Area students excel in higher education
University graduates
Catherine Bedore, Ocala, Bachelor of Science degree in Education, University of Alabama
Nixie Vorndran, Ocala, Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration, University of Alabama
President’s List
Adam Valentino, Ocala, Kennesaw State University
Maggie Roelfsema, Citra, University of Alabama
Dishon Ballard, Ocala, University of Alabama
Catherine Bedore, Ocala, University of Alabama
Xixi Cao, Ocala, University of Alabama
Dean’s List
Priscilla Sanchez, Ocala, University of Wisconsin-Madison
James Lee, Ocala, Harding University
Leadership:New HCA Florida West Marion Hospital CEO brings passion for quality health care in Ocala
‘Their march is over’:Two Marion County vets, bodies unclaimed, laid to rest with dignity
Growth:Marion County Commission OKs 270-unit townhome project west of I-75 north of Quail Meadow
KOS scholarship winners announced
The Kingdom of the Sun Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America awarded two $1,000 scholarships at the Chapter Awards and Recognition Dinner meeting on May 5.
Chapter President Joe Voge presented the scholarship checks to Emily German from Forest High School and Joshua Lathrop from Dunnellon High School.
Young women camp makes 88 blankets for foster care children
Fifty-five young women and leaders from the Ocala Florida Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participated in a service project at Doe Lake Campgrounds in the Ocala National Forest on June 2. Three women from the Leesburg Florida Stake also attended the three-day camp, according to a press release from Nancy Wininger, Ocala Florida Stake assistant communication director for the church.
The young women made 88 blankets from donated fabric that will be given to agency partners of “My Very Own Blanket,” an organization that is “dedicated to warming the heart of every child in the foster care system and other youth in need with a blanket, to give them a feeling of comfort, security and most all, a SMILE,” the release said.
“Young Women camp is one of the most beautiful, uplifting experiences – spiritual and social,” Maria Copeland, Stake Young Women president, said in the release. “Our young women developed a great love and friendship between them and they deepened their conversion by becoming closer to the Savior. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve in the Young Women program. Without doubt, this program came from God.
All the young women are incredible examples of love and kindness.”
The Ocala Florida Stake has congregations in Williston, Belleview, Lecanto and Ocala. The Leesburg Florida Stake has congregations in Eustis and other cities.
PulteGroup hosts meal packing event
PulteGroup’s West Florida Division hosted a meal packing event that delivered more than 20,000 meals to two area food banks, according to a press release from Candace Rotolo of the Leytham Group.
More than 60 employee volunteers at two locations – PulteGroup’s Del Webb Stone Creek community in Ocala and its division office in Riverview – packed the meals on June 8. The meals consisted of rice, beans and dehydrated vegetables, and were supplied by the nonprofit Meals of Hope, the release said.
Team members exceeded their goal of packing 20,000 meals. They actually packed 20,144. The meals will be distributed to Salvation Army Ocala and Feeding Tampa Bay.
“So many families are being impacted by the rising cost of food and other everyday items,” Sean Strickler, president of the West Florida Division of PulteGroup, said in the release. “Our Pulte volunteers are always willing to assist and do our part to help people in our community.”
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