Class Notes 09.17.15

+ Meal apps due by Sept. 30

Parents of Orange County Public School students can begin submitting a Club Lunch Meal Benefits Application for the 2015-16 school year. Completion of this form helps OCPS qualify students to receive school meals at a reduced, free or paid rate. It also assists with qualifying schools to receive additional resources for classrooms, technology and even supper meals.

The number of students eligible for meal benefits has increased by more than 3% in the last three years to an all-time high of 65.8% in Fiscal Year 2014.

Since a new application is required each school year, OCPS has made its online application process easier. By visiting OCPSMealApp.com, families can fill out one application that will cover all students in the household.  Information submitted on the application is confidential and will not be shared without consent. By submitting an application prior to the start of school, students can begin using their benefits as soon as possible. 

Regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture, the OCPS food service program operates under strict nutrition guidelines for all meals served. Fruits and vegetables are provided with each meal every day, and whole grains are used in breads, pizzas, rice, etc. There are no fried foods or any foods high in fat, sugar or salt. These guidelines, paired with widely known, brand-name products, allow OCPS FNS to serve students healthy, great tasting meals.  

For more information about OCPS FNS, contact Lora Gilbert, senior director of OCPS Food and Nutrition Services, at (407) 317-3963 or [email protected].

+ Area students earn college kudos

Four West Orange County students were named to the dean’s list at Virginia Tech for the spring semester.

Brianna J. Harb, of Windermere, is a senior majoring in international studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.​ Emma D. Tum Suden, of Orlando, is a sophomore majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering. Karan P. Kotadia, of Orlando, is a junior majoring in general engineering. Eric A. Bruning, of Orlando, is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. The school is in Blacksburg, Virginia.

+ Retired O.C. educators to meet

The Orange County Retired Educators Association will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at College Park United Methodist Church, 644 W. Princeton St., Orlando, for a program on the Orange County History Center. Anyone who has worked in education is invited to join. For more, call (407) 677-0446.

+ Douglas Cooley earns scholarship

Douglas Cooley, of Winter Garden, has been awarded a Fred and Waunee Walker Scholarship at Valdosta State University for the 2015-16 academic year.

Thirty-nine new and returning students were selected to receive a scholarship through VSU Foundation Inc. These scholarships were established by private donors and are awarded each year to students with excellent academic achievement and/or financial need. Each recipient represents the high standards of the university.

The school is in Valdosta, Ga.

+ Local students named semifinalists

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, and more than a dozen are from West Orange County schools.

• Dr. Phillips: Anli Chen, Max Kingstone, Samuel D. Rossum and Zhewei Xie

• Olympia: Ayshna A. Desai, Deesha Desai, Alexander C. Esperanza and Samantha Sexton

• West Orange: Bianca S. Wilhelm

• Windermere Preparatory School: Jarrett T. Bell, Emma M. Goeckel, Eruj K. Haider and Alexander P. Schwartz

These high-school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn

SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2016 will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 315,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

Zach Zweifel has been selected as an Outstanding Student at Holy Family Catholic School. Zach was nominated for his warmth, kindness and dedication to service and for being an example for the younger students.

He is striving to reach 100 community-service hours; he has volunteered at Give Kids The World and performs magic shows at assisted-living facilities, Kiddie U, fall festivals and special holidays. He donates most of his birthday money to the March of Dimes each year.

Zach arrives early at school and has volunteered to open the gate and office door for all of the teachers. He greets everyone and wishes everyone a good day. In media class, he is always willing to help the staff and other students. 

He is also a competitive swimmer; the butterfly and IM are his favorite.