Class Notes 02.05.15

+ W.O. natives earn accolades

Several West Orange-area students received academic accolades at their respective colleges following the fall semester.

• Christopher Brooks, of Ocoee, earned a spot on Hofstra University’s (Hempstead, New York) provost’s list. He achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the fall 2014 semester to earn the honor.

• Tori Brown, of Windermere, achieved Brenau University’s (Gainesville, Georgia) merit list honors for the fall 2014 semester. Merit list students must maintain a 3.5 grade-point average while carrying 12 to 14 semester hours of course work with no grade lower than “B” in that semester.

Brown is a senior majoring in health science (pre-occupational therapy).

• Manuela Herrera, of Windermere, was named to the fall 2014 dean’s list at Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania). Dean’s list students have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0. 

Manuela is the daughter of Eduardo and Adriana Herrera.

• Kellan Hoffman, of Winter Garden, was named to the Troy University chancellor’s list. The list honors full-time undergraduate students who registered for 12 semester hours and earned a grade point average of 4.0.

• Ciera Horton, of Orlando, was named to Wheaton College’s (Illinois) dean’s list for the fall 2014 semester. To earn dean’s list honors at Wheaton, an undergraduate student must carry 12 or more credit hours and achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher on the 4.0 scale.

Horton is majoring in English.

• Angerene Mitchell-Matthews, of Winter Garden, was named to the Graceland University (Lamoni, Iowa) president’s list for the 2014 fall semester. Graceland students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average are named to the list.

• Anthony S. Mattson, of Winter Garden, was one of 320 students named to the dean’s list at Herkimer College (New York). Herkimer students must earn a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.79 to receive the honor.

• Cynthia Underwood, of Winter Garden, was named to the dean’s list at Springfield College School of Human Services Tampa Bay.

+ Local students complete college

• Anthony John Marzano, of Ocoee, was among 847 students from Miami University (Ohio) who received degrees during fall commencement exercises Friday, Dec. 12, 2014 in Millett Hall.

Marzano received a master’s degree in teaching.

• Three West Orange-area students graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology during its 248th commencement exercises.

Giovanni Mannella, of Winter Garden, earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering.

Deryl Snyder, of Winter Garden, received an MBA in technology management

Jiawei Zhang, of Windermere, earned a master’s degree in computer science.

• Two West Orange natives earned degrees during Clemson University’s (South Carolina) graduation ceremonies, held Dec. 18, 2014, in Littlejohn Coliseum.

Troy Stewart Hall, of Windermere, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering 

Marissa Pachera Mannella, of Winter Garden, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

+ District buses now powered by B20 biodiesel

The entire bus fleet for Orange County Public Schools now is powered by B20 biodiesel as part of a long-term “Green Fleet” initiative.

To recognize the initiative, a special decal is now on all B20 powered school buses. The decal was approved by the State Department of Education, intended to inform motorists that the school district has a comprehensive program to ensure the buses used to transport students are environmentally friendly.

Biodiesel is the country’s first advanced biofuel. It is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that reduces U.S. dependence on fossil diesel, creating green jobs and improving the environment. OCPS once used about 2.8 million gallons of fossil-based diesel fuel annually. The conversion to B20 biodiesel allows the district to save 560,000 gallons of fuel annually.