Congratulations to Ryan Phillips! Ryan is the 2012 Tampa Bay area recipient of the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award. Ryan was chosen from amongst students attending all of the public schools in the Tampa Bay area. Anne Frank once said, “It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” In following the words of this amazing young woman, the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award (AFHA) was established in 2001 with the hope of finding high school students that truly embody that which Ms. Frank spoke of “people (that are) truly good at heart.” Each year the AFHA seeks to recognize the goodness of today’s youth by honoring those that have exhibited outstanding humanitarian efforts. These high school junior students are chosen from both public and private high schools in the Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Manatee counties. Moreover, they are recommended by both their principals and guidance counselors based upon their efforts to combat indifference in their communities. This award, furthermore, honors those students whom have made a conscious decision to not only better the lives of individuals or groups inside of their school, but also those outside of it as well.

Ryan will be recognized at the museum on May 7^th at 1:00pm where family, friends, educators, and legislators have been invited to attend. Following the awards, Lisl Schick, a Holocaust survivor, will give a speech to the students. We, the Mavericks High family, with the sincerest of sentiments are ever so proud of Ralph and congratulate him on this amazing accomplishment. For more information on the Florida Holocaust Museum and its programs, please visit www.flholocaustmuseum.org

On Wednesday, April 25, Mavericks High of Osceola hosted its first ever, blood drive. Together with Florida’s Blood Centers (FBC), the event was a great success. Students both volunteered and participated as donors for the event. At the end of the event there were 87 prospective donors that registered and 64 units of blood collected. This contributed to a total of 192 lives that are expected to be saved in Central Florida Hospitals as a result. We are so proud of our students for making a difference in their communities by contributing to their community’s blood supply.

According to Florida’s Blood Centers, every two seconds someone needs blood and about 1 in 7 people entering the hospital need blood. Despite this however, of the 38% who are eligible to donate, only 10% actually do. It takes only one pint of blood to actually save up to three lives. FBC also estimates that if all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be a rare event. Moreover, it estimates that if only one more percent of all Americans would give blood, blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future.

Together, Mavericks High of Osceola and Florida’s Blood Centers are saving lives!

We are pleased to announce a new partnership between Mavericks High of Osceola and Nike, Inc.! Nike, Inc. who has the motto, “A Shoe. A Company. A Journey,” has chosen to take us along for the ride on this journey to success with them. The Nike-Mavericks Project, established in November 2011, was formed to help provide employment opportunities for our students.

In its pilot form, this project was initiated when Nike came to the campus and interviewed thirty students of which they selected six. Those six then continued on in an 8-week pilot program. During this period, the students were paired with mentors from Nike who taught and introduced them to different aspects of the retail business; in addition to different life skills. Upon the completion of the program, four of the students were offered full time employment with Nike.

Due to the great success of this pilot program, Nike and Mavericks High of Osceola have turned what was just a relationship, into a bona fide partnership geared for success. Nike has already requested to make their visits twice a year. In addition, they have secured 25-30 positions at five (of their) different stores throughout Osceola and Orange County for Mavericks’ students. This is sure to be the beginning of many great things to come from this great partnership.

A new report from the Florida Department of Education, demonstrates that students who attend charter schools continue to excel beyond their public school counterparts. Read More…