO ARE HIGHLY INTERESTED IN ATTENDING AND OBSERVING A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND?
HISPANIC SERVICES COUNCIL THROUGH THEIR PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS HISPANIC FAMILIES BY PROVIDING WORKSHOPS THAT HELP PARENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE GOAL IS TO HELP PARENTS AS THE ONES THAT ARE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] LEARN HOW OUR SCHOOL BOARD PROCESS WORKS AND HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE. THE INITIATIVE, SUPPORTED BY THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER 12 YEARS AND SERVES HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ANNUALLY ACROSS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING. NOW, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. MARCH 31st, 2026 SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. AND APRIL 7, 2026, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE VOTE PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR AN EFFICIENT AGENDA, STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE.
MEMBER COMBS WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. >>Nadia Combs: AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCASTS, ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. >>Karen Perez: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. NOW WE'LL GO INTO THE RECOGNITIONS. A 01, RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ANN MARIE COURTNEY, DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP ENGAGEMENT, PHILANTHROPY, AND OUTREACH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, CABINET MEMBERS, AND GUESTS.
THE BUCS BEST KREWE PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY OUR AMAZING PARTNER, THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, ARE COMMITTED TO UPLIFTING AND RECOGNIZING THE HEROES OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS MONTHLY AWARD RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, IMPACT OVER ALL STUDENT -- AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, WITH US TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT'S AWARD RECIPIENT. >> WELL, THANK YOU, ANN MARIE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. MADAM CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT EACH MONTH AND RECOGNIZE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE GOING OVER AND ABOVE. THIS MONTH'S RECIPIENTS ARE AS AMAZING AS IN THE PAST. FIRST UP, I'D LIKE TO CALL PRISCILLA SAIDEN-YO. SHE IS A SECRETARY AT PRIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND SHE HAS 23 YEARS OF TENURE WITH THE DISTRICT. AMAZING. [ APPLAUSE ] PRISCILLA, YOUR STORY IS AMAZING.
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO READ IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAME UP WITH, BUT IT'S WHAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION, YOUR STUDENTS AND YOUR PEERS CAME UP WITH. SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE TRULY THE HEART OF PRIDE ELEMENTARY. FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, YOU'VE GONE OVER AND ABOVE EVERY SINGLE DAY, OFTEN IN WAYS THAT GO UNNOTICED. YOU SERVE AS THE MEDIA SECRETARY, BUT YOU ALSO COVER THE FRONT OFFICE DAILY SO STAFF CAN TAKE LUNCH BREAKS AND ATTEND TO OTHER DUTIES. WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE LIBRARY OR IN THE FRONT OFFICE, YOU'RE ALWAYS WATCHING FOR WHO NEEDS HELP. IF YOU SEE A TEACHER OVERWHELMED, OUT OF TIME AT THE COPY MACHINE, YOU STEP IN. YOU TAKE THE PAPERS AND YOU FINISH THE JOB. OFTEN STAYING LATE ON YOUR OWN TIME. THE LIBRARY IS CONSTANTLY BUSY, FILLED WITH CLASSES, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS THINKING AHEAD. PREPARING MATERIALS AND ORGANIZING CARTS OF RESOURCES BEFORE ANYONE EVEN HAS TO ASK YOU.
AND WHEN YOU SEE A STUDENT IN NEED, YOU QUIETLY TAKE THE TIME TO TALK AND LISTEN. THEY ALWAYS LEAVE FEELING HAPPIER AND MORE CONFIDENT THAN WHEN THEY ARRIVED. YOU ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY TALENTED ARTISTICALLY, AND YOUR CREATIVITY HAS BEEN SEEN ALL ACROSS CAMPUS, FROM THE LIBRARY TO THE HALLWAYS, CAFETERIA, AND THE FRONT OFFICE. TEACHERS REGULARLY SEEK YOU OUT AND YOU GRACIOUSLY HELP, EACH ONE CREATE BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS THAT BRING PRIDE TO OUR SCHOOL. YOU ARE TRULY A TREASURE TO EVERYONE AT PRIDE ELEMENTARY. AND EACH YEAR WHEN GRADUATING SENIORS RETURN, THEY ALL COME BACK AND ASK FOR YOU WITHOUT HESITATION. AND THEY DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT A HUG. AMAZING. [ APPLAUSE ] AND FOR THAT, YOU ARE OUR BUCS BEST KREWE SUPPORT STAFF FOR THIS MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] NEXT UP, I'LL CALL CHRISTINE, THE PRINCIPAL AT SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. 22 YEARS WITH THE DISTRICT.
AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT COMING FROM US. THEY ARE COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, YOUR STUDENT BODY, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE EACH DAY. YOU ARE THE PRINCIPAL WHO LEADS WITH A RARE COMBINATION OF COMPASSION, STRENGTH, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. YOU TREAT EVERY STUDENT, EVERY STAFF MEMBER, EVERY FAMILY WITH GENUINE KINDNESS AND RESPECT, ALWAYS PUTTING OTHERS FIRST NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE FACING PERSONALLY. EVEN WHILE YOU ARE NAVIGATING YOUR OWN HEALTH CHALLENGES, YOU CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FULLY PRESENT AND FULLY INVESTED. YOU'LL FIND HER IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL SPORTING EVENT IN THE CLASSROOMS AND THROUGHOUT CAMPUS, EVEN CLEANING THE SCHOOL AND ALWAYS SUPPORTING TEACHERS AND CELEBRATING THE SUCCESSES OF THE STUDENTS. YOUR PRESENCE SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT EVERY PERSON AND EVERY MOMENT MATTERS. WOW. YOU DON'T JUST LEAD THE SCHOOL, YOU LIFT THE SCHOOL. THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE WHEN I READ THAT.
THROUGH YOUR MENTORSHIP AND VISIBILITY AND SINCERE CARE OF OTHERS, YOU'VE CREATED A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SUPPORTED, VALUED, AND INSPIRED. AND FOR THAT, YOU ARE OUR BUCS BEST KREWE REWARD RECIPIENT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> IT HAS MY NAME ON IT. [ LAUGHTER ] >> CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] AGAIN, WE HAVE A LITTLE TRADITION AT ONE BUC, IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME AT THE SCHOOL BOARD. ANYBODY THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE GETS A GAME BALL THAT'S ON AND OFF THE FIELD. THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO BRING THIS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE ARE EXAMPLES I READ EVERY MONTH WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING OVER AND ABOVE. THIS IS VERY MUCH WARRANTED. THE LAST RECIPIENT IS OUR TEACHER OF THE MONTH. UNFORTUNATELY, CHRISTINE MILL, WHO IS AT LIMONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US. I WANT TO, AGAIN, THERE IS A PATTERN HERE. 23 YEARS -- SHE'S HERE.
SHE SNUCK IN. [ APPLAUSE ] YOU JUST MADE MY DAY. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THERE IS A PATTERN. OUR THREE RECIPIENTS, 23 YEARS, 22 YEARS, AND CHRISTINE HAS 24 YEARS WITH THE DISTRICT. UNBELIEVABLE. SO THANK YOU. AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS THAT I'M ABOUT TO READ ARE COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. YOU CO-CHAIR THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE, AND YOU ARE ALWAYS FINDING WAYS TO BUILD MORALE ACROSS CAMPUS. YOU POUR YOUR TIME AND ENERGY INTO BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, WHETHER IT'S BAKING CAKES FOR THE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DAY, ORGANIZING SOCIAL HOURS, OR PLANNING POTLUCK DINNERS, YOU LEAD WITH POSITIVITY AND WORK HARD TO SPREAD THAT TO OTHERS. MUCH OF WHAT YOU DO HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES. I'M A BEHIND-THE-SCENES GUY, TOO. I CAN RELATE TO THAT. BUT IT'S TRULY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR SCHOOL. ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL THINGS THAT YOU DID THIS YEAR WAS HELP BRING A MEMORIAL GARDEN TO LIFE FOR A STUDENT WHO TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY FROM THE FLU.
THROUGH YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN BOY SCOUTS, CHRIS, YOU CONNECTED AN EAGLE SCOUT CANDIDATE WITH A STUDENT'S FAMILY. THE SCOUT LED THE PROJECT RAISING FUNDS AND DESIGNING THE PHASE, BUT IT WAS YOU WHO HELPED ORGANIZE, COORDINATE AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THIS PAST MONTH, THAT VISION BECAME A REALITY WITH THE CREATION OF THE JAMES THOMAS MEMORIAL GARDEN. TODAY, IT SERVES AS A PLACE OF COMFORT AND PEACE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF. JAMES' YOUNGER BROTHER PASSES BY IT EACH DAY ON HIS WAY TO CLASS AND MANY STUDENTS NOW SIT THERE TO READ DURING RECESS. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO A YOUNG LIFE LOST WAY TOO SOON AND A LASTING GIFT TO THEIR SCHOOL. IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR COMPASSION, AND YOUR DEDICATION. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE FELT IN THE SCHOOL FOR YEARS TO COME. FOR THAT, AND SO MUCH MORE, OVER 24 YEARS, YOU ARE OUR BUCS BEST KREWE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
[ APPLAUSE ] JOINING ME TODAY IS COURTNEY SANCHEZ, OUR CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER AS WELL. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. FORD. NEXT RECOGNITION IS A 02, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE 2026 HIGH SCHOOLS VOTEHILLSBOROUGH ART CONTEST. I WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP CRAIG LATIMER, SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND KELLY BRANNEN, SUPERVISOR OF 9 TO 12 SOCIAL STUDIES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY, ESTEEMED CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND, OF COURSE, COUNCIL. I'M PROUD TO BE THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. OUR STUDENTS REPRESENT OUR FUTURE, AND WE WANT THEM TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED. MANY OF OUR SENIORS ARE 18 SO THEY REPRESENT OUR PRESENT BECAUSE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. MY OFFICE ENGAGES WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TWO BIG MEANINGFUL WAYS.
WE HOLD AN ART CONTEST, THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY, AND WE GO INTO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS TO GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER OR PREREGISTER TO VOTE. WE AVERAGE ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE THOUSAND STUDENTS WHO WE REGISTER OR PREREGISTER EVERY YEAR. I'LL BE BACK HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE TOP PERFORMING SCHOOLS FOR THOSE REGISTRATIONS IN A FEW WEEKS. BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE A NUMBER OF INCREDIBLE STUDENT ARTISTS. BUT BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE KELLY BRENNAN, SUPERVISOR OF 9 THROUGH 12 SOCIAL STUDIES AND ALSO LAURA HOBBY, SUPERVISOR OF VISUAL AND THEATER ARTS EDUCATION. THESE TWO PEOPLE MADE JUST A HUGE IMPACT IN HELPING US GET THE OVER 300 SUBMISSIONS THAT WE GOT, WHICH WAS LIKE A 33% INCREASE. WE'LL BE GIVING OUT THE WINNING STICKERS DURING OUR MIDTERM ELECTIONS THIS YEAR. WE'RE ALSO, FOR THE FIRST TIME, MAKING IT INTO A POLL WORKER PIN.
WE GIVE POLL WORKERS LONGEVITY PINS AND WE'LL MAKE THAT INTO ONE OF THE POLL WORKER PINS THIS YEAR. FIRST TIME WE HAVE DONE IT. 2500 POLL WORKERS WILL BE CARRYING AROUND THAT ARTWORK ON ELECTION DAY ON THEIR LAPELS OR SHIRTS. WE'LL ALSO BE FEATURING THE WINNING DESIGNS IN VOTER EDUCATION EFFORTS. THE SUBMISSIONS THIS YEAR WERE TRULY OUTSTANDING. THREE FINALISTS WERE SELECTED BY OUR STAFF AND SPONSORS. YOU KNOW HOW WE ENDED UP DECIDING WHO IT WAS? WE VOTED ON IT. BEFORE I ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS, I WANT TO THANK OUR ART CONTEST SPONSORS, THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, WHO JUST RAN OUT ON US, THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM AND BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY. THEY HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC PARTNERS EVERY TIME WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE SOME VERY EXCITING PRIZES FOR OUR TOP THREE FINALISTS. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE TONY FROM THE AQUARIUM TO JOIN ME AND TELL US ABOUT THE PRIZE PACKAGE.
>> THANK YOU, CRAIG. WE HAVE BEEN INSPIRED AS WELL BY JUST THE ART AND THE INSPIRATION TO DO THIS INCREDIBLE ARD. YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR SO LONG. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE GIVING THE FIRST PLACE WINNER 8 TICKETS AS WELL AS 8 TICKETS TO GO ON OUR WILD DOLPHIN CRUISE AND HAVE ADMISSION AND A PLUSH SHARK. SECOND PLACE WINNER WILL GET SIX TICKETS AND THIRD PLACE WINNER IS GOING TO GET FOUR TICKETS, BUT THEY ALSO WILL GET TO GO ON THE WILD DOLPHIN CRUISE WHILE THEY ARE HERE, TOO, AND GET A LITTLE BIT OF VIP TREATMENT. THANK YOU, CRAIG, THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR HAVING THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE OUR YOUTH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> BUSCH GARDENS IS ALSO ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, AND THEY HAVE A PRIZE PACKAGE THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER FOR THE STUDENTS ALSO. OUR THIRD SPONSOR, THE TAMPA BAY BUCS, COULDN'T JOIN US BECAUSE THEY HAD TO LEAVE, BUT ALL THREE OF THE WINNERS ARE GOING TO GET SOME GREAT BUC SWAG INCLUDING A FOOTBALL SIGN.