Riverview/ Apollo Beach
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December 2024 Volume 22, Issue 12
Nov. 15 – Jan. 5
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CELEBRATING 22 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
VALOR SERVICE DOGS SUPPORTS OUR HEROES—JOIN THE CAUSE Staff Report Initially launched at King High AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE School in 2022, SCOPE has By Taylor Wells
FOUNDATION OPENS COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS CENTER AT SPOTO HIGH since expanded to Brandon High School, meeting or exceeding all key program benchmarks. The program’s reach and success have continued to grow, with thousands of students benefit-
HEF recently celebrated the SCOPE program expansion to Spoto High with a ribbon cutting.
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Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) is thrilled to announce the expansion of the Student Center of Postsecondary Exploration (SCOPE) to Spoto High School, marking it as the third site in Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) for this increasingly popular college and career readiness initiative. Thanks to generous funding from The Mosaic Company and Tampa Electric Company (TECO), Spoto High School students will now have access to critical, personalized support to prepare for their postsecondary journeys. The SCOPE program offers resources such as one-on-one college and career planning, assistance with admissions and financial aid applications and guidance on technical and trade school pathways. Planning for life after high school is more complex than ever. As students weigh their options, having a dedicated resource for personalized support is vital. That’s where SCOPE truly shines, offering tailored guidance that caters to each student’s individual needs and aspirations, be it higher education or even a specific career path. Karen Swager, executive vice president of operations at The Mosaic Company, explained, “This partnership means a direct line of communication, guidance and mentorship to the future of the local workforce. Mosaic’s Riverview plant celebrates 100 years this fall. Our employees are deeply rooted in the Progress Village community. Access to SCOPE at Spoto High School allows us a chance to build that relationship through expanded opportunity, growing a skilled workforce right in our backyard.”
ing from its resources and individualized guidance. HEF’s president and CEO, Anna Corman, envisions ongoing expansion for SCOPE, with a goal of establishing six fully operational centers by 2026. “SCOPE has proven to be a valuable resource for students navigating the complex journey toward college and career readiness,” said Corman. “Our students at King and Brandon high schools have shown tremendous growth and engagement through SCOPE, and we are excited to bring these resources to Spoto High School.” “We are excited to see the launch of the SCOPE program at Spoto High School, which brings invaluable opportunities for our students to gain real-world skills and career insights,” said Van Ayres, superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools. “This program is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together to invest in our students’ futures. My deepest thanks to our community partners — the Education Foundation, Mosaic and TECO — for their dedication and support in making this program a reality.” For more on the program, visit https://educationfoundation.com/
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From left to right: Lisa Poissant, vice president of HR at The Mosaic Company; Anna Corman, Hillsborough Education Foundation president and CEO; and Dr. Jazrick Haggins.
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Valor Service Dogs Valor Service Dogs is in (VSD) is a local nonprofneed of more puppy coachit that helps wounded es, sitters, nurses and genpost-9/11 veterans and eral volunteers. first responders regain Puppy coaches lovingindependence through ly raise and train puppies the training and placing into service dogs from the of mobility assistance and age of 12 weeks to 2 years PTSD service dogs. old. Puppy sitters step in Once matched with the for these coaches whenright applicants, these ever they need to be away. trained canines help their Puppy nurses are trained to forever heroes return to assist VSD’s staff in providcivilian life and maintain ing around-the-clock care successful partnerships. to its future service dogs in VSD also trains facility Valor Service Dogs-trained Molly training. General volunteers, dogs, which “can help meanwhile, help by cleanValor with her forever hero. staff/clients/patients ining, doing yard work and crease motivation, promore. mote social interaction and VSD raises approximateimprove overall morale,” ly five to seven dogs per according to its website. year and usually has around The organization was 10-12 dogs in training at started in 2015 by longany one time, Lansford addtime animal trainer Carol ed that there are approx 30 Lansford, VSD’s founder VSD-trained service dogs and director of trainpaired with veterans and ing. It hit close to home first responders. when her husband, JusMonetary donations tin, a paratrooper with to purchase needed supthe 82nd Airborne Diviplies, including items on its sion, lost his leg during Chewy or Amazong Wish a 2012 deployment in Lists or Walmart Registry, Afghanistan when a Valor Service Dogs-trained Frannie are always welcome. Sponroadside bomb struck his soring VSD and taking part Valor with her forever hero. truck. Justin recovered in its capital campaign are at Walter Reed National Miladditional ways to get involved. itary Medical Center, where Valor Service Dogs is located at Lansford was the contracted 15006 McGrady Rd. in Wimauservice dog training instrucma. To apply for a service dog, tor. Justin was later paired up visit its website at https://valorwith Gabe, a golden retriever servicedogs.org/. To contact service dog. VSD, call 813-634-3232. “I’m married to someone that’s in the population that I would like to serve,” said Lansford. “It’s one of my favorite days when an applicant VICTORIAN STROLL ..........................PG 3 meets their dog for the first time,” she said CONG. BUCHANAN AWARDS.......PG 5 adding that what makes Valor Service GASPARILLA BOWL ............ ...........PG 15 Dogs’ mission possible is its volunteers. “Our volunteers are the most important EYE ON BUSINESS................PGS 25-26 part of our organization,” Lansford said. TAMPA Y AWARDS............... .........PG 33
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$5 OFF $25 Welcome to our annual holiday edition. This year, more than ever, our locally owned small businesses need our support. Throughout this edition, our advertisers have been getting into the holiday spirit, and we are launching our annual Shop Local Holiday Sweepstakes! Enter online at www.ospreyobserver. com or mail in the entry form on page 47. Early-bird prizes include gorgeous jewelry from McAuley Fine Jewelry, a set of four tires from Express Oil & Tire Engineers of Riverview and a fishing charter from True Lies Fishing Charters.
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