A Niceville 5th-grade student from James E. Plew Elementary School was invited to the Governor’s Mansion recently and recognized for her Hispanic Heritage Month (celebrated Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) essay about her Hispanic grandfather’s journey to America. Norah Hall, age 10, is the only student from Okaloosa County. The Panhandle, Okaloosa County Superintendent Marcus Chambers and the Okaloosa County School Board also recognized her in November. Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis recognized this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month student and educator contest winners who were invited to the Florida Governor’s Mansion. They received prizes for their art, essays and educational contributions. This year’s students were invited to submit an essay on “Celebrating Florida’s Hispanic Heroes and Their Contributions to Freedom.” Norah wrote about her Hispanic grandfather, Oscar Valenzuela Sr., his journey, overcoming obstacles and impacting her own life. At age 12, Oscar moved from Juarez, Mex., to Laredo, Tex., speaking only Spanish, and became an American citizen in 1977 at age 20, Norah wrote in her essay. Six winners were selected including two elementary students (grades 4–5), two middle school students (grades 6–8) and two high school students (grades 9–12). Winners received a two-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies.
Gov. Ron DeSantis recently made five key appointments to the Board of Trustees at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC). Cory Fosdyck, Senior Vice President and Senior Resident Director for Merrill Lynch, is dedicated to community service. He’s spearheaded initiatives at the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, offered his expertise to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, and once led the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. He is a Senior Vice President and Senior Resident Director for Merrill Lynch. Kristen “Rhea” Goff is the Chief Administrative Officer and a Senior Vice President of the St. Joe Company. Her influence extends to the Great Northwest Foundation in Florida, and she actively contributes to the South Walton High School’s advisory board for business and culinary arts. Megan Harrison serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. She’s known for her work with the Walton County Economic Development Alliance and has strong ties to the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association in the Northwest Florida Region. Returning to the board are Donald Litke and Thomas “Rudy” Wright. Litke, an esteemed Major General retiree of the U.S. Air Force, founded the Joyful Place Memory Care Ministry. Wright, another celebrated U.S. Air Force Major General retiree, made notable contributions at the NATO Headquarters in Belgium, earning him the Bronze Star. Note: These selections await the Florida Senate’s nod.
Congratulations to the following schools in our area that completed all requirements to earn the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation from the 2023-24 school year through the 2025-26 school year: Okaloosa County—Liza Jackson Preparatory School and Rocky Bayou Christian School; Walton County—Van R. Butler Elementary School and Walton Initiative for Success in Education. To earn the Florida Purple Star School of Distinction Designation, schools are required to fulfill a list of several criteria that extensively support military families which includes, but is not limited to, a school military webpage, transition program, staff professional development that meets the needs of military families and five percent open enrollment seats for military students and families. Established in 2021, in its first year, 124 schools completed all the requirements to earn the Purple Star School of Distinction designation; this year 200 schools earned this designation. For more information and a complete list of schools, visit https://www.fldoe.org/schools/family-community/activities-programs/parental-involvement/purple-star.stml.
Wreaths Across America will host a Wreaths Across America Ceremony on Sat., Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. The historic Gulf Cemetery will be joining with Arlington National Cemetery and over 3,000 cemeteries throughout the country for the annual Wreaths Across America Ceremony. A brief ceremony including a nationally-coordinated moment of silence will precede the placing of the wreaths. Unlike the Memorial Day ceremony, this event is informal and those attending are encouraged to be in comfortable attire. Children are encouraged to participate in the wreath laying and many are part of the ceremony. For more information on Wreaths Across America, visit http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
On 9/11, Niceville Republican Women honored their 2023 Hometown Heroes: our area’s three fire chiefs. President Jan Howard presented checks for $650, a fireman trophy and cookies donated from Crumbl Cookies to each chief for their daily heroic service to our area.
Impact100 Northwest Florida recently awarded $100,000 grants to four local nonprofits: For Arts & Culture: Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida: Exhibit Hall to Save Our Local Historical Treasures; for Education: Emerald Coast Science Center: Across the Universe: Planetarium Project; for Family: Northwest Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation: Cases for Kids; and for Health and Wellness: EOD Warrior Foundation: Supporting Physical, Emotional & Financial Health & Stability. The concept behind Impact100 is simple: For every 100 members making a $1,000 donation a $100,000 grant is formed. The organization has no limit on the number of members that can join and looks to engage women throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Since the creation of Impact100 Northwest Florida in 2012, the group has granted 42 grants totaling over $4.5 million to local nonprofit groups in the area. One hundred percent of each member contribution is awarded to nonprofit organizations, with none going to administrative costs.
Rhonda Skipper Tax Collector Receives Award
When it comes to accuracy in managing every penny, you can trust Walton County Tax Collector Rhonda Skipper. This is one of the key reasons why Ms. Skipper and her financial team have been honored with several consecutive Legacy Awards for Financial Operations, a prestigious accolade granted by the Florida Tax Collector’s Association. The Legacy Award criteria encompass a flawless annual report, proof of technological advancements, a strong customer-focus approach, and astute budgeting. Ms. Skipper expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are genuinely fortunate and proud to receive the Legacy Award for many years in a row. It serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work of our Finance team. Their unwavering commitment to financial precision and excellence is truly commendable, making them highly deserving of this recognition.”
