Riverview/ Apollo Beach
March 2025 Volume 23, Issue 3
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thanAQUILLA 12,000 animals J. MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL SELECTS LOCAL DAD RECOGNIZED BY LIGHTNING th Day Camp: K-12 Grade -class coasters,AND PREPARES MASCOT FOR FALL OPENING AND ADVENTHEALTH FOR PROMOTING CPR th th ® Resident Camp: 7 -12 Grade By Marie Gilmore ens Tampa Bay TRAINING AFTER SAVING SON’S LIFE Aquilla J. Morfrom the comStaff Report both animal lovers NOW gan High REGISTER School, munity, and to Local dad Derek one person in each seekers alike. the newest addihave this school Stock was honhousehold trained tion to the district, named after an BuschGardens.com/camps ored by the Tampa in CPR. There are thto open in is set educator from p: K-12 Grade Bay Lightning as things where a August, bringing Wimauma brings th (813) th re-884-4FUN (4386) an AdventHealth perfectly healthy much-needed her legacy full mp: 7 -12 Grade lief to nearby Lencircle,” she said. nard and Sumner The new high high schools. The school, which be359,000-squaregan construction ©2025 United Parks & Resorts, Inc. foot school will inin 2020, will be troduce a variety the most expenof new programs Principal Brittany Wilhelm speaks to the media during sive high school a hard-hat tour of Aquilla J. Morgan High School. and a state-of-thebuilt in Hillsborart campus. Named after Aquilla Jackson ough County, costing $178 million. Morgan, a beloved former Wimauma EleArchitect Jose Gomez of Harvard Jolly mentary School teacher and dedicated com- PBK, who grew up in Wimauma, shared his munity member, the school is a testament pride in the project. to her legacy. “My family are migrants, and I grew up During a February hard-hat tour of the just five minutes from this campus. It’s tru©2025 United Parks & Resorts, Inc. construction site, Principal Brittney Wil- ly an honor to be part of such an important helm highlighted some exciting features of project for this community,” he said. the new facility. The school will offer an auLocated on an 87-acre site in Wimauma, tomotive program with a focus on electric the new high school will have the capacity to vehicles, as well as new programs in cosme- accommodate 3,500 students. In the future, tology, culinary arts, Esports and pickleball the site will also house an elementary and courts. The 2-story gymnasium will feature middle school. an indoor walking track, and the media cenMorgan served Hillsborough County Pubter will also span two levels. lic Schools for over 40 years. She made his“We’re excited to open our doors in Au- tory as the first Black teacher at Wimauma gust with a capacity for 3,500 students,” Elementary, where she taught Head Start, said Wilhelm, who was hired in November kindergarten, second grade and fifth grade. and began her role in January after serv- Known as the “pillar of the community,” Moring as principal most recently at Jefferson gan’s dedication to education transformed High School. “Morgan High will help alleviate the lives of many students in the area. She overcrowding at Sumner and Lennard high earned her degrees from Hillsborough Counschools, and we are thrilled to see the con- ty Junior College, the University of South struction progress.” Florida and the University of Tampa. “This school is special,” she said. “There The new high school will offer Cambridge used to be a high school in Wimauma, and AICE, dual enrollment and Advanced Placewe are honored to be able to name this ment (AP) programs. The school’s mascot school after Aquilla Morgan, a local educa- will be the Mustangs, with school colors of tor who made such an impact on this com- navy blue and determined orange. munity.” Morgan High School is located at 1712 District 4 school board member Patti W. Lake Dr. in Wimauma and will open with Rendon also expressed pride in the school’s grades nine through 11, with a senior class naming. to be added in 2026. For more information, “We received over 2,000 suggestions visit www.hillsboroughschools.org.
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Goal Getter during person could need a recent game at CPR, and you just AMALIE Arena for don’t want to not spreading awarebe equipped.” ness about the imStock added that portance of CPR Levi also underin the community stands the gravity after he saved the The Stock family were honored when dad Derek of sharing what he life of his son, Levi, Stock was recognized by the Tampa Bay Lightning as and his family expewhen the boy was an AdventHealth Goal Getter after saving the life of rienced and spreadstruck by lightning. ing the word about his son, Levi, with CPR. Two and a half years ago, Levi was struck how critical knowing CPR can be. by lightning while boating near Riverview’s “He recognizes the significance and imWilliams Park. Levi, his parents and another portance of his story and how he can affect sibling were enjoying an afternoon on their other lives,” Stock said. boat but noticed storm clouds off in the disAs part of Stock and 11-year-old Levi’s tance, so they decided to be proactive and special night at the Lightning game, they head back in to avoid the storm. When they and the rest of their family received a standwere getting ready to dock, Stock said he ing ovation from the crowd of thousands in watched as Levi was struck by lightning. attendance to see the Lightning play against “I saw the strike go through him. Never the Ottawa Senators. Levi was also surforget the moment, it’s the most powerful prised with an autographed Andrei Vasilevsforce I’ve ever felt in my life; it just rocked kiy jersey. The Lightning’s star goaltender is me back sitting on the little center console Levi’s favorite player. boat,” Stock said. Hundreds of AdventHealth team memFortunately, Stock was CPR-trained and bers and their families went out to Tuesday certified and saved his son’s life. night’s game, named Health and Wellness “I started compressions and CPR imme- Night, where AdventHealth was the prediately; he wasn’t breathing, he wasn’t re- senting sponsor. sponding. My wife dialed 911. In that time, As part of Health and Wellness Night, the and it kind of felt like an eternity going AdventHealth FAN ZONE was open in Thunthrough that, but it was only four minutes der Alley, allowing families to get up and be before the ambulance showed up,” Stock active before the game with air hockey and said. “My wife stayed there (at the hospital), mini golf. and at 2 a.m. she texted me, ‘he said three AdventHealth is the official health and words,’ so that was a blessing, and a prayer wellness partner of the Tampa Bay Lightanswered.” ning. For more information, visit https:// Levi has since made a full recovery. campaign.adventhealth.com/lp/florida/ Since the incident, Stock has made CPR west/sports-partnership/lightning. training and education his mission, and he continues to work across the Tampa Bay area to share how important it is for people PREMIER PRO WASH........................PG 3 to know how to do it. TMS OF CENTRAL FL .......................PG 5 “You can watch a lot of videos online and see how CPR is done, but I’m so thankful; KICKBALL TOURNEY.........................PG 9 it was almost like it was second nature,” FLOORINGMASTER .............. ...........PG 17 Stock said. “I really support the goal of SUMMER CAMPS..................SECTION 2 the American Heart Association to have
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