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Tomlin Students Earn 6 Trophies At Technology Competition

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By BETTY BRIGGS

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 28, 2008

PLANT CITY - The Tomlin Middle School Technology Student Association, part of the National Technology Student Association, is dedicated to fostering personal growth, leadership and opportunities in technology, innovation, design and engineering.

Tomlin's chapter recently brought home six trophies, including a first place and four second places, from the association's state competition in Orlando. The school's 21 participants placed in the top 10 finalists in 27 events. Missy Dixon, whose son Donnie placed first in the flight challenge competition, said Tomlin will be the only middle school in Hillsborough County competing at nationals.

About 900 students competed in the state competition. About 8,000 students are expected for nationals.

Other state winners from Tomlin include Zack Rogers, second in electrical applications; Brennan Smith, second in communications challenge; Addison Killebrew and William George, second in problem solving; Brandon Hastings, Addison Killebrew and Brennan Smith, second place TSA Cup in marine design; and Stanton Cook, Brandon Hastings and Ian Scarbrough, third place, leadership challenge.

Their instructor is Dianne Stevens, the Technology Student Association adviser and technology education teacher at Tomlin.

Stevens wants to take 10 students to the National Technology Student Association Competition in Orlando on June 27. The group is seeking grants or donations to help this dream come true. Costs include registration fee of $90 per student, rooms for four nights for a total of about $2,900 and other expenses. The parents have already paid for state expenses and blazers, dress shirts and pants, and will pay for all food at nationals.

If you can help, call Tomlin at (813) 757-9400, ext. 251.

Plant City Student Studies Abroad

PLANT CITY - Alexandra Boehm of Plant City participated in the Washington Semester Abroad at American University. Boehm, a student at the University of Miami, took part in the international environment and development program.

The program provides students an opportunity to go to the nation's capital to study government through firsthand experience and contact with political, business and community leaders. It culminates in a three-week field practicum in Brazil or South Africa, where students have a chance to see projects they studied in-person. American University is in Washington.

City Residents Among Florida Southern Grads

PLANT CITY - Spring graduates at Florida Southern College include Leyla Nichole Dokumaci and Heather Leighanne Judah, both Plant City residents.

Dokumaci, daughter of Unsal Dokumaci and Karen Erickson, graduated from the Lakeland school cum laude with a bachelor of science in pre-kindergarten primary education. Judah graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in elementary education.

Plant City Resident Keeps Eye On Myanmar

PLANT CITY - Plant City resident Jean Hehn, who traveled to Burma (Myanmar) before the cyclone, keeps a close eye on the country, where the situation is desperate. The river boat cruise company that she, her parents and husband traveled with has been deployed to provide a floating medical clinic and hospital.

"Pandaw Cruises on the Irrawaddy River is known for their special efforts on behalf of the people in Burma and has a cordial relationship with the government," Hehn said.

She said they are still waiting for word on the fate of 360 boys in an orphanage they visited there.

Teacher, Wife Also Theater Leaders

PLANT CITY - Bob Nicholson, a teacher at Plant City High School, is orchestra director for Brandon Youth Theatre. His wife, Marilyn, has been the director of the theater for 15 years. These professionals are providing an excellent theater education for area kids.

"The Nicholsons are giving kids an experience that is the closest thing to being a Broadway production," said Karis Denhoff of Plant City, whose daughters, Olivia and Grace, are in this summer's production of Gilbert & Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore."

The theater is a nonprofit group run by a board of directors and depends on grants and donations along with tuition from students.

Auditions for "H.M.S. Pinafore" are being held, with rehearsals beginning June 3. Show dates begin July 1.

Call Denhoff at (813) 719-2744 for information or e-mail her at Denhoff@hotmail.com. Experienced instrumentalists at the advanced high school or college level can call Bob Nicholson at (813) 654-6897.

Girl Upstages Granddad With Written Word

PLANT CITY - Clifford Halford was involved in Air Force flight operations for top-ranking generals in Paris during World War II, and although it was pretty exciting, learning that his 15-year-old granddaughter, Shea Derryberry, is following in his footsteps as an author is even more thrilling.

Halford, who has written a column for a Lake County newsletter for more than 12 years, has published four stories and four poems in anthologies put out by Two Friends Publishing. Now, he said, his granddaughter has upstaged him.

When he sent a few stories off for consideration, he also included a Halloween piece his granddaughter wrote. It was her story that was accepted for publication in "Once Upon a Place" anthology that came out this month.

Halford, a retired Baptist minister, lives in Plant City with his wife, Pat. Shea is the daughter of Laura and David Derryberry.

Children's Chorus Seeks New Members

For all little Plant City songbirds, the Tampa Bay Children's Chorus is holding auditions for the 2008-09 season for children in grades 3 through 12. Go to tbchorus.org www.tbcchorus.org for information.

Audition spots are filling up quickly.

Have an event you would like to see in this column? Send items to Betty Briggs at gabylee@tampa bay.rr.com; mail to The Tampa Tribune, 101 N. Wheeler St., Plant City FL 33563; or fax to (813) 865-4441.

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