In Your Neighborhood - 06/07/12

Cypress Creek High School student Elizabeth Tran was named as one of 18 Disney Dreamers & Doers Shining Stars. About 400 Central Florida students were selected as Disney Dreamers & Doers, with the top 18 chosen as Shining Stars. The Dr. Phillips resident is the founder of Teens Go Green Global, a nonprofit organization that spreads awareness about going green; and she is the hostess of the Miss Miracle Charity Pageant, which has raised more than $22,000 for Children’s Miracle Network. She also volunteers with Harbor House, Dress for Success, Hope Helps Inc., The Salvation Army and Clean the World. Elizabeth received a trophy, gold medal, annual passes to Walt Disney World Resort, and an invitation to attend the Kids and Nature Celebration at WDW.

Frank and Autumn Kazis welcomed a son into the world March 19, 2012, at 7:20 p.m. Giovanni Michael was born at Florida Hospital Celebration Health, which also served as the surprise ceremony and reception venue for Frank and Autumn’s wedding. The MetroWest residents had been engaged for three years, and they were married March 20, 2012, less than 24 hours after the birth of their son. Hospital staff members, friends and family helped to plan the event. Giovanni was welcomed by his brother, Justin, and sister, Skylar.

Winter Garden District 3 Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Olszewski was recognized during a recent BusinessForce luncheon for being the latest graduate of the Central Florida Political Leadership Institute to be elected to public office. The Sterling Pointe resident has more than 15 years of leadership and operations management experience, specializing in strategic partnerships, marketing communications and business development research.

Andy and Nicole Mitchell welcomed their second son into the world Jan. 7, 2012, at 10:55 a.m. Lucas James weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20.75 inches long. He was welcomed home by his sister, Alexis, and brother, Cole.

Lake Highland Preparatory School alumna Samantha Perrotta graduated from Wake Forest University with a double major in marketing and nonprofit management, and a minor in journalism. She is a member of Delta Zeta sorority and Order of Omega honor society, and she received a regional Delta Zeta Golden Crest Award, which is given annually to an outstanding senior. Samantha works at Wake Forest as a fellow in the Office of the Provost. Her proud parents are Mark and Georgia Perrotta of Turtle Creek, and grandparents are George and Mary Fromm of Dr. Phillips.

Following the resignation of Windermere Police Chief Mike McCoy, who accepted the position of chief of police of Altamonte Springs, Orange County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jefferson Lee Massie was named interim police chief of Windermere. The interim chief has more than 28 years of law-enforcement experience, and he has resided in Central Florida for more than 40 years. Jefferson began his law-enforcement career in 1984 with the Winter Garden Police Department.

The Rotary Club of Windermere welcomed three disabled veterans who received homes through Habitat for Humanity’s Home at Last project. Founded by Bill Criswell, Home at Last provides veterans a new, mortgage-free home that is designed to accommodate the veteran’s disabilities. The Rotary has helped fund these homes since the program’s inception.

Florida Virtual School students Mikhala Carrasco, seventh grade; Noah Schnacky, ninth grade; and Madison Wolfe, fourth grade, were named Disney Dreamers & Doers Shining Stars. About 400 Central Florida students were selected as Disney Dreamers & Doers, with the top 18 being chosen as Shining Stars. The students each received a trophy, gold medal, annual passes to Walt Disney World Resort, and an invitation to attend the Kids and Nature Celebration at WDW. In addition, FLVS students Daniel Hill, eighth grade; Elizabeth Myers, eighth grade; and Allison Schnacky, sixth grade, were recognized as Disney Dreamers & Doers.

Wendy Proctor, director of development for Orlando Health Foundation, received a certified fundraising designation from CFRE International. The Southwest resident met a series of standards set by CFRE International, including tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated fundraising achievement and a commitment to service to nonprofit organizations. She also passed a rigorous written examination and agreed to uphold accountability standards and a Donor Bill of Rights. CFRE recipients are awarded certification for a three-year period. In order to maintain certification status, one must demonstrate ongoing fundraising employment and results, and continue with professional education.

Congratulations to Southwest residents Kheera Maaranau and Ansley Sandberg for winning their respective divisions in the Florida National Teenager Scholarship Pageant. Kheera was crowned the junior teenager winner, and Ansley received the teenager title.

William C. Prentiss of Southwest released the semi-autobiographical novel Secrets of a Boy, Lost, published by AuthorHouse. Set in the U.S. after World War II, the story follows a boy, self-named Kim, who has a premonition that his parents might die while he is young. When the premonition comes true after his parents die in a car accident, 15-year-old Kim runs away, assumes a new identity, and tries to survive each of the challenges he faces. William spent 10 years as dean of the Florida Military School and taught adolescent psychology and juvenile delinquency at the college level. In 1976, he founded Operation Comeback, a program for youths, which received President Ronald Reagan’s Volunteer Action Award in 1988. William and his wife, Sally, raised three children, as well as opened their home at various times to seven troubled adolescent boys, who lived with them for four months to three years. All of these experiences, along with many of his own, led William to write Secrets of a Boy, Lost.

Congratulations to the following 2011-12 West Orange Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership graduates: (l. to r.) Lami Wolfgramm, Jeffrey Tolbert, Teodora Dillard, Taylor Spencer, Trevin Martin, Chris Womack, Ian O’Grady, Shakarie Montgomery and Daniela Hernandez.