Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 3-8-19

Feature
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
JEZZE
This week, we honor Jezze as our Spotlight fea- ture. Jezze said modeling is her passion, and it is a great way for her to express herself. She also has the rare ability to remain humble among all of her many admirers. There is never a shortage of strength and courage when Jezze embarks on a venture, and she’s always positive that the end will always justify the means. This young lady has managed to stay focused and down-to-earth during her journey, and always has time for friends and family. Congratulations to Jezze as this week’s Spotlight feature.
Blake Students Win In ‘Poetry Out Loud’ Competition
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
The Poetry Out Loud competition was held last weekend at the University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg Campus. One student from Howard W. Blake High School won the State competition and will now travel to Washington, D. C. for the national compe- tition.
Ms. Casey Curry, the instructor, has been taking students to the competition for 10 years. At that time the competitions were held in Tallahassee. Three years ago the competi- tion moved to USF Tampa. Each year, Mrs. Curry has had the students competing. In 2014, they won 3rd place.
“God shows us that if we don't give up and persevere, hard work will pay off,”Mrs.Curry stated.
“Student contestant, Zhaedyn (Z), is an amazing writer and a student with unlimited potential,” she said of Zhaedyn Hodge Sigars, the Florida State Champion in the Po- etry Out Loud finals.
Zhaedyn made all 3 rounds and the top 10 to take the prize. He will travel to Wash- ington, D. C., April 29th (all expenses paid) to represent the state of Florida in the national competition. The winning student receives $20,000. The winning state receives year- long recognition, monetary awards for literary arts programs and bragging rights.
Blake High student winners are: 3rd place, winner, Joey Chen; Zhaedyn Hodge Sigars, 1st place winner; and Autin Stein, 2nd place winner.
Zhaedyn Hodge Sigars and Mrs. Casey Curry being interviewed.
FYI
How ‘A Simple Act Of Kindness’ Led One Lucky Person To Win The $1.5 Billion Lotto
The winner of the $1.5 billion Mega Mil- lions jackpot claimed his or her prize Mon- day, opting to remain anonymous and take a cash payment of almost $878 million, accord- ing to South Carolina Education Lottery offi- cials.
South Carolina’s newest millionaire sent a lawyer to field questions and collect the win- nings, The State reports. But lotto officials did share the winner’s story of buying the lucky ticket.
“A simple act of kindness led to an amaz- ing outcome,” lotto officials said in a press news release. The winner allowed someone else to cut in front of him or her in line at the store to buy the same kind of ticket before the winner bought their own.
“The winner marvels at how every decision made that day brought the winner to the store, at that very moment, to make the Quick Pick Mega Millions lottery ticket purchase,” lotto officials said.
The winning ticket was sold at a conven- ience store in Simpsonville, South Carolina, on October 23, according to The State. The winner had 180 days to collect the prize.
The winner “has chosen the cash option of a one-time payment of $877,784,124,” lotto officials said. “This is the largest jackpot pay- out to a single winner in United States his-
tory.”
“We are delighted that the winner is a
South Carolinian and has come forward to claim this remarkable prize,” SC lotto com- mission executive director Hogan Brown said in a press release.
“We offer sincere congratulations and are very happy that one of our South Carolina re- tailers, KC Mart in Simpsonville, will receive $50,000 for selling the claimed winning ticket,” Brown said. “The State of South Car- olina will benefit from $61 million that will be collected in income taxes from the winner. We respect the winner’s decision to remain anonymous, and we will honor the winner’s wishes.”
PAGE 12-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019