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

PBA Alumnae Earn Three More Fulbright Program Honors

“Innovators. Trailblazers. Fulbrighters.” That’s how the Fulbright Program describes the people it honors, a select group that now includes 10 graduates of Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Anna McInytre, from Brookfield, Wisconsin, will teach grades eight to 12 in Bulgaria.The Fulbright Program, the flagship international academic exchange sponsored by the U.S. Government, appoints students, educators and researchers to ser ve and learn in other countries, seeking to foster mutual understanding between the United States and those countries. The latest PBA members joining that group of cultural ambassadors are recent graduates Anna Rose M c I n t y r e a n d Morgan Hirchert, w h o w i l l t e a ch English in Bulg aria and South Ko r e a , r e s p e ctively. Meanwhile, E s t h e r H a g a n , PBA’s first Fulbright winner in 2018, has earned a new honor, a F u l b r i g h t - H a y s award to conduct research in the Philippines.

M c I n t y r e , from Brookfield, Wisconsin, is an English and secondary education major. She finished her degree in December and taught English and history at Watson B. Duncan Middle School in Palm Beach Gardens. At the end of August she will leave for Bulgaria to teach in grades eight to 12.

“I’ve always loved English literature, and knew that I wanted to be a teacher,” McIntyre said. She applied for a Bulgaria placement because she was interested in that culture and in the sociopolitical differences found in a country influenced by the communist regime of the 20th century.

“I’m hoping my eyes will be opened to culMorgan Hirchert will teach English in South Korea.tures and dynamics that I’ve never been exposed to,” she said. “And I’m hoping I will find fulfilment in helping others and sharing my love of the English language.” She also looks forward to the connections and opportunities the Fulbright might open for her in the future.

Hirchert, an elementary education major from Wellington, Florida, was honored in May as the Outstanding Graduate of the School of Education and Behavioral Studies. In January, she will leave for her Fulbright Teaching Assistantship in South Korea. “It’s been amazing to see how God put this together for me,” she said.

Ever since she was a little girl, Hirchert wanted to be a teacher. Her love for teaching grew during summer visits to Asia, where she taught English at The Potter’s School summer camps over the course of four years. Compared to the U.S., in Asia the culture “is so much more communal,” Hirchert said. She believes people have a deeper grasp of faith and God’s kingdom because of the community focus and understanding.

In her final PBA semester she traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, for student teaching.

Both Hirchert and McIntyre studied at the University of Oxford through the David and Leighan Rinker Center for Experiential Learning, and both are graduates from the Frederick M. Supper Honors Program. Esther Hagan b e c a m e P B A’s Fulbright pioneer in 2018. She subsequently earned a Fulbright-Hays a w a r d . E n g l i s h major Hagan became PBA’s Fulb r i g h t p i o n e e r in 2018 with the help of the newly created Prestigio us Na tio nal Scholarship Program. Led by Associate Professor of English Dr. Carl Miller, the prog ram encourages students to apply for the Fulbright and other highly-selective scholarships, and then supports them through the application process.

Hagan taught English to elementary and middle school students in Taiwan for a year. This summer, under her Fulbright-Hays Program award, she heads to the Philippines to research the history, culture, political alignments and nuances of the Philippine system. She will then create a curriculum that teachers can use to help students learn about the Philippines and about the importance of studying different cultures and people in different countries. She is one of 64 educators chosen from throughout the U.S. to serve in the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program. This year the program has seminars in the Philippines, Hungary, Norway, and Germany.

For the past three years, Hagan has taught English at Palm Springs Middle School, where she will return after her Fulbright-Hays journey. She looks forward to helping her middle school students and students elsewhere “grasp that this world is so much bigger than the school they attend and the community they live in, and even the state where they live.”

The Schmidt Boc a Raton Histor y Museum Welcomes Loc al S uppor ters to Annual Members Meeting

A half-century after it was originally founded, The Boca Raton Historical Society (BRHS) held its annual Members Meeting at The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum (SBRHM) on May 18 and more than 75 local supporters attended.

Olivia Hollaus, Founder and Crea t ive D i r e c t o r o f Protect My Shoes, a brand focused on creating stylish, sustainable, and effective shoe care produ c t s, a n d f o r m e r Style Contributor to Boca Magazine, was e l e c t e d t o B o a r d Chair, taking over from Kirsten Stephenson who ably served in that position for the last two years. Other officers include Secretary Denise Alman, Treasurer Christina Karas and Assistant Treasurer Mike Alexander.

Additional SBRHM board members 2022-2023 include Koji Akaboshi, Trenton Cycholl, Terry Fedele, Athena Gounis, Zoe Lanham, Linda Spielmann, and Anthea Walker.

Among the highlights of the 2022 annual Members Meeting were the presentation of two major awards, plus remarks by Frank Saier, who as a young attorney facilitated the filing of the Articles of Incorporation papers to the State for the new Boca Raton Historical Society in 1972 and became Chairman of the Board in the Historical Society’s second year. The Myrtle Butts Fleming Award

Named after one of the original founders of the Boca Raton Historical Society, the prestigious Myrtle Butts Fleming Award is given annually to an outstanding volunteer and supporter. The 2022 award was presented to Barb a r a M o n t g o me r y O ’ C o n n e l l by SBRHM Executive Director Mary Csar. The new Dave Ashe Award N a m e d a f t e r a n o t h e r f o u n d i n g member who shared his historical memories and memorabilia with BRHS since 1927, this new award recognizes individuals who have contributed valuable, historical artifacts to the museum’s collection. The first recipient is Linda Prowe Jackson, who moved to Boca Raton with her family in 1957 and later served as the museum’s ambassador to Boca High School alumni and other longtime residents, urging them to contribute to SBRHM’s vast array of Boca collectables.

“Linda believed in her city and the importance of history as a guide for the present and future generations,” says BRHS Curator Susan Gillis. “We lost her last year at much too young an age, but we are pleased to honor her memory by naming her the first recipient of this award and we’re so pleased that it was accepted by her grandson Connor Jackson.”

Florida Metro Areas Top List of Largest U.S. Rent Increases Five Easy Ways to Cool Down Your Energy Bill This S ummer

Rents for homes and apartments have soared nationwide over the past year, and Florida remains at the heart of a problem overwhelming U.S. consumers, according to an analysis of 107 rental markets by researchers at Florida Atlantic University and two other schools.

Based on year-over-year rent increases, eight of the Top 10 markets are in Florida, with only No. 4 Sierra Vista, Arizona and No. 7 Knoxville, Tennessee making the list from outside the Sunshine State.

Renters in Fort Myers, on Florida’s west coast south of Tampa, have been hit particularly hard. The average rent there for April was $2,073, up 32.38 percent from a year ago, the nation’s largest increase.

In terms of the largest premium paid by renters, metro Miami (including Miami-Dade, Broward a n d Pa l m B e a c h counties) remains the most over valued market at 22.07 percent. The averag e monthly rent in the Miami area climbed to $2,846, even though historical leasing figures indicate the average should be only $2,331.

The full rankings for April can be found here.

The researchers at FAU, Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Alabama say Florida has been hammered by spiking rents because demand increased during the pandemic while supply chain issues and rising material costs have hampered builders from adding supply. In some landlocked areas, such as Miami, finding available property to develop is a major challenge.

“For some people, renting was the only way they could afford to live in Florida, and now that’s becoming a burden, too,” said Ken. H. Johnson, Ph.D., an economist in

FAU’s College of Business. “I think you’ll see more renters take on roommates and cut back on eating out because it’s either that or they won’t be able to pay the rent.” Johnson, Bennie Waller, Ph.D., of UA, and Shelton Weeks, Ph.D., of FGCU, started analyzing rental markets in Florida earlier this year before expanding the study nationwide. They use past leasing data from Zillow’s Observed Rental Index to statistically model historical trends from 2014 and determine where rents should be now and compare those to existing rents. The difference between the two is the premium renters are paying. The higher the premium, the more overvalued a market is. “The way out of this is to add more rental units to the marketplace,” said Based on year-over- Waller, of UA’s Alabama Center for Reyear rent increases, al Estate. “But it’s eight of the Top 10 just not realistic to expect a bunch of markets are in Florida. new projects in the near term, given the supply chain problems and the often slow pace of government approvals facing developers before they can put a shovel in the ground.” In the vast majority of the markets sur veyed, rents are far above their longterm trends, but there is evidence that rent growth is slowing in some areas. On a month-to-month basis, the average rent in 11 markets has declined slightly. Those areas include: Augusta, Georgia; Youngstown, Ohio; and New Orleans. “Depending on the market, some rents may be stabilizing, but they’re still much higher than they were a year or two ago,” said Weeks, of FGCU’s Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development & Finance. “It’s incredibly painful for middle-class budgets.”

Summer is around the corner, and as temperatures rise across Florida, air conditioning use increases as well, leading to the single largest cause of high energy bills for residents. But it’s not the only appliance keeping you from having a summer of savings. To keep your wallet from overheating this summer, here are five quick and easy steps you can take to lower your energy:

S e t i t a n d forg et it. Higher temperatures often cause your air conditioner to work overtime as it tries to make up the difference between the outside temperature and your thermostat setting. As a result, each degree you raise the thermostat can help you save up to 3-5% on cooling costs.

T he averag e, single-family, 1,500 square foot home can save up to $13.40 per month* by setting their A/C to 78° or higher in the summer with a fan set to auto.

Maintain airflow. To ensure that air is flowing effectively and efficiently throughout your home, clean or replace your air conditioner filter every month. Also, try to keep bedroom and other doors open, as closed doors can block the airflow.

Keep your cool. To keep the sun, and heat, out, close shades, blinds and drapes whenever possible. Remember that fans cool down people, not rooms. Ensure fans are turned off when you leave a room, and your energy bill will thank you. Reduce your wa t e r t e m p e r at u r e. B r i n g t h e t e m p e r a t u r e down on your water heater to see the savings add up. You can save up to $5.90 per month* by reducing the temperature on your water heater to 120

degrees.

Take advantage of the cold wash cycle. Based on estimates from the U.S. Department of Energy**, a household that washes four loads of laundry a week can save up to $8.30 per month by converting to a cold wash cycle. Additionally, clothes are less likely to shrink or fade when washed in cold water, and their colors are less likely to bleed.

These five tips can save the average family over $30 on their next monthly energy bill.

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