County Commissioners Honoring North Tampa Students

Hillborough County Commissioners are honoring six youth leaders during the Youth Excellence and Achievement Awards Ceremony in May for work they've contributed to their communities.

Two students being honored attend schools in the Carrollwood area: Lauryn Thomas of Adams Middle School, who will be honored in a category titled "Success Despite Difficult Odds," and Jessica Scanlon of Chamberlain High School in the leadership category.

Thomas, 12, is a sixth grader who county officials say is blind in her left eye. Even so, Thomas is an honor roll student who wants to become a music teacher.

Scanlon, county officials say, is Florida State President of her co-curricular club, served on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Student Advisory Board and volunteered at the Great American Teach-in.

The YEA! Awards this year is recognizing three middle school and three high school students who have displayed "initiative, innovation, a commitment to themselves and others and a pursuit of excellence in a leadership capacity," according to a county press release.

In addition to Lauryn and Jessica, the other four students being honored are:

• Gabrielle Fortney, Bloomingdale High School
• Gwendolyn "Gwena" Pitt, Tampa Prepatory School
• J'nai Taylor, Giunta Middle School
• Katelyn Scott, Tomlin Middle School

The YEA! Awards will be held at 9 a.m. on May 2 in the County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Boulevard, on the second floor.