Ormond Beach Middle School eighth graders celebrate commencement

Ormond Beach Middle School Principal Susan Tuten encouraged students to proud of their work, actions and words moving forward into high school during their End of Year ceremony on Friday, May 31. 

Seabreeze High School Principal Joseph Rawlings also spoke to the students during the ceremony, as well as Seabreeze student Pierce Casey. The ceremony was attended by Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis.

Student Government Association President Matthew Monroe shared class accomplishments and the eight grade chorus sang, "This is Our Song."

And the little ones

Osceola Elementary also celebrated the graduating class of kindergarteners on Thursday, May 30. The graduates, clad in shiny blue togas, stepped up to the microphone and announced what they loved most about kindergarten. Among the answers were Legos. 

Club donates to Food Brings Hope

The GE Wives Club presented Food Brings Hope Executive Director Judi Winch with a $1,000 check at the club's last monthly meeting before summer vacation. 

This is the fourth-annual donation from the GE Wives Club to Food Brings Hope, with the hopes to keep helping Volusia County students overcome hunger and homelessness.

Eagle Scout helps local church

It took two Saturdays for Eagle Scout Braden Hansard and fellow Troop 468 members to make improvements to the First United Methodist Church's parking lot. 

As part of Hansard's Eagle project, he and the participating scouts repainted the church parking lot, which included re-striping.

Seabreeze student receives art scholarship

The Florida Women's Arts Association recently awarded its annual art scholarship to Nicholas Karamitos, a Seabreeze graduate headed to Santa Fe College in Gainesville to complete his associates degree in art. 

Afterward, Karamitos plans to continue his art education at the University of Florida, according to a press release. FLWAA is an organization of local artist that organize, display and promote all types of arts, including painting, sculpture, writing and music. 

Local graduates from lineworker program

Ormond Beach resident Lance Thomas, a graduate of Northwest Lineman Center's 15-week Electrical Lineworker program, took the first step in the power delivery industry. Thomas is preparing for a high-demand trade job, according to a press release by the program, with about 10,000 entry-level annual jobs as reported in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. 

School Board awards Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Downtown Ormond Beach was named "Business Partner of the Year," by the Volusia County School Board for its work with Ormond Beach Elementary, according to a press release.

The Rotary Club has helped the school with several landscape-related outdoor projects, in addition to its Reading

Buddies program and the Andy and Elmer special Rotary reading program. OBE Principal Shannon Hay presented the award to Rotary Club members Alex Youngblood, Joyce Pepin, and Brandon Perry. 

The Rotary Club is currently looking for volunteers for next year’s Reading Buddy program. Visit RotaryClubofDowntownOrmondBeach.com