Student achievement, helping the less fortunate: Good news in Ocala/Marion | June 19, 2022

Ocala Star-Banner
·3 min read

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

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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.

Joshua Lathrop of Dunnellon High School received a $1,000 KOS Scholarship Award check from KOS President Joe Voge on May 5.
Joshua Lathrop of Dunnellon High School received a $1,000 KOS Scholarship Award check from KOS President Joe Voge on May 5.
Emily German of Forest High School received a $1,000 KOS Scholarship Award check from KOS President Joe Voge on May 5.
Emily German of Forest High School received a $1,000 KOS Scholarship Award check from KOS President Joe Voge on May 5.

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.

Participants in the Young Women camp made 88 blankets for the “My Very Own Blanket” organization. The blankets will be given to children in the foster care system.
Participants in the Young Women camp made 88 blankets for the “My Very Own Blanket” organization. The blankets will be given to children in the foster care system.

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.

Clockwise: PulteGroup employees Sean Strickler, Denise Paxson, Terry Bradberry, Vania Jenkins and Nicole Tumminia pack rice and beans to be donated to Salvation Army Ocala and Feeding Tampa Bay. More than 60 employee volunteers at two locations and packed more than 20,000 meals.
Clockwise: PulteGroup employees Sean Strickler, Denise Paxson, Terry Bradberry, Vania Jenkins and Nicole Tumminia pack rice and beans to be donated to Salvation Army Ocala and Feeding Tampa Bay. More than 60 employee volunteers at two locations and packed more than 20,000 meals.

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.

Employee volunteers from PulteGroup’s West Florida Division took part in packing more than 20,000 pre-made meals that will be distributed to Salvation Army Ocala and Feeding Tampa Bay. Pictured from left are: Nicole Tumminia, Corey Troxell, Mahsa Moqadasi, Cheryl Jones, Keeley Platt, Sean Strickler, Denise Paxson, Vania Jenkins, Terri Bradberry, Ashley Adam, Lexington Olsen, and Stacy Blalock.

“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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This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Good news in Ocala, Florida includes donations, student achievements