News Briefs

Eight FSW students earn CSC Academic All-District honors

Following an outstanding year both in the classroom and in competition, eight Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers have earned CSC Academic All-District honors for the 2023-2024 academic year.

The Bucs eight student-athletes honored were the only junior college student-athletes in the state of Florida to earn the honors.

The Academic All-District Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. To be eligible for nomination, student-athletes must be sophomores both athletically and academically, hold a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average, and been a starter, or key reserve on their team.

The Bucs Citrus Conference Championship Softball team led the way with three Academic All-District selections. Sietske Drijvers wrapped up her Buccaneer career with a 3.91 GPA while earning 1st Team FCSAA All-State and 1st Team All-Citrus Conference honors on the field. Drijvers played in 64 games for the Bucs this season, hitting .347 while accounting for 116 runs with 54 driven in and 62 scored.

Like Drijvers, Maddy Golka posted a 3.91 GPA in the classroom the past two years while playing in over 100 games for the Bucs. Golka was a 1st Team All-Conference choice for FSW, hitting .349 and driving in 31 runs for the Bucs this season.

The third and final Bucs Softball player to earn the honors was fireballer Esmee Ames who was a 1st Team All-Conference and 2nd Team FCSAA All-State selection for the Bucs this season after going 21-6 with six saves on the season in the circle.

Jaehshon Thomas and Reis Jones become the first FSW Men’s Basketball players in program history to earn the award after turning in stellar seasons both on the court and in the classroom. Thomas earned his degree from FSW with a 3.91 cumulative GPA the past two seasons and was equally as impressive on the court this year, putting up 16.0 points per game and shooting 53 percent from the field to earn 1st Team FCSAA All-State and 1st Team All-Citrus Conference honors. Joining him was teammate Reis Jones who paired a 3.69 GPA with 5.5 points per game and a 60 percent field goal percentage while also blocking the third most shots in a single season in program history with 48 this season.

Fresh off of an NJCAA National Championship in the Fall, the Bucs Volleyball program was represented on the list by Victoria Zibecchi and Izzy Collier. Zibecchi had a big sophomore season for the Bucs, posting a 3.67 GPA in the classroom while earning 1st Team FCSAA All-State and 1st Team All-Citrus Conference accolades on the court. Zibecchi was one of just five players in all of the NJCAA ranks this season to average over 3.0 kills per set and also hit over .300 on the year. Joining her was Collier, who was a two year starter for the Bucs, earning 1st Team FCSAA All-State and 1st Team All-Citrus Conference honors this season. She became just the second player in program history with over 200 career blocks and is the FSW all-time leader with 35 career solo blocks.

Last but certainly not least was FSW fan favorite Federica Lagana of the Bucs Women’s Basketball team. Lagana graduated with a 3.85 cumulative GPA this spring after playing in 53 games for the Bucs the past two seasons. A menace on the defensive end, Lagana tied a program single game record with nine steals in a win over St. Petersburg this season and her 72 steals on the year were third most in a single season in program history.

Drijvers, Golka, Thomas and Zibecchi have all been selected as finalists for the prestigious CSC Academic All-America Team award which will be announced in July.

Grace Place to host 3rd Annual Back to School Bash

Grace Place for Children and Families is thrilled to announce its 3rd Annual Back to School Bash, set to take place on Saturday, July 20, 2024, from 9 a.m. to noon on the Grace Place campus, located in the heart of the Golden Gate community.

This event aims to equip students in the 34116 Golden Gate area with the tools they need for a successful school year.

At this year’s event, Grace Place will be giving away more than 600 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to local students. The Back to School Bash promises to be a fun-filled morning for the whole family, featuring a variety of activities and services: Pancake breakfast, and tasty snacks like popcorn and snow cones. Enjoy face painting, games, book giveaways, and other exciting activities.

Engage with community partners including Bikers Against Child Abuse, Collier County Public Library, Humane Society, the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District and more.

The Healthcare Network will provide health screenings for adults, while the Naples Lions Club will offer vision screenings for children.

Grace Place staff will be available to register families for its free fall educational programs, catering to all age groups.

“We are excited to host our third Back to School Bash and support the educational needs of our community’s children,” said Lara Fisher, CEO of Grace Place. “This event not only provides necessary school supplies but also brings our community together to celebrate and support one another.”

Golisano offering free autism screening for young children

Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southwest Florida, offers a free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to five years of age.

The next screening will be held on July 19, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Pediatric Specialist Office, 15901 Bass Rd, Suite 102, Fort Myers.

It is estimated that one in every 44 children is diagnosed with some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.

Medical consultants for the project stress that an early diagnosis can make a vast difference for toddlers and their families. They say early intensive behavioral intervention can make an immense difference not just in the development of the child, but in their families as well.

The ASD screening is conducted by the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The screenings are administered by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, who has extensive training and experience in typical child development and developmental disorders.

A physician referral is not required. To schedule a screening, please call 239- 343-6838.

FWC removes 100th vessel through Turn-In Program

Since the inception of The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Vessel Turn-In Program in late 2022, the FWC has received 186 applications from owners of at-risk or unwanted vessels.

The first two vessels removed through this program were removed from Pasco and Pinellas counties in March 2023 and the 100th vessel was removed from Wakulla County on June 7.

VTIP is a key component of Florida’s derelict vessel prevention program. This voluntary program is designed to help owners dispose of their unwanted at-risk vessels before they become derelict. Upon approval of an application, VTIP will take a surrendered vessel and dispose of it at no cost to the boat owner. Removing the vessel before it deteriorates into a derelict condition will prevent legal ramifications for the vessel owner, protect Florida’s valuable seagrass resources, marine life and human life, safety, and property, and save Florida taxpayers money.

To qualify for VTIP, a vessel must be floating upon waters of the state of Florida and cannot be determined derelict by law enforcement. The owner must have at least one written warning or citation for an at-risk condition and possess a clear title to the vessel.

The latest vessel removed will not be the last. More applications are being reviewed and there are 15 slated for removal.

The FWC is actively taking applications from at-risk vessel owners for the Vessel Turn-In Program. Vessel owners can call VTIP specialists at the FWC for more information on the program at 850-488- 5600 or visit MyFWC.com/boating. ¦

The post News Briefs first appeared on Bonita Springs Florida Weekly .