UthMpact Service Leadership Day on November 30, 2011

The next UthMpact Leadership Day will take place on Wednesday, November 30, 2011. The energetic group of high school students will embark on an action-filled day focused on service leadership and the positive impact of volunteerism in our community.

UthMpact Service Leadership Day will begin bright and early at 8:00 a.m. The teens will meet with administrators, tour the facilities, and serve as volunteers at local non-profit agencies including Lighthouse Ministries and Viste in Lakeland. Students will also bring along a book or canned goods to donate.

The UthMpact Leadership Program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, and key business partners, is designed to help teens develop crucial leadership skills. The 30 student participants have been nominated by their high school principals. The teens will have a unique opportunity to meet with community leaders and experience the inner workings of local government, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. Future theme days include: Education Leadership Day (January 25); Government Leadership Day (February 22); Business Leadership Day (March 28); and Leadership Graduation (April 25th).

For additional information about the UthMpact leadership program, please contact Veronica Awai, UthMpact Coalition Coordinator, at (863) 802-0777, or via e-mail at: veronica@uthmpact.com. Find UthMpact on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UthMpact.

UthMpact Leadership "Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Day" Recap

Polk County high school students have been nominated by their school principals to participate in an exciting new UthMpact Leadership Program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, and key community leaders, to help teens develop crucial leadership skills. The Leadership Program agenda includes 6 days from September 2011 through March 2012, on which the 30 participating youth leaders representing 11 different Polk County high schools will travel throughout the county to experience the inner workings of local government, health care, education, and law enforcement. The teens will meet with community leaders, discuss challenges, and recommend solutions for issues that face us now and in the future.

The second UthMpact Leadership Day was held on October 26, 2011 as the students were treated to a unique behind the scenes look at the inner workings of our city and county’s law enforcement and emergency services operations.

Two of the teen representatives who participated in UthMpact Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Leadership Day, Taylor Jones, a junior at Lake Gibson High School; and Jessica Emerson, a senior at Lake Gibson High School; shared the highlights of their action-filled day as follows:

Twenty-eight of us participated in UthMpact Leadership’s Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Day, where we were able to experience some of the activities performed by local police, sheriff’s office, and safety professionals who serve and protect our community.
First, we toured the Telecommunications area and Forensics Lab at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Winter Haven. This was one of the highlights of our day because we were able to test finger printing equipment and view some actual crime scenes. From there, it was on to the Lakeland Police Department where we visited different service units in the building, along with the book-in area. One of the highlights of our time spent at LPD was an awesome demonstration from the K-9 and SWAT units.

Our next stop was at the Polk Central County Jail in Bartow for lunch and a tour of a jail pod unit. We visited the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Training Center and shooting range where local law enforcement train to use various weapons. Then we met at the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office and saw the rooms used for autopsies and body storage. Touring the morgue and jail facilities had a big impact on our group...the reality of it made us all realize where we don’t want to end up! Winter Haven Fire Department was the last stop to learn about the various components of the fire truck. In all, it was quite interesting to learn about all of the aspects of our county’s law enforcement and emergency services departments!

Other theme days for future months include: Volunteer Leadership Day (November 30); Education Leadership Day (January 25); Government Leadership Day (February 22); Business Leadership Day (March 28); and Leadership Graduation (April 25th). At the end of each Leadership Day, the UthMpact teens gather for a General Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm, at the Sheriff’s Office, located at 1819 Jim Keene Blvd., in Winter Haven. The meeting is open to any middle or high school student who may be interested in attending.

UthMpact Leadership “Health & Wellness Day” Recap

Polk County high school students have been nominated by their school principals to participate in an exciting new UthMpact Leadership Program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, and key community leaders, to help teens develop crucial leadership skills. The agenda includes 6 days from September 2011 - March 2012, on which the youth leaders will travel throughout Polk County experiencing the inner workings of local government, health care, education, and law enforcement. They will meet with community leaders, discuss challenges, and recommend solutions for issues that face us now and in the future.

The first UthMpact Leadership Day was held on September 28th as students from 11 different high schools embarked on Health & Wellness Leadership Day. Three of the youth representatives - Tashana Hazelwood, a junior at Lakeland High School; Cody Gill, a senior at Lake Region High School; and Taylor Jones, a junior at Lake Gibson High School, shared some insight to their experience with us:

Twenty-nine students were excused from regular school classes on September 28th to participate in UthMpact Leadership’s Health & Wellness Day. We had a rare opportunity to experience a typical day in the life of medical professionals who serve in our community.

Our first stop was at Lake Eva Park, where we met the Gordon Broadhead, the Recreation Supervisor for Haines City Parks & Recreation Department. He took us on a tour of Lake Eva Park, where we learned about its history. We also met with Carolyn Jackson, Senior VP of Member Relations of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, who had us take a DISC personality test to learn which characteristic was most dominant in our personality. DISC is an acronym for the different personality types: D – dominance; I – influence; S- steadiness/submission; and C – compliance/caution. The test was fun and also helped provide us understand one another better, and even learn something about ourselves that we might not have known about previously. Afterwards, we participated in a water tower activity involving balloons and spaghetti strings that was a lot of fun!

Next on the agenda was a meeting and tour of the facility at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. We had lunch with Jeff Payne, Vice President of Human Resources Services at LRMC, who explained about the hospital’s history and operations, and took us on a tour of a few sections of the hospital including the laundry department, emergency room trauma, pharmacy, and lab. Before moving from the hospital to the Sheriff’s Office for our general meeting, we stopped for a well-deserved ice cream break. It was a great first day, and we’ve learned that we all are anxious for more hands-on activities and ice cream!

Other theme days for future months include: Law Enforcement Leadership Day (October 26); Volunteer Leadership Day (November 30); Education Leadership Day (January 25); Government Leadership Day (February 22); Business Leadership Day (March 28); and Leadership Graduation (April 25th). At the end of each Leadership Day, the UthMpact teens gather at a General Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm, at the Sheriff’s Office, located at 1819 Jim Keene Blvd., in Winter Haven. The meeting is open to any middle or high school student who may be interested in attending.

OVER 1,000 PARTICIPATED IN THE 20th ANNUAL RED RIBBON RUN

photo courtesy of: Photography by Audrey

Over 1,000 youth and adults participated in the 20th Annual Red Ribbon Run, the largest youth running event in Polk County, on Saturday morning, November 5, 2011, at Joker Marchant Stadium at Tigertown in Lakeland. The event was presented by InnerAct Alliance, Title Sponsor, Madden Branded Goods, and other local business and contributing sponsors.

This year’s event included 1,080 participants, with 1,026 Kindergarten through Fifth Grade runners, and 54 Open Race runners in grade 6 through adult. The Red Ribbon Run race course is one mile, except for K, 1st and 2nd grade students who run a one-half mile course. Results of the 2011 Red Ribbon Run Open Race (men and women), Challenge (disabled), and K-5 Grade Heat (girls and boys) are included below.

Participation trophies were awarded to the top 3 elementary schools and top middle school with the highest percentage of event attendance based on school census numbers:

Top 3 Elementary Schools

1st Place: Philip O’Brien Elementary - 46% (formerly Lime Street)
2nd Place: Carlton Palmore Elementary - 21%
3rd Place: Highlands Grove Elementary - 20%

Top Middle School Tie: Lakeland Highlands Middle and Southwest Middle


2011 RED RIBBON RUN RESULTS
Saturday, November 5, 2011 – Joker Marchant Stadium

CHALLENGE RUN (disabled)

David Matlick
Benjamin Cone
Dawson Russell

OPEN RACE for 6th Grade – Adult

MEN
Jarod Fuller - 5.26 - age 14
Alex Zalanka - 5.29 - age 16
Tony Trott - 5.42 - age 43
Hunter Foust - 5.43 - age 17
Sebastian Hernandez - 5.51 - age 44
Eric Alvarado - 6.03 - age 32
Ronnie Testerman - 6.06 - age 24
Nelson Rojag - 6.19 - age 13
Kurt Jung - 6.20 - age 47
Gavin Thompson - 6.28 - age 13

WOMEN
Tori Jung - 6.25 - age 14
Katrina Hutching - 6.34 - age 33
Susie Moerschbacher - 7.00 - age 42
Rhonda Fogger - 7.16 - age 60
Amy Plaisled - 7.25 - age 37
Laura Reugg - 7.45 - age 42
Darla Dooley - 7.59 - age 36
Stephanie Astuto - 8.00 - age 29
Stacy Bradley - 8.21 - age 40
Megan Brock - 9.42 - age 29

KINDERGARTEN GRADE HEAT

GIRLS
1ST - Susie Davis, South McKeel
2ND - Kendall Orme, South Mckeel
3RD - Scarlett McKendrick, Highlands Grove
4TH - Joanne Garvey, Philip O’Brien
5TH - Mikan Williams, Philip O’Brien

BOYS
1ST - Caleb Smith, Highlands Grove
2ND - Michael Moon, Philip O’Brien
3RD - Jackson Winter, Lincoln
4TH - Hayden Testerman, Blake
5TH - Alan Moreira, Oscar J Pope

1ST GRADE HEAT

GIRLS
1ST - Bella Crosser, South McKeel
2ND - Destinee Wilson, Highlands Grove
3RD - Madi Novoty, R. Bruce Wagner
4TH - Elleana Bush, Philip O’ Brien
5TH - Megan Coyle, Philip O’ Brien

BOYS
1ST - Owen Jeffries, Lincoln
2ND - Yohanece Love, Victory Christian Academy
3RD - Mark Johnson, Lincoln
4TH - Isaac Morrison, North McKeel
5TH - Cody Copponex,Phillip O’Brien

2nd GRADE HEAT

GIRLS
1ST - Stephanie Hernandez, Winston
2ND - Lillian Beardsly, Highlands Grove
3RD - Monica Hernandez, Spessard L. Holland
4TH - Audrey Fagan, South McKeel
5TH - Laken Campbell, Lincoln

BOYS
1ST - Miles Jeffries, Lincoln
2ND - Robby Putnam, Spessard L. Holland
3RD - Vance Borches, R. Bruce Wagner
4TH - Cole Jeffries, Lincoln
5TH - Drew Jeffries, Lincoln

3rd GRADE HEAT

GIRLS
1ST - Elizabeth Beardsly, Highlands Grove
2ND - Dalylah Vilsaint, Highlands Grove
3RD - Anyla Bogdanvova, Philip O’Brien
4TH - Maggie Sullivan, South McKeel
5TH - Emily Orme, South McKeel

BOYS
1ST - Adrian Cornejo, St. Pauls
2ND - Brendon Abdon, Lincoln
3RD - Justin Brown, Philip O’Brien
4TH - Jayden Berry, Highlands Grove
5TH - Christian Goers, Padgett

4th GRADE HEAT

GIRLS
1ST - Inga Carrillo, Lincoln
2ND - Britain Musick, Lakeland Christian
3RD - Anna Sentner, Lincoln
4TH - Melanie Gaigeaquino, Philip O’Brien
5TH - Faith Yard, Lincoln

BOYS
1ST - Culby Fernandet, Philip O’Brien
2ND - Austin Cowans, Southwest
3RD - Caleb Poe, Philip O’Brien
4TH - Mathew Edmondson, Highlands Grove
5TH - Tyler Hunt, Philip O’Brien

5th GRADE HEAT

GIRLS
1ST - Emma Anderson, Polk City
2ND - Katie Moerschbacher,,South McKeel
3RD - Tabitha Collins, Philip O’Brien
4TH - Jasmine Brown, Oscar J Pope
5TH - Kiersten Marrin, Highlands Grove

BOYS
1ST - Tyler Fine, Carlton Palmore
2ND - Jordan Heckler, Carlton Palmore
3RD - Branden Ball, Phillip O’Brien
4TH - Brady Timmerman, Scott Lake
5TH - Ronnie Garbey, Phillip O’Brien

Healthy Red Ribbon Family Fun Planned For Saturday!

HEALTHY RED RIBBON FAMILY FUN PLANNED FOR SATURDAY!

The 20th Annual Red Ribbon Run, the largest youth running event in Polk County, is coming up this Saturday morning, November 5th, at Joker Marchant Stadium at Tigertown in Lakeland.

Event registration is FREE for K-5 grade students. Participants who pre-register through their school will receive a FREE Celebrate Drug Free Red Ribbon Run t-shirt. All age groups are welcome. Adults and students in grade 6 and older may compete in the Open Run for a $10.00 registration fee. Registration check-in begins at 7 a.m., with the first race starting at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded and the school with the largest percentage of students in attendance will win a special participation trophy.

Run festivities also include the Kids Health & Wellness Carnival, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to celebrate the benefits of healthy living. Wristbands will be sold for $5.00 admission to enjoy interactive attractions, refreshments and entertainment. To promote healthy minds as well as healthy bodies, each K-5th grade student who participates in the Run and Carnival events will receive a FREE children’s book! Local youth groups and organizations will provide kids’ services, and the Blood Net USA bloodmobile will also be on hand from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those interested in donating blood, can make an appointment online by visiting: https://www.fbsdonor.org/index.cfm?group=op&hlc=L0576.

For more information on Red Ribbon activities, please call InnerAct Alliance’s executive director, Angie Ellison, at (863) 802-0777.