Four Manatee County students receive Service Academy appointments

Four Manatee students receive Service Academy appointments

Eleven area students have received appointments to U.S. Service Academies, including four from Manatee County, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Longboat Key) recently announced.

Each year, members of the House and Senate nominate high school students they represent for admission to the U.S. Air Force, Merchant Marine, Military and Naval academies. Applicants are interviewed and recommended by a nonpartisan Service Academy Board. Receiving appointments from Manatee County:

· IMG Academy graduate Andrew Mikell Thompson of Bradenton received an appointment to the Military Academy.

· Bradenton Christian School graduate Aspen Benigni of Palmetto received a Naval Academy appointment.

· IMG Academy graduate Joshua Wolff of Bradenton received an Air Force Academy appointment.

· Admiral Farragut Academy graduate Gavin Wolfgang Schlosser of Bradenton received a Naval Academy appointment.

“I would like to congratulate these outstanding young men and women for their appointments,” Buchanan said. “They should take pride in having successfully competed with so many students from across the country. It is an honor not only for them, but for all who have supported them along the way.”

Children First VP accepts national Head Start award

Kathleen Sullivan, vice president of programs at Children First, recently received the 2023-24 Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award from the National Head Start Association.

The award “celebrates a Head Start alumna, alumnus, or parent now working for a Head Start or Early Head Start program who demonstrates their passion for serving through advocacy, career growth, and being actively involved in their program, community, or at the state or national level.” Sullivan, a former Head Start parent, has worked for Children First for nearly 14 years.

"My journey with Head Start began with my own children, who all benefited from this incredible program," Sullivan said. "What inspired me to stay involved is the extraordinary dedication of the people who tirelessly advance this crucial work across our nation. I am proud to dedicate my life’s work to a mission that has given so much to me and continues to profoundly impact the lives of children and families."

Selby Gardens botanist takes part in discovery of new plant

Selby Gardens research botanist John Clark was a primary participant in the discovery of a new plant species and is the leading author describing the plant,Amalophyllon miraculum, in the journal PhytoKeys.

The 2-inch-high plant with iridescent foliage and ephemeral flowers was discovered in a farmer's backyard in a biodiversity hotspot called Centinela on the western Andean slopes of Ecuador. The discovery represents a victory for biodiversity conservation in an area that the scientific community had assumed to be a barren agricultural landscape. The collaborative research involved teams of Ecuadorian and international researchers.

"The heroic efforts of local landowners who maintained small patches of forests – usually surrounding waterfalls – were instrumental in conserving these remnant forest fragments," Clark said.

Bradenton resident has book on building financial success

Matt Simmons, a Bradenton resident and small business owner, has written his first book, "Find Your Hidden Treasure Chest."

"Treasure Chest" provides advice on building sustainable financial wealth and "offers people hope via a better solution in building a successful financial future," Simmons said. The book, Simmons says, offers a sustainable system for saving money that doesn't affect take-home pay.

Simmons, a Navy veteran, will be holding a book signing and meet-and-greet on July 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble at the UTC Mall (200 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota).

Around and about

· Creative Liberties Artist Studios and Gallery will host a free Family Art Day on July 27 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at 927 N. Lime Ave. Artist Kat Sjogren will lead families in a mixed-media art project open to all ages and skill levels (no RSVP required). All supplies included. The program is made possible by the Johnson Singer Arts & Education Fund. (creativeliberties.net)

· The SRQ Women’s Expo, featuring more than 100 local businesses, returns to the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota on July 27-28 with health and wellness products, a fashion show, and guest speakers offering professional insight on a variety of topics, including beauty, fashion and financial literacy. Barbara Palacios, winner of Miss Universe 1986, will be a keynote speaker during a Sunday luncheon panel. Tickets/info: srqwomensexpo.com/get-tickets-srq-womens-expo-2024.

· Registration is underway for the 13th annual Tour de North Port on Oct. 20 sponsored by People for Trees. The on-road bicycle fun ride with routes of 15, 35, or 65 miles passes through North Port’s natural settings, including pine flatwoods and parks that border the Myakkahatchee Creek. SWAG bags and T-shirts for the first 400 to register; group discounts available. Visit peoplefortrees.com or email Alice White (treelady12001@yahoo.com) for registration/information.

Submissions by Lisa Benton, Chase Babair, Evan Ackerman, Nancy Seijas-Kipnis, Matt Simmons, Su Byron, Nicholas Azzara, and Alice White.