In Your Neighborhood - 07/19/12

Sarah Popp graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida in May 2012 with a degree in mechanical engineering and minor in business administration. The Dr. Phillips resident served as a Gator Aide and member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and received a Sylvia T. McKenney Academic Scholarship from the Department of Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering. She is employed at Lockheed Martin Corp. In addition, Sarah’s brother, Andrew, recently graduated from Dr. Phillips High School as salutatorian. He also was president of the National Honor Society and a member of the Center for International Studies magnet program. Andrew will be attending UF as a mechanical engineering major. Their proud parents are Karl and Julie Popp.

Chris McLane of Boy Scout Troop No. 84 in Dr. Phillips achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Scout project, the Dr. Phillips High School student built a driveway for propane trucks and a fence to hide propane tanks from view at Give Kids The World Village. Chris dedicated the project to his mother.

Michael Wytiaz, CFP, was named the leader of a new independent branch of Charles Schwab in Windermere. Prior to managing Schwab’s Windermere branch, the Dr. Phillips resident was senior vice president at Western & Southern Financial Group and president of the broker-dealer and wirehouse distributions, where he was responsible for delivering multiple product lines to financial advisers and their customers. Michael has an extensive background in financial planning, and he has been a Life and Honor Roll member of the Million Dollar Round Table association of financial professionals for more than 25 years. He also is a member of the Financial Planning Association.

Congratulations to Brian Hoffman and Cassandra Grannis on their March 23, 2012, wedding. The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s grandmother, Valerie Sisson, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Winter Park, followed by a reception at Orlando Science Center. The couple reside in Sand Lake Hills with their two rescue huskies.

Pamela Martini graduated cum laude with a juris doctorate from Barry University School of Law in Orlando. The Windermere resident was in the top 10 percent of her class and served as editor-in-chief of the Barry Law Review. In fall 2011, she served as a judicial extern for the Hon. John Antoon II of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and judicial intern for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. A Windermere resident since 1977, Pam lives with her husband, Bill, and children, Noah, Charley and Haley. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association, and Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers; and student member of the George C. Young First Central Florida Inn of Court.

Sharon Williams opened Seeds Natural Market in May 2012 in downtown Winter Garden. The Winter Garden resident offers natural food and household items, including organic produce, locally raised natural beef and chicken, gluten-free products and more. For more information, visit
www.seedsnaturalmarket.com on the Web.

Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista members (l. to r.) Harry Boardman, Sal and Sylvia Ferdico, and Jeff Smith participate in the 2012 Relay For Life of Lake Buena Vista, which raised $65,000 for American Cancer Society.

Central Florida Women’s League members held their inaugural Derby Gala, which raised more than $70,000 for CFWL’s foundation. Winners of the favorite hat contest were Jo Vaughan, Rebecca Redman and Kathryn Cook.

Ava and Emerson Allen of Southwest received The President’s Volunteer Service Award bronze medals for completing 50 hours each of national and community service within 12 months. In addition to their bronze medals, the girls received letters of recognition and congratulatory letters signed by President Barack Obama. The President’s Volunteer Service Award program was created by President George W. Bush and is open to all U.S. citizens. Ava and Emerson are members of American Heritage Girls Troop No. FL2911 in Winter Garden.

Cypress Creek High School recent graduates Rachel Davies of Keene’s Pointe and Shirbi Ish-Shalom of Dr. Phillips were recognized by the Orange County School Board as Super Scholars. To receive this honor, a student must be accepted to a top-20 university or liberal arts college, as ranked by US News & World Report; or a military academy. Rachel will attend Haverford College; and Shirbi, who will attend Stanford University, was also accepted to Cornell and Rice universities.

Vocals Illustrated members performed in the group’s spring concert, which also included a food drive for Matthew’s Hope Ministries, a resource center for the homeless in Winter Garden. The students sang and danced to 17 songs, as well as interpreted the songs through sign language.

(Clockwise from top) Aurora Oyler of Winter Garden, Ashton Melillo of Windermere, and Jack Tsiokos and Caroline Vargas of Winter Garden attend summer camp at Cranium Clubhouse.

Southwest resident Victor Fan, 13, was selected from a record number of entries as the winner in the age 13-14 division of the 10th annual American Society of Safety Engineers’ Safety-on-the-Job poster contest. More than 2,500 children from 15 countries participated in this year’s competition. Victor received a $5,000 savings bond, and his winning design is featured on the North American Occupational Safety and Health Week poster that is distributed worldwide, as well as a billboard in Orlando. He also received a congratulatory letter from Southwest resident and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. In addition, Victor was honored at the NAOSH kickoff events that were held in Washington, D.C.