Military service, professional honors and more: Good news for Ocala/Marion County

Ocala graduate first in Marion County to serve in the United States Space Force

Chase Sherman, 19, a 2021 Forest High School graduate, is the first recruit from Marion County to serve in the United States Space Force, according to an email from his mother, Brandi Sherman.

Sherman graduated from Air Force basic training on March 24 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He attended tech school in San Angelo, Texas, and completed the signals collection course on Aug. 31.

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SPC3 Guardian Sherman is currently at Peterson Space Force Station, Colorado, and is a signals intelligence analyst for the Space Force.

Sherman participated in ROTC while at Forest High. He is the son of Chad and Brandi Sherman, who are local Ocala business owners.

Dedication of DAR historic marker

The Ocala DAR Chapter, NSDAR, dedicated an historic marker at the Helvenston House on Oct. 9, according to a press release from the NSDAR. The house, located at 1027 E. Fort King St. in Ocala’s Historic District, was the home of NSDAR Organizing Regent Louella Gary Helvenston.

Helvenston established the NSDAR with the first meeting in her living room on March 3, 1925.

Brian Stoothoff, former president of the Historic Ocala Preservation Society, introduced speaker Regent Elizabeth Coleman at the dedication.

Grants For Great Hours program to benefit Marion County Public Library System

A team of Ocala PNC Bank employees presented a check for $3,000 to the Friends of the Ocala Public Library recently to help support the Marion County Public Library System’s educational programs for children and families, according to a press release from Marion County Public Relations.

Nine PNC bank employees from Ocala branches volunteered 100 hours at various Marion County Public Library System locations over several months. The PNC staff helped with the library’s weekly family programs, getting craft materials ready, and setting up program rooms.

Volunteers also helped with library story times, welcoming families with children, and assisting library staff in a number of ways that enhanced the library experience for all in attendance, the release said.

CF Citrus nursing named best RN program in Florida

The College of Central Florida’s Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus Associate Degree Nursing program has been recognized as the 2023 Best RN Program in Florida by RegisteredNursing.org, according to a press release from CF. The nursing advocacy organization evaluated nearly 150 RN programs and ranked the top 20 based on the percentage of graduates who pass the national licensure exam.

The two-year program prepares students to become registered nurses, providing direct care to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and community-based agencies. The Citrus program is part of the collegewide nursing program.

This ranking places CF at the top of a list of 20 colleges and universities including other state colleges as well as University of Florida and Florida State University.

Christopher Scott-Bowron Glorius achieves Eagle Scout rank

Christopher Scott-Bowron Glorius, 17, a senior at Trinity Catholic High School, earned Eagle Scout rank after completing his project and the required number of merit badges in October, according to an email from his family.

Glorius refurbished the eight rock and dirt areas at Brother’s Keeper on Northwest 10th Street, Ocala, for his Eagle Scout project. He and his scout buddies dug the areas out, replanted greenery and flowers, and spread pine bark, the email said. The staff at Brother’s Keeper does the watering.

“The gardens really add a lot to the center,” Jason Halstead, ministry director, said in the email.

Glorius is a member of Troop 172 based out of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.  Scoutmaster Douglas McNeish was very pleased with this project, the email said.

Glorius is planning on going into military service when he graduates and has aspirations of being a software engineer, the email said.

Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year named

West Port High School’s Ginger Cruze was recently named Marion County’s Principal of the Year.

Cruze, a Marion County Public Schools employee for 33 years, is described as a “change agent” by her peers, according to a press release from Marion County Public Schools.

Harbour View Elementary School’s Jennifer Pollard was named Marion County’s Assistant Principal of the Year. She has served MCPS students for 18 years, the last seven as assistant principal.

Cruze and Pollard now advance to the state-level competition.

HCA Florida Hospitals awarded ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital both received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, according to a press release from HCA Florida. This national distinction celebrates the hospitals' achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization with a 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients, the release said.

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This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Good news list in Ocala/Marion County, Florida includes military service