Class Notes 07.09.15

+ Montverde Academy students win awards

Montverde Academy’s K-Kids, a lower-school community service club affiliated with Kiwanis International, recently received the K-Kids President’s Volunteer Service award for 2015.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award is the premier volunteer awards program, encouraging citizens to live a life of service through presidential gratitude and national recognition. The award required a minimum of 50 community service hours.  

The winners are presented with a medal, certificate and a signed letter from President Barack Obama. Bronze medals are given to those with 50 or more hours, silver goes to those who volunteer more than 75 hours, and the gold is presented to students who perform more than 100 hours of volunteer service.

+ School Board OKs recess resolution

The Orange County School Board approved June 23 a recess resolution to encourage recess time at district elementary schools.

With the resolution, the School Board suggests that elementary schools to allow for about 20 minutes of recess time at least on days when students are not scheduled for physical education. The resolution also allows teachers to utilize their discretion in scheduling recess based upon the needs of their students and their expertise.

A number of national organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education, the National PTA, the Florida Education Association and the National Association of Elementary School Principals recommend that schools provide daily recess for elementary-age children.

+ Area students earn college kudos

• Daniel Machacek, of Windermere, graduated from The College of New Jersey during commencement ceremonies held May 21 and 22 on campus in Ewing, New Jersey.

• Three West Orange County residents were recognized at the spring commencement ceremony for Virginia Tech. Viland Ton, of Orlando, received a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from the College of Engineering. Eric Bruning, of Orlando, earned a bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering. Brianna Harb, of Windermere, received a bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in international studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, Virginia.

• Brock Drogosch, of Windermere, earned honor roll distinction for the spring semester at University of Kansas. The school is in Lawrence, Kansas.

• Sebastian Mandino, of Ocoee, has been named to the spring dean’s list at the University of New Hampshire for the 2014-15 academic year. The school is in Durham, New Hampshire.

• Gabrielle G. Wayland, of Winter Garden, was named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at the University of St. Thomas. The Catholic, independent, liberal arts university is in St. Paul, Minnesota.

+ Area students graduate from BU

Boston University awarded academic degrees to 6,100 students in May.

Among the graduates were Joshua A. Salter, of Ocoee, who received a master’s degree in education in counseling, and Windermere residents Robert B. Earl, who earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration, and Karen E. Brun, who received her master’s degree in forensic anthropology.