Escambia Westgate Staffer Selected To Attend Legislative Summit In Washington
July 10, 2025
An Escambia Westgate staff member has been selected to attend the Special Education Legislative Summit 2025 later this month in Washington.
Lucy Waters is an instructional behavioral assistant at Westgate. She is currently enrolled in the ParaToTeacher scholarship program through UWF, which is designed to remove financial barriers for paraprofessionals who want to earn a degree in exceptional student education.
As part of the program, Waters was selected to attend the summit in the nation’s capital from July 13-16. She will have many opportunities to speak with different legislators about the importance of funding for Exceptional Education. Waters said she is excited to go and “carry the voices of all my colleagues and students to the people that make changes happen.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Medical Director Works On New Netflix “All the Sharks” Series
July 6, 2025
There’s an Escambia County connection to the new competition series “All the Sharks”, which premiered July 4 on Netflix.
Escambia County Public Safety Medical Director Dr. Ben Abo served as the medical director on the show.
For more photos, click here.
Abo was in charge of risk assessment, risk management, and generally keeping everyone healthy and safe while diving among the predators. He traveled six countries, five continents and logged over 45,000 miles while working on the show.
In “All the Sharks”, teams encounter sharks across the globe, competing to see which team can capture sharks on camera, with extra bonus points for rarer species. The winning team receives a $50,000 prize for charity.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dozens of Escambia County FFA Members Recognized During State Convention (With Gallery)
July 1, 2025
Dozens of Escambia County FFA students were recognized during the 97th Florida FFA State Convention & Expo recently in Orlando.
Tate High School
Leadership Development Events
Top 12
- State Finalist Creed Speaking – Luke Graham
Career Development Events
- Aquaculture – 3rd in State: Daniel Aldridge, Raevyn Aldridge, Luke Graham, Henry Merritt, Christopher Smythe, Caileigh Tonsetic, Anthony Villaverde, Parker White
Proficiency Awards
- Talia Smith – 1st Place in Veterinary Science
General Awards and Achievements
- National Chapter being advanced to Nationals
- Premier Chapter
State FFA Degrees
- Kaydon Biggs
- Blakely Campbell
- Christian Hollingsworth
- Brooke Hoomes
- Phoenix Myrick
- Ellen Rigby
American FFA Degrees
- Sarah Alexander
- Kamden Jones
- Austin Manning
- Francis Martin
- Lyllian Warne
Northview High School
Leadership Development Events
Top 12
- State Finalist Parliamentary Procedure
Proficiency Awards
- Braden Glick – 1st Place in Fiber and Oil Crop Production
General Awards and Achievements
- Premier Chapter Award
- Florida’s Finest Chapter (National Chapter Award)
- Chapter Advocacy Award – 2nd Place
- State Talent Performer – Hunter Manning
- Elected District 1 Secretary – Ona Spinks
Alumni Awards:
- Outstanding Young Alumni – Courtney Solari
- Outstanding Alumni Chapter – 3rd Place Northview FFA Alumni
State FFA Degrees
- Tyler Gilmore
- Jackson Bridges
- Hunter Manning
American FFA Degrees
- Cody Pugh
- Tyler Riggs
- Jayden Franklin
West Florida High School
Leadership Development Events
- Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Suzie Baker 4th place in state
- State Finalist Conduct of Chapter Meetings
Proficiency Awards
- Feeder Swine
General Awards and Achievements
- Premier Chapter Award
- National Agriscience Fair Finalist, Suzie Baker and Kayley Ramswell Social Systems, Division 6
- State Agriscience Fair, Lily Driver and Ally Aguilar Animal Systems, Division 6 2nd place
- State Talent Performer – Gabriel Flores, National Anthem – Session 1
- State Talent Performer – Kensi Armendariz, “Girl Crush” – Session 3
Beulah Middle School
Leadership Development Events
Top 12 In State
- Parliamentary Procedure – Gabriel Lang, Garrison Bruck, Grady Jackson, Lydia Arnold, Emma Malecki, Olivia Nunn
Career Development Events
- 5th Place Aquaculture – Solise Beeks, Louis Hartjen and Lydia Arnold
General Awards and Achievements
- Agriscience 3rd Place Animal Systems Division 1 – Cheyenne Armstong
Agriscience - Agriscience 3rd Place Social Science Division 2 – Izsabella Long
Other Achievements:
Isabelle Jenkins:
- Elected Florida FFA State Secretary 2025-2026
- State Star in Agriscience
- State Proficiency Winner in Agriscience
- Agriscience 2nd Place Animal Systems Division 5
- State Degree Recipient
- Finalist for the Ryan Ryam Outstanding District Officer
- 1st in the State in Aquaculture
- Highest individual in State in Aquaculture
Jayden Williams & Jonathan McIntosh (FLVS FFA Member)
- 1st in the State in Aquaculture
Tate High Graduate Serves With The Next Generation Of U.S. Navy Elite Rescue Swimmers
June 22, 2025
Tate High School graduate Airman Ethan Harper is serving in the U.S. Navy assigned to Aviation Rescue Swimmer School (ARSS) where the next generation of Aviation Rescue Swimmers (AIRRs) are taught to execute life-or-death rescues in the most extreme conditions imaginable.
Harper graduated from Tate in 2023.
“My dad was in the Navy and served as a rescue swimmer,” Harper said. “This gives me the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Pensacola.
“Growing up, I learned to work hard even when there are challenges,” Harper said.
Located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, ARSS provides initial aviation water survival training and CPR qualification to all preflight student naval aviators and student naval flight officers, student flight surgeons, naval aircrew candidates, student aviators from other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and international student aviators.
As part of the world’s most elite Special Operations force, AIRRs are a team dedicated to being the top emergency response unit in the world. Leaping from helicopters, swimming through raging seas and saving victims whose lives are on the line, AIRRs complete search and rescue missions in some of the most extreme environments imaginable. The motto of an AIRR is, “so others may live.” It is a testament to not only the selflessness of this job but the honor, courage, and commitment it takes to do it well.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Harper serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
Harper has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud that I graduated boot camp,” Harper said. “It was something that required a lot of hard work and determination, so I was glad that I was able to complete it.”
Harper can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Doing something that most people may not want to do is an honor,” Harper said. “I get to save people’s lives as a rescue swimmer and serve my country as a sailor in the Navy.”
Harper is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom and my dad for always being there when I needed someone to talk to and for always pushing me to keep going,” Harper added.
Written by Alvin Plexico, and photo by Ensign Tiffany Savoie, Navy Office of Community Outreach for NorthEscambia.com, click photo to enlarge.
Tate Grad Maum Awarded Escambia Retired Educators Scholarship
June 21, 2025
At this week’s Escambia County School Board meeting, the Escambia County Retired Educators Association awarded Nicholas Maum with a $1000 scholarship.
Maum, a 2025 Tate graduate, plans to enter the educational field.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Academy Student First Middle Schooler In Escambia County To Earn ServSafe Manager
June 19, 2025
Beulah Academy of Science Middle School student Victoria St. Pierre is the first and only middle schooler to take and pass the ServSafe Manager exam in Escambia County, according to the school.
A ServSafe Manager is a certification for food service managers that demonstrates their knowledge and skills in managing food safety in restaurants, schools, or other food service operations. The certification validates that a manager can effectively train employees on food safety procedures and ensure a consistent high standard of food safety throughout the establishment.
St. Pierre’s instruction at BAS Middle was Victoria Bottcher.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Named To Mississippi State Ag And Life Sciences Hall Of Fame
June 13, 2025
Cora Andrews of Cantonment, a 2018 Tate High School graduate, is among 18 inaugural Mississippi State undergraduate and graduate members of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Hall of Fame.
Established this year, the hall of Fame recognizes an undergraduate and graduate student from each of the college’s nine departments who have made a lasting impact at MSU.
To be considered for the honor, undergraduate students must have senior standing, master’s students must be at least one year into their program, and Ph.D. students must be at least two years into their program. Department heads, in consultation with faculty and undergraduate coordinators, select the students who best represent their unit.
“Students can make an impact through their leadership, innovation and service, among other factors,” said Darrell Sparks, CALS associate dean and professor. “We want to recognize the work that goes above and beyond academic excellence.”
Andrews was also named Outstanding Agricultural and Extension Education Masters student in Teaching, Research, and Service.
While at Tate, Andrews was the chapter and district FFA president.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
4-H’s Jereme Johnson Is Escambia County’s Employee Of The Month
June 8, 2025
Jereme Johnson, 4-H Program Assistant with UF/IFAS Escambia Extension Services, was recognized by the county commission as the June 2025 Escambia County Employee of the Month.
Johnson began his career with Escambia County in 2017, where he joined Extension services as the 4-H Program Assistant after working as a staff member at Florida 4-H camps Cherry Lake and Timpoochee. Over the last eight years, Johnson has successfully increased club involvement, expanded opportunities for youths, and developed significant impacts in the lives of the youth he works with. He has established eight new 4-H clubs throughout the county, secured over $72,000 in grant funding for the 4-H program, and developed successful day camps and after-school programs. He is recognized by his peers as a leader in Escambia County 4-H and has earned a reputation for his unending enthusiasm and commitment to 4-H.
When he was hired in 2017, Johnson was tasked with reestablishing and providing leadership for a large military 4-H club contingency, along with increasing the reach of the Escambia County 4-H program in county schools and community centers. He faced the challenges of gaining military 4-H volunteer and community trust, modifying longstanding traditions for better results, and working with youth center staff to plan and execute programs throughout the school year and summer. Johnson got right to work, collaborating with teachers and community center directors to establish 4-H programming throughout the county. He became a 4-H ambassador to Escambia County 4-H military clubs, local schools, and community centers, introducing the program to hundreds of youths who may not have heard of 4-H.
“I’m extremely proud of Jereme for his selection and we’re excited to recognize him as the Employee of the Month,” Extension Services Director Nick Simmons said. “Jereme is highly valuable to UF/IFAS Extension and Escambia County. His passion for youth development is evident in his work as the 4-H Program Assistant, where he shows commitment each day to improving the lives of youth in his community. He works tirelessly each day to make Escambia County’s 4-H program the best it can be, going above and beyond to help those around him.”
Outside of work, Johnson is active in his community, serving as a volunteer club leader for two 4-H clubs. He also volunteers with the Sea Turtle Baby Shower Program and Waterfront Mission food distribution.
“I have loved working with the 4-H Program and Extension Services for the past eight years,” Johnson said. “I have gotten to see growth in not only the program but myself. Working with youth has always been my passion and through this program I am truly able to make the best better.”
Large Crowd Attends Annual Sawmill Day Festival And Car Show (With Gallery)
June 8, 2025
A large crowd attended the annual Sawmill Day Festival and Car Show in Century on Saturday.
The day included entertainment, free history museum tours, grilled hamburger meals, crafts, free exhibits, a car show and more.
For a large photo gallery from the car show and the festival, click here.
NorthEscambia.comp photos, click to enlarge.
Take Stock in Children Of Escambia County Awards $350,000 In Scholarships
June 5, 2025
Take Stock in Children and the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation awarded over $350,000 in scholarships before the last day of school at the “Graduation & Unsung Hero Celebration”.
The event honored 26 graduating seniors who received four-year tuition scholarships and a laptop computer. Also recognized were all of the volunteer mentors of our students as well as scholarship donors.
The 2025 Take Stock in Children graduates were:
- Northview High: Genesis Scott-Johnson and Laura Laborde;
- T ate High: Caine Carter, Jayda Fillingim, Adrianna Middleton, Ceth Morris, Kaylyn Weiss;
- Escambia Virtual: Halana Werts;
- Escambia High: Xandria Smith;
- Pensacola High: Michael Combs;
- Pine Forest High: Izaiah Cubias, Raven Falzone, Callum Fletcher, Bethany Gurley, Andrew Moles;
- Washington High: Retag Abdelhamid, Jayden Brown, Kyleigh Cox, Azarria McGhee;
- West Florida High: Allison Banks, Shynia Bowie, Nyking Curry, Landon Green, Tyrin Joiner, and Jared Long.
Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida operating locally under the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation. The program provides a unique opportunity for deserving low-income students to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Students are selected through a need-based application process in middle school, and comprehensive services continue through high school and include the students’ transition into college. Students receive a college scholarship, a caring volunteer mentor, and college readiness skills.
Scholarships are funded through a unique public-private fundraising model in which local scholarship donations are matched by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation when scholarships are purchased each year.