Clay County Cruzers accepting scholarship applications
CLAY COUNTY – Students who are graduating this spring from the Clay County School District can apply for a $1,5000 scholarship from the Clay County Cruzers.
Students are eligible if they are going to attend any post-secondary program of study including colleges, universities or vocational/technical schools.
Applicants are requested to write an essay of approximately 150 words and complete a short application form. Scholarship applications must be received by Clay County Cruzers on or before the application deadline of March 31.
The scholarship documents will be provided to each high school guidance office. The instructions and application form provide all relevant information a student needs to apply. These forms are also available on the Clay County Cruzers website at claycountycruzers.com.
Selected candidates will be asked to attend a Clay County Cruzer meeting to introduce themselves and describe their plans. Applications and essays should be mailed to Clay County Cruzers, P.O. Box 65010-9998, Orange Park, FL 32065-9998.
Each applicant will be notified once their application is received. Winners will be announced in April 2019.

PDCA names new executive director
ORANGE PARK – For 14 years, Stevan Hall of Orange Park served as executive director of the Pile Driving Contractors Association, an international industry association that represents businesses involved in the design and build of pile-based deep foundation systems.
During Hall’s tenure, the St. Louis-based group moved to and established a permanent headquarters in Orange Park. The nonprofit organization grew significantly from fewer than 100 members in 2004 to nearly 800 members in 2019.
It has established, conducted or partnered on numerous industry conferences and virtual educational programs, all designed to provide industry practitioners with the latest information, advancements and best practices as well as necessary Professional Developments Hours. Hall is credited with improving the financial health of the member-supported group.
Effective Feb. 1, Hall officially retires from the PDCA. He was recently honored by the organization’s board of directors where he was presented a tribute article in the bi-monthly publication PileDriver magazine and an expense-paid trip to the group’s upcoming annual conference. He will continue to be a resource to the PDCA in a consulting capacity.
In October 2018, PDCA announced that Frank Peters will succeed Hall. Peters comes to the position with more than 34 years of association management experience.
The Louisiana native earned his bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Industrial Technology. Recently relocated to Orange Park with his wife, the avid golfer and outdoor enthusiast is excited to explore the many activities accessible in Northeast Florida.
Founded in 1995, the PDCA is located at 33 Knight Boxx Rd., Suite 1.

Black Creek Bowl expands scholarship program
MIDDLEBURG – Once only open to students from Middleburg High, one local scholarship program is expanding countywide this year.
Three scholarships administered by the Black Creek Bowl Association begin welcoming applications next week. A total of $15,000 in scholarship funds will be available for Clay County’s Class of 2019.
Thanks to the success of this annual event in Middleburg and the generosity of event sponsors, for the first time in the Black Creek 5K/10K’s seven-year history, these scholarships are available to students countywide. This includes the Detective David White Memorial Scholarship for $3,000, sponsored by the Law Offices of Michael C. Quimby.
Including the scholarships to be awarded this year, the Black Creek Bowl Association will have awarded $90,000 in scholarships to high school graduates and in community group donations. Please help us spread the word about the expansion of eligibility this year and encourage this year’s graduates to apply.
Scholarship applications are available for printing and downloading at blackcreekbowl.com. For more information, contact Patti Kohler, race coordinator at (904) 626-6659.

Hellcat Races this weekend
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Parts of the former Naval Air Station Green Cove Springs will be transformed into a race track, of sorts, this weekend.
The Military Museum of North Florida holds the 5th Annual Hellcat 10K,30K and 50K races at Reynolds Industrial Park in Green Cove Springs.
The races commemorate the F6F Hellcat Navy fighter plane that flew out of the old Navy base N.A.S. Green Cove Springs, which is now Reynolds Industrial Park. The runners will run the perimeter of the old base through cypress swamps, past the old hangers and possibly through an old WWII bunker.
Described as a true “run into history,” the guests of honor – who will start the race with a shotgun blast – will be retired Navy Capt. And Vietnam POW, Dale Raebel , and Master Gunnery Sgt. George Smith, a veteran of Vietnam, Korea and WWII. Smith was also in the last Hellcat squadron before it was decommissioned.
To date, 250 runners have signed up to race and are coming from as far away as Maine for the 50K. Team entries include Clay High’s NJROTC and Middleburg High’s NJROTC. All runners will be treated with free burgers and hot dogs afterwards and the museum will be open for tours.
For more information, call Chris Rodatz at (904) 655-6511.

Boy Scouts to host BSA Kickoff Campout
ORANGE PARK – Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council will host a Kickoff Campout to introduce youth to the fun and adventure of Scouting, Feb. 1 and 2 at the St. Johns River Base at Echockotee in Orange Park.
The campout is open to all youth ages 11 to 17. They can be currently part of a Pack or Troop or new to Scouting. Any current Arrow of Light Cub Scout who would like to learn more about the next step in Scouting are also invited to the campout.
Boys and girls who are interested in Scouts BSA can participate hands-on outdoor adventure at this overnight campout, which includes a full Saturday of activities. All participants must register by 5 p.m. on Jan. 28. The cost for youth is $12 and includes program supplies, insurance and all meals on Saturday.
All participants must bring a current BSA Health and Medical Form Parts A-B. Visit http://www.nfcscouting.org/event/scouts-bsa-kickoff-campout/2458890 to register and download the necessary forms. For more information, contact Walter Carter at trp101sm@gmail.com. Each Scout will receive a commemorative patch after the event

College presents Commemoration of 400 Years of African American History
ORANGE PARK – In recognition of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia in 1619, St. Johns River State College is participating in the “2019 Commemoration of 400 Years of African American History.”
The college will host a series of community events, including The Whole Staircase Film Festival: “The Black Atlantic, 1500 - 1800,” Black History Month trivia, a Commemoration speaker series, poetry slams, Juneteenth celebrations and more.
The 400 Years of African American History Commission Act, which Congress passed last year, established 2019 as a year-long Commemoration “to recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of African Americans since 1619; to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States; and to educate the public about the arrival of Africans in the United States; and the contributions of African Americans to the United States.”
The celebration kicked off this year with “Walk a Mile in My Shoes,” a virtual-reality experience that takes participants on a time-travel journey to the Harlem Renaissance, as well as to Memphis in 1968 as witnesses to the Sanitation Worker’s Strike, and the aftermath of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.
The community is invited to participate in the “I Am A Man” experience on Jan. 23 & 24. Additional information about this opportunity and other upcoming events and resources can be found at https://libraries.sjrstate.edu/400.

Scholarship applications being accepted
JACKSONVILLE – The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida administers at least two college scholarships that are open to students who attend Clay County Schools and their deadline dates are coming soon.
The Byon M. Morris Scholarship will provide up to $5,000 and disbursed until graduation or a period up to 4 years to support tuition, books, fees, room and board and degree-related expenses for two graduating seniors who have attained Scouting’s highest ranks.
One Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America and one Gold Award winner from Girl Scouts, will receive the scholarship. Both students must demonstrate an aptitude and desire to succeed. In selecting the successful candidate, the review committee will consider academic achievements, leadership experience, desire for personal growth and financial need. All applicants must have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (weighted) and plan to attend an accredited post-secondary institution on a full-time basis.
Housed at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the Byon M. Morris Scholarship application and supporting documentation requirements are available at http://bit.ly/2019TCFscholarship and due by March 4.
The other scholarship is the Sam and Lydia Payne Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to a student graduating from a North Florida public or private school who demonstrates an aptitude and desire to succeed.
The scholarship will support tuition and books, up to $18,000 and disbursed until graduation or a period up to 5 years, provided the recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements. All applicants must have a cumulative 2.2-3.5 (weighted) grade point average and plan to take a full-time course load in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.
In selecting the successful candidate, the review committee will consider a desire for personal growth and financial need. Housed at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the Sam and Lydia Payne Scholarship application and supporting documentation requirements are available at: http://bit.ly/2019TCFscholarship and due by March 4.

Summer science camp sign-ups underway
GAINESVILLE – The UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and The World Food Prize Foundation are offering summer science camp.
Registration is $350 per participant and application must be turned in by Feb. 28 online at http://www.cpet.ufl.edu/students.
The camp is for rising Florida high school juniors and seniors for the 2019-2020 school year. Students are encouraged to apply for the Florida Youth Institute, a week-long summer residential camp hosted at the University of Florida. Participants experience college life at UF while learning how the agricultural, natural and life sciences impact their families and communities around the world.
Students will take part in hands-on activities and demonstrations, indoor and outdoor laboratories and campus facilities, meet CALS Dean Elaine Turner, representatives from FDACS, and current CALS students and staff. Students will also examine issues in agriculture, life sciences and natural resources, experience living in a campus residence hall and reflect on worldwide challenges such as food security.
Applicants can choose to attend one of two session weeks – July 14-19 or July 21-26.

Ridgeview High teacher nominated ‘Lifechanger’
ORANGE PARK – Ridgeview High special education teacher Stephanie Collins has been nominated for the 2018-2019 national LifeChanger of the Year award.
Collins was nominated by her friend, Jason Woodard, for her work improving the lives of special needs students, particularly those with autism. She teaches 20 students on the autism spectrum, and she differentiates her instruction to meet each students’ individual needs. Many of her students are triggered by different sounds, colors, and textures and Collins goes above and beyond to make sure they succeed, both inside and outside the classroom, according to Woodard.
As part of her instruction, Collins teaches her students life skills such as cooking and interviewing for jobs, so they can be independent after graduation.
“I have one student who is currently working at McDonalds now. I visited him at work and cried in my car when I left because I was so overwhelmed with pride for him and thankful for McDonalds for hiring my ‘kid,’” Collins said.
Recently, her students have been introduced to aquaponics and agriculture, so they can learn about having a self-sustaining life. Her long term-goal is to secure a greenhouse and chicken coop for her school, so that her students can apply what they’ve learned.
Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.
The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 to be shared with their school or district. Grand prize finalists will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school or district. The LifeChanger award winners will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school or district.
The Spirit Award is given to the nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination and has a $5,000 prize to be shared with their school or district. The Spotlight Award is given to a nominee in a specific discipline, which this year, is guidance counselor or social worker. The winner receives $5,000 to be shared with their school or district.
Winners are announced via surprise award ceremonies held at their schools. The grand prize finalists will also be honored at a national awards ceremony in April 2019 in Hawaii, where the Grand Prize Winner will be revealed.
A resource page with ideas for how to celebrate nominees can be found at http://lifechangeroftheyear.com/showspirit/.