Nature Coast Investment Practicum Students tour Raymond James HQ

It was an exciting day for the students of Citrus High School’s Nature Coast Investment Practicum (NCIP) class as they, along with their teacher Ms. Paige Zollo, toured the Raymond James international headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida. The tour, which was made possible by the efforts of Amy Barbieri of Raymond James Crystal River office, was a great opportunity for the students to learn about the company’s operations and gain valuable insights into the financial industry.

Raymond James is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company that provides financial services to individuals, corporations, and municipalities. The company’s reputation for excellence in the financial industry is well-known, and the NCIP students were thrilled to visit the Raymond James headquarters and witness the inner workings of a major financial services company.

During the tour, the students got to see firsthand the company’s trading floor and observe the brokers and traders as they conducted transactions. They were also given a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s cyber threat center and learned about the measures taken to protect the sensitive financial data of their clients. The students even got a chance to share with some of the Raymond James presenters about some of the stocks they have researched and purchased as part of the NCIP.

The Nature Coast Investment Practicum project, in partnership with the Citrus County Education Foundation and Citrus High School, provides students with real-world financial experience. In addition to learning about investing and managing an equity portfolio fund, the students also learn about double-entry accounting, methods and principles of recording business transactions, the preparation of various financial documents, and the preparation of financial statements. The NCIP program also helps students develop important skills such as teamwork, public speaking, and writing.

We are looking to expand the NCIP in the near future to include Crystal River High School. So stay tuned!

The visit to Raymond James was made possible by the efforts of Amy Barbieri. Big thanks to Paige Zollo, Shaunda Burdette, Scott Lee, the Raymond James team, and of course the Citrus County Education Foundation. Their support of this great initiative provided the students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge they’ve learned in the NCIP program in a real-world setting.

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Being Successful in Nursing School Podcast​

…challenges facing nursing education and the nursing profession parallel what we are seeing in Career and Technical Education and workforce education

I am excited to share with you a recent podcast interview that I found very insightful. In the podcast “How To Be Successful Through Nursing School“, Kimberly Dunker, a fourth-generation nurse who has earned her  Doctor of Nursing Practice, CNE, CNECL and Dean of Nursing at Pacific Union College, shares her thoughts on the nature of today’s nursing education, how it has been affected by the pandemic, and the impact the pandemic has had on the nursing workforce. I am particularly proud of Kimberly’s accomplishments and dedication to the nursing profession, especially since she also happens to be my niece.

Kimberly’s expertise in nursing education and her experience in the field provide valuable insights into the current state of nursing education. Her comments on the challenges facing nursing education and the nursing profession parallel what we are seeing in Career and Technical Education and workforce education in many other industries. As technology and industry evolve, there is a need to provide education that is relevant to current and future job market needs. This requires collaboration between educational institutions, industry leaders, and policymakers to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge for successful careers.

During the podcast, Kimberly speaks about how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to the nursing education landscape. She shares how instructors and students have had to adapt to new online and hybrid models of learning and explains about the benefits and challenges that have resulted from those models.

Kimberly’s work in nursing education is a testament to the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, industry leaders, and policymakers, and the impact it can have on the nursing profession. I highly recommend listening to the podcast which can be accessed on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/episode/59KFtfTvsHuKUHdv54eEwE or on Apple Podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nursedot-podcast/id1653164865?i=1000599009959. Her insights provide valuable perspectives on the challenges facing nursing education and the nursing profession today.

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17^th Annual Purple Heart Ceremony

As I arrived at the Citrus County Auditorium, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude. It was the day of the Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart’s Seventeenth Annual Purple Heart Ceremony, and I was honored to be in attendance once again.

There was a high presence and participation of Citrus County Schools, its students, educators, and leaders. The students from over 23 schools had made presentations board that lined the walls of the auditorium, honoring our veterans. The displays were beautifully crafted and showed a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by our service members.

What’s more, students and educators from each of the schools were present at the ceremony, including those from our eSchool and the Academy of Environmental Sciences. It was heartening to see young people engaged and involved in such an important event, and it spoke volumes about the values of our community.

The ceremony began with the Lecanto High School Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps presenting the Colors that opened the ceremony, and the Nature Coast Community Band, under the direction of Kathy Thompson, playing the National Anthem. Then, the list of names of fallen heroes was read out loud. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion thinking about the families of these fallen heroes and the sacrifice they had made for our country. It was a poignant reminder of the high price of freedom.

During the event was a special tribute to Richard “Bud” Allen, a US Marine Corps veteran who had passed away. Bud had served proudly in Vietnam with the Marine Corps and was a committed member of Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart. He had left a lasting impact on the community, and his presence was deeply missed.

I would like to express my gratitude to Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart for organizing this event, the Citrus County Chronicle for their support of the Seventeenth Annual Purple Heart Ceremony, and to The Nature Coast Community Band, directed by Kathy Thompson, for their beautiful performance of the National Anthem. I would also like to thank the Citrus County Fair Auditorium for hosting the event, as well as Citrus Detachment 819 Marine Corps League for their support. Special thanks go to the Citrus County School District and Darrick Buettner, Lecanto AJROTC, the elected officials, veterans, and citizens of Citrus County for their participation and contributions to this important event. Their dedication and commitment to honoring our combat veterans are deeply appreciated.

For additional photos visit: https://bit.ly/3E0iZVc

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