![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.plantcityobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/EHAG-Festival-768x491.jpg\")
\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Dreams Come True at the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Summer Youth Fire Academy<\/p>\n
Many teenagers have imagined working as a first responder, fighting fires, saving lives, and being recognized as a community hero. And parents have dreamed of seeing their son or daughter in uniform, working in a noble profession.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those dreams can come true through the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Foundation 2026 Alan D. Anderson Summer Youth Fire Academy, where students learn all about the role of being a firefighter. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Hillsborough County students ages 14 to 18 have until March 27 to apply for the two-week summer program.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue instructors will teach students hands-on lessons and detail the multiple roles that firefighters have in their jobs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The program curriculum includes fire ground operations, use of firefighting bunker gear, aerial ladder climbs, search and rescue, forcible entry, rappelling and knots, water safety, CPR and first aid, and the history of the fire service.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Applicants must be high school students or graduating seniors between the ages of 14 and 18. A panel will review applications and make final selections based on class size.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 2026 academy is Monday, June 8, to Friday, June 19. A mandatory orientation will be held on Saturday, May 23.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The academy is a free program, courtesy of the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Foundation. Lunch, snacks, water, and sports drinks are provided each day, in addition to uniform shirts, pants, boots, a belt, and a hat. Transportation is not provided.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Applicants must submit their applications by 5:00 p.m. on March 27. Along with the application, students must submit a personal essay and include two letters of recommendation.\u202fOnly virtual applications are accepted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Learn more and apply virtually by visiting HCFL.gov.SYFA.<\/p>\n
East Hillsborough Art Guild Fine Art Show Exhibit Winners 2026<\/p>\n
Best in Show Adult:\u00a0<\/p>\n
L-12 Tifane Worsley\u00a0<\/p>\n
Best in Show Youth:\u00a0<\/p>\n
S-4 Alani Jackson\u00a0<\/p>\n
Strawberry Theme:\u00a0<\/p>\n
L-3 Anna Shermerhorn<\/p>\n
ADULT DIVISIONS<\/p>\n
Division A \u2013 Professional Oils<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 A-15 Katie Michelle\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 A-11 Alan Metzger<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 A-2 Heather Jo Esposito<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 A-5 Estrella Olivas<\/p>\n
Division B \u2013 Professional Acrylics<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 B-24 Sue Downes Allen\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 B-10 Paul DuJat<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 B-18 Sheryl Phelps\u00a0<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 B-9 Danny Lewis<\/p>\n
Division C \u2013 Professional Watercolor<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 C-8 Meletha Everett\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 C-1 Deborah Biasetti\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 C-6 Sandra Lallemand\u00a0<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 C-5 Roxanne Tobaison<\/p>\n
Division D \u2013 Prof. Graphics\/Pastels<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 D-10 Sheryl Unwin\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 D-9 Mary Worsley\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 D-7\u00a0 Dave Letterfly<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 D-2 Douglas Steinbarger<\/p>\n
Division E \u2013 Prof. Mixed Media<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 E-2 Beth Smedley\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 E-5 Sherry Ross\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 E-3 Hetal Kanani\u00a0<\/p>\n
Division H \u2013 Amateur Oils\u00a0<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 H-1 Barbara Tudek\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 H-7 Joyce Owens<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 H-4 John Paul Jones\u00a0<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 H-2 Lisa Herget<\/p>\n
Division I \u2013 Amateur Acrylics<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 I-5 Sondra Pryor\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 I-22 Marie Schadt\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 I-21 Yurley Jaimes<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 I-12 Carolyn McBride<\/p>\n
Division J \u2013 Amateur Watercolors<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 J-8 Carla Dennard<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 J-9 Mari Spainhoward\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 J-4 Lisa Echols<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 J-10 Diane Smeed<\/p>\n
Division K \u2013 Amateur Graphic\/Pastels<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 K-12 Martha Cannon\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 K-5 Janet Goldman\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 K-1 Susan K. Smith\u00a0<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 K-13 Alana Brown<\/p>\n
Division L -Mixed Media\u00a0<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 L-9 Janet Elaine Kirby\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 L-10 Michael Crumley\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 L-11 Katelin Crumley\u00a0<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 L-7 Regina Belli<\/p>\n
Division M \u2013 Adult Miniature Art<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 M-12 Evonne Miller<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 M-1 Melody Townsend\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 M-8 Wayne Chunat<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 M-3 Chris Klein<\/p>\n
YOUTH DIVISIONS<\/p>\n
Division R \u2013 Youth ages 16-17\u00a0<\/p>\n
1st 0 R-10 Roberto De La Rosa\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 R-2 Breanna\u00a0<\/p>\n
Division R \u2013 Youth ages 16-17\u00a0<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 R-10 Roberto De La Rosa\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 R-2 Breanna Maynor<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 R-3 Arianna Cortez Orando<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 R-1 Avery Marchetti<\/p>\n
Division S\u2013 Youth ages 14-15<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 S-21 Subbang Jha\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 S-1 Reed Walker\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 S-22 Ellis Wolfe<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 S-6 Sarah Feldmeyer<\/p>\n
Division T \u2013 Youth ages 12-13<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 T-3 Sai Ria Sridhay<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 T-14 Ishanni Sabniveesu\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 T-4 Nishant Navuluri<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 T-9 Atiksh Mishra<\/p>\n
Division U \u2013 Youth ages 10-11<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 U-4 Katelyn Ballard\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 U-17 Melissa Petty\u00a0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 U-13 Urvi Kalmady\u00a0<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 U-15 Surya Venumula<\/p>\n
Division V \u2013 Youth ages 8-9\u00a0<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 V-20 Sriyanvi Sabniveesu\u00a0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 V-13 Maanvi Samala<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 V-11 Pranav Ganesh\u00a0<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 V-7 Jiya Tadalaru<\/p>\n
Division W \u2013 Youth ages 6-7<\/p>\n
1st \u2013 W-4 Cody Chen<\/p>\n
2nd \u2013 W-3 Pradhyumna Collur<\/p>\n
3rd \u2013 W-7 Aanya Nandur<\/p>\n
4th \u2013 W-2 Meher BhallSponsored Award<\/p>\n
Sponsored Award \u201cBusiness Leader\u2019s Choice\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tony Lee\/State Farm: L-10 Winner:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Michael Crumley<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jarrett Scott Ford: L-12 Winner:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 Tifane Worsley<\/p>\n
\u2022 Arts Council of Plant City: I-17<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Winner: Melinda Tew-Cantrell<\/p>\n
\u2022 Unity in the Community: I-19 Winner:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Melinda Tew-Cantrell<\/p>\n
\u2022 Plant City Entertainment: I-13 Winner:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Carolyn McBride<\/p>\n
\u2022 Osprey Observer: C-6 Winner:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Sandra Lallaman<\/p>\n
\u2022 O\u2019Brien\u2019s Irish Pub: A-5 Winner:<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 Estrella Olivas<\/p>\n
\u2022 On-Point IT Solutions: I-30 Winner:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Jennifer Milone<\/p>\n
\u2022 On-Point Co-Work Space: V-16 Winner:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Maanvi Samala<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brewington\u2019s Towing & Recovery:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 I-45 Winner: Elia DiBetta<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brewington\u2019s Towing & Recovery:<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 V-19 Winner: Korra Athey<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brewington\u2019s Towing & Recovery:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 V-5 Winner: Baani Bhalla<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brewington\u2019s Towing & Recovery:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 S-4 Winner: Alani Jackson<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brewington\u2019s Towing & Recovery:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 L-3 Winner: Anna Schermerhorn<\/p>\n
\u2022 Dignity Wells Memorial & Event Ctr:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 L-11 Winner: Katelin Crumley<\/p>\n
\u2022 AllSaints Carpet Cleaning: H-1 Winner:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Barbara Tudek<\/p>\n
\u2022 Corey\u2019s Custom Construction:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 B-3 Winner: John Dispennette<\/p>\n
Sponsored Award \u201cIn Honor Of\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0 The Joseph & Edna Lessard Honor Award: C-2 Winner: Deborah Biasetti<\/p>\n
\n\tRelated Stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dreams Come True at the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Summer Youth Fire Academy Many teenagers have imagined working…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":179751,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-179750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179750\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}