The City of Coral Springs, the City of Ocala and the City of Panama City Beach recently launched initiatives that engage and celebrate youth.

CORAL SPRINGS OFFERS TEEN POLITICAL FORUM
More than 420 students recently attended the City of Coral Springs annual Teen Political Forum (TPF) event.

The event gave Coral Springs high school students the chance to ask questions to a panel of elected officials. Panelists were Coral Springs Vice Mayor Shawn Cerra, City Commissioner Nancy Metayer Bowen, City Commissioner Joy Carter, Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine, Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott, Broward County School Board Regional Superintendent Jermaine Fleming, State Representative Dan Daley, State Representative Christine Hunschofsky and State Senator Tina Polsky. Coral Springs City Commissioner Joshua Simmons served as the event’s host and moderator.

“We are stronger as a community when citizens are more involved in local government,” Simmons said. “Having our City’s young adults organize and host an event that amplifies that connectivity is something I am so proud to be a part of. I enjoyed interacting with the smart, inquisitive students who attended this year’s TPF event, and I am impressed by the important and tough questions asked of local elected officials.”

The schools with the highest attendance at the event received cash awards. Every year, local high school students form an event committee that, with the City, assists with the planning, organizing and theming of the event. This year’s theme was a Hunger Games-style “The Political Games.”

In a separate initiative, Coral Springs offered enrollment in an intensive SAT-prep workshop for $20 per student. The initiative is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to elevate school-related priorities. More information can be found at CoralSpringsSATPrep.com.

OCALA COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS TOUR CAMPUSES
The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department launched a program this spring allowing college-bound students, ages 14 to 18, to tour colleges and universities. This immersive experience offered prospective students an opportunity to discover the educational institutions that call Florida home.

Teens spend the day in each city visiting colleges and universities while also experiencing the culture of each location. The students traveled by bus, and the cost is $25 per person per trip. Participants depart at 7 a.m. and return at 8 p.m.

The schools visited or planned to be visited include:

• Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee
• Jacksonville University and University of North Florida, Jacksonville
• Bethune Cookman and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach
• University of Florida and Santa Fe College, Gainesville
• Webber International University, Warner University and Florida Southern College, Lakeland
• University of Central Florida, Full Sail University and Rollins College, Orlando
• University of South Florida and University of Tampa, Tampa

PANAMA CITY BEACH GRAD BANNERS
The City of Panama City Beach (PCB) launched a banner program this year honoring high school graduates from the beach.

They invited parents, grandparents and friends to honor their graduating seniors with a banner that was displayed on light poles on major roadways in the Front Beach Road Community Redevelopment Area.

Banners were $100 each and were returned to the purchaser after graduation. There were 240 banner slots available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“High school graduation is a significant milestone in the lives of our young people as they move into adulthood,” said PCB Mayor Mark Sheldon. “Graduating high school is a major accomplishment that requires dedication, perseverance and hard work. Our beach students have spent years working toward this goal, and it is only fitting that the City recognize them and celebrate their success.”

The program operated similarly to the Veteran Hero banner program. Those who wished to buy a banner filled out an application and submitted a senior photo. The photo could be a professional senior portrait, a cap and gown portrait or a sports uniform portrait. Digital photos were preferred.

The program was open to any graduating high school senior who lives or attends school on the beach. Home-schooled students were included.

There were three styles of banners, so purchasers indicated the style they preferred. The banners were branded using school colors and logos. Banners started going up after the Christmas decorations came down in January.