Community News

The Boca Raton Tribune C O M M U N I T Y

PBSC honors graduate receives Jack Kent Cooke scholarship City of Boynton Beach to Host Career and Internship Expo

Tarruck Wheeler, a Palm Beach State College Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College graduate, is among only 50 selected nationwide to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

The highly competitive scholarship, which this year drew 1,200 applicants from 180 community colleges in 35 states, provides students up to $55,000 per year for up to three years to complete the upper division coursework for their bachelor’s degrees.

Wheeler is the Colleg e’s 2021-22 S t u d e n t Tr u s t e e and will be graduating summa cum laude with an Associate in Arts deg r e e o n M ay 1 2 . P B S C P r e s i d e n t Ava L. Parker, J.D. surprised him with the news during her president’s report at the District Board of Tr ustees meeting May 10.

Wheeler has applied to several Ivy League schools. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science and international relations.

During his time at PBSC, Wheeler has been the Honors Student Advisory Council President and is one of four student representatives for the Florida Collegiate Honors Council. He is also a member of the Return to Campus Task Force team and represented the College on the COVID Campus Coalition, an organization created to educate students on COVID-19 myths and misinformation. “We all saw something special in Tarruck from the very beginning, so it’s no surprise that he has won this prestigious scholarship,’’ said Marcella Montesinos, PBSC Honors College manager. “He has been an excellent example and inspiration to not only students in the Honors College but to students overall as the student trustee.” In addition to financial suppor t, new Cooke Trans-

Wheeler is the f e r S ch o l a r s w i l l

College’s 2021-22 r e c e i v e c o m p r e hensive education -

Student Trustee and a l a d v i s i n g f r o m will be graduating the foundation to guide them through summa cum laude the process of tranwith an Associate in sitioning to a fouryear university and Arts degree on May 12. preparing for their careers. T hey will h a v e o p p o r t u n ities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of over 2,700 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni. In the rigorous selection process for the 50 recipients, the foundation evaluated each submission based on students’ academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, leadership, and service to others. For more information, visit www.jkcf.org.

The City of Boynton Beach, Path to College and Career Source Palm Beach County have partnered to co-host the Turn the Tables Career & Internship Expo on Wednesday, May 11 (2:30 pm – 5:30 pm) at the Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center (125 E. Ocean Ave.) in Downtown Boynton. Light ref r e s h m e n t s will be provided.

S t u d e n t s ( a g e s 1 5 + ) are invited to attend, lear n about, and apply for interns h i p s ( b o t h paid and unpaid) in a variety of fields. I n f o r m a t i o n about career t r a i n i n g o pp o r t u n i t i e s w i l l a l s o b e available. Student pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. Employers wishing to participate in this free event should register online by May 9.

Participating employers span a wide range of industries and include: Amazon, C.K.’s Lockshop & Security, Career Source PBC, Chick-fil-A West Palm Beach, City of Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Easy Travel Advisor, Florida Career College, Fuller Center, Harish Madhav MD, PA, Navigating Your Path, LLC,

Nova Southeastern University, Palm Beach County Library System, Path to College, The Breakers Palm Beach, Trio Educational Opportunity Center at Palm Beach State College + more.

“Path to College fearlessly clears the path for overl o o k e d s t udents to g et into the best colleges. One of the ways we do this is b y p a r t n e ring with local employers through our annual Tur n the Tables Career & Internship Expo to launch their futures with u n p a r a l l e l e d career opportunities,” state d C h r i s t ina Romelus, Path to College’s Director of Programs. “We invite all high school students (age 15+) to register and join us, and we also encourage employers to not miss out on the opportunity to meet these ambitious students who are the future of our county.”

For more information, visit boyntonbeach.org/internship-fair or call 561-7426014. For ADA accommodations, call 561742-6241 or Florida Relay 711 or email ada@bbfl.us.

Boc a Helping Hands Provides Access to No - Cost Mental Healthc are

Boca Helping Hands (BHH) has partnered with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and Genesis Community Health to help provide underserved individuals with access to healthcare services.

Through its healthcare voucher program, BHH funds the cost of providing uninsured individuals access to free primary medical, dental and behavioral care at FAU’s two nurse-led clinics in West Palm Beach and Genesis Comm u n i t y H e a l t h ’s clinics in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach.

M ay, N a t i o nal Mental Health Awareness Month, was started to advocate for improvements in our national mental healthcare system as well as to raise awareness and combat the stigma associated with mental health issues. Unfortunately, the effects of COVID-19 on mental health are still being felt in more ways than one. Nearly 2 in 5 adults struggled with mental health issues in 2020, compared to about 1 in 5 before the pandemic. In recent years, because of the pandemic, the stresses of social isolation, and transitions back to school and work have resulted in depression and anxiety becoming much more common.

“Mental health can be a critical component of an individual’s overall health, particularly among the clients we serve,” said Greg Hazle, BHH Executive Director.

“BHH is privileged to be able to partner with the FAU Community Health Center and Genesis Community Health to extend access to affordable healthcare to communities from Boca Raton to as far north as West Palm Beach.” “T he Florida Atlantic University Northwest Community Health Alliance clinics provide integrative mental health ser vices to those with limited access to quality care,” said D r. K a r e t hy E d“Mental health can be wa r d s, C E O / E xe c u t i v e D i r e c t o r a critical component of o f FAU / N C H A an individual’s overall Community Health Center. “Our parthealth.” nership with Boca Helping Hands enables us to treat more local residents with physical, mental and chronic illnesses.” In 2021, Boca Helping Hands distributed approximately 950 vouchers to receive healthcare and behavioral care services at partner locations. For assistance with healthcare ser vices, please visit https:// nursing.fau.edu/outreach/fau-community-health-center/index.php or call 561803-8880 to receive a voucher and make an appointment with the FAU Community Health Centers in West Palm Beach. Alternatively, visit one of the four BHH distribution sites to receive a voucher to redeem at Genesis Community Health clinics located in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach. For more information on hours and locations to receive a voucher, please visit https:// bocahelpinghands.org/GenesisHealthcare.

PBSC Loxahatchee Groves c ampus celebrates five years

Palm Beach State College celebrated the five-year anniversary of its Loxahatchee Groves campus with a small outdoor reception and updates on enrollment, community partnerships and expansion plans.

The Dennis P. Gallon camp u s, o f f i c i a l l y named in honor of the College’s f o r m e r l o n gtime president, opened as the fifth campus on Feb. 27, 2017, to more than 700 students. Today, it ser ves over 5,000 students annually.

During the District Board o f T r u s t e e s meeting at the campus May 10, Kimberly Lancaster, dean of academic affairs, and science professors Dr. Vetaley Stashenko and Candace Walker highlighted enhanced educational technology, particularly the virtual Antomage Lab using 3D technology, and strategic partnerships that have elevated instruction and strengthened ties in the central-western communities. Several community leaders and elected off i c i a l s, i n c l u d i n g school board memb e r, M a r c i a A ndrews, attended the meeting and lauded the campus and its leadership.

“ T h a n k y o u for everything that you do for us,’’ said Wellington Village Mayor Anne Gerwig said.

“We’re looking forward to hopefully getting the Dental & Medical Services Technology Building out here. “We’re looking forward to that next phase,” added Loxahatchee Groves Mayor Robert Shorr.

Shor r is refer ring to the College’s plans to build the second building pending final approval of $25 million that lawmakers included in next year’s state budget during this year’s legislative session. Currently, the campus includes a three-story, 50,000-square-foot multi-purpose building with classrooms, offices, student support services, computer labs and a 250-seat lecture hall. With the new building, the College plans to relocate its dental health education programs currently housed in a 60-year-old structure on the Lake Worth campus.

In addition to its partnership with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and other businesses and organizations, the campus also has partnered with Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School to host professional development for teachers such as STEAM Day (science, technology, engineering, art and math), and provide other

services and support. “The Loxahatchee Groves campus is very important to Wellington as it not only reflects the work force of the area, but more specifically the unique needs of the Wellington business comm u n i t y,’ ’ s a i d Scott Sweigart, p r e s i d e n t o f the Wellington C h a m b e r o f Commerce. “As a medical hub, the talent coming out of this campus will no d o u b t b e o u r f u tu r e l e a d e r s and work force in Wellington.” A m o n g the other highlights noted were plans for the Julie and John Kime Library Resource Center on the third-floor landing of the existing building to give students access to some of the services available on other campuses with full libraries. The center is made possible through the generosity of the philanthropists whose name it will bear. The College also celebrated philanthropist Frank DiMino. The existing building bears his name The Dennis P. Gallon and is the cornercampus, officially stone for the Dental & Medical Technamed in honor of nology Building. the College’s former Following the board meeting, atlongtime president, tendees moved outs i d e f o r t h e c e lopened as the fifth e b r a t i o n , w h e r e campus on Feb. 27, P r e s i d e n t Ava L . Parker, J.D., recog2017. nized Lancaster for her leadership and c a m p u s e m p l o yees, as well as Gallon and board chairperson Wendy Link for their roles to help bring the campus to fruition. Gallon, who retired in 2015 after 18 years at the helm, expressed again his gratitude for the campus being named in his honor, and his excitement for its future plans. “I’m very proud of the work that is being carried on here,” he said. “It’s certainly a testament to the hard work and dedication that is going to make this institution continue to be a part of addressing the education needs of the citizens of this county.” Lancaster said with the pandemic occurring three years after the campus opened it was important to have the “5 Years of Excellence” celebration. “It’s really to refresh and remind the central-wester n community that Palm Beach State has a presence here and that we’re here to suppor t dual enrollment, the Associate in Arts degree, health science prog rams, computer science programs and to support the employers in the community.”