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Pelican Players Award Theatrical Scholarships

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 4, 2008

SUN CITY CENTER - Four students earned scholarships from the community theater group Pelican Players to study their favorite art forms at their choice of colleges - Cassandra Holbrook and Courtney Driggers of East Bay High School and Angelica Corbett and Alexander Eugene Crenshaw of Riverview High School.

The East Bay students attended a social hosted by the Players May 9 in the Kings-

point Clubhouse, Sun City Center. Corbett and Crenshaw were unable to attend because they were rehearsing for their school's "Beauty and the Beast" production with director Daron Hawkins, a former Pelican Players scholarship winner.

"We are the second-oldest community theater in Hillsborough County," said Chuck Wirick, Pelican Players president, after welcoming the students. "We were founded by Shirley Jones in 1980 to be a venue for people wanting to take part in the theater experience. The second goal was to provide entertainment at an affordable price. The third and most important goal was the establishment of the Scholarship Fund in 1984, and we have given more than $300,000 in scholarship funds to local high school graduates from East Bay and Riverview. Currently, there are 22 students under the umbrella of our scholarship fund."

Each student receives $1,000 per semester for four years. The Players' annual Follies and spring and fall productions' proceeds fund the scholarships.

Committee members involved in the selection process were Dick Yarger, chairman; John Foster; Tom Ostrander; Gloria Morrow; and Marjorie Yarger.

Holbrook, daughter of gospel singers Victoria and Kevin Holbrook, plans to major in instrumental music performance at the University of South Florida. She played in the East Bay marching concert bands, was a member of the Sounds of Time show choir, the Thespian Society, National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society.

Driggers, daughter of Rocky and Phyllis Driggers, attended the social with her mother and her grandmother, Alma Lambert. Driggers is also a member of the Sounds of Time, the National Honor Society, Thespian Society and Tri-M. She aspires "to return to East Bay with her degree in music drama from the University of Tampa and teach," said Dora Murray, publicity coordinator for the Pelican Players. "She jokingly said she wanted her East Bay teacher's job," Murray said.

Corbett will attend Stetson University to earn a vocal performance degree to become an opera singer. She is a soprano and sang in Reflections, the Riverview High School show choir. She earned a superior rating at the Hillsborough County Music Performance Assessments and garnered a spot in the Florida All-State Women's Chorus.

Crenshaw, son of Patricia, will major in musical education at the University of Tampa. He sang in the Riverview Chamber Chorus for two years and played trumpet and percussion in the marching band for three years. In his senior year he was drum major.

The social gave Pelican Players and supporters an opportunity to meet the scholarship recipients.

Samaritan Services Thanks Volunteers

SUN CITY CENTER - An appreciation luncheon was served recently to the 100 volunteers of Samaritan Services' Sun City Center Ride who served the local community by chauffeuring more than 1,400 trips in 2007.

Doris Ragland, president, founded the nonprofit organization as a vehicle for getting nondriving residents of the greater Sun City Center area to and from medical appointments in Sun City Center, Apollo Beach, Brandon, Riverview, Tampa and Bradenton. Appointments for the rides must be made 10 days ahead. Rides are given from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"This service is free, thanks to the wonderful volunteers and the many generous residents who donate money to Samaritan Services," said volunteer Rosie Clifton.

To volunteer to help or get a ride, call Ragland, (813) 634-9283.

Church Offers Dance Camps

APOLLO BEACH - South Shore United Methodist Church will offer two summer dance camps for children ages 4 to 7 from 9:30 a.m. to noon June 9 through 13 and Aug. 4 through 8 at the church office, 435 Apollo Beach Blvd.

The $75 cost includes a daily snack and crafts, in addition to jazz, tap and ballet taught by Annie deVaux.

To register by phone, call the church office at (813) 649-9462, or register at www.southshoreumc.com.

'How To Fall In Love' Is Topic Of Luncheon

SUN CITY CENTER - The East Bay Christian Women's Connection, formerly known as the Sun City Center/East Bay Christian Women's Club, will learn how to fall in love from inspirational speaker Jill Jackson at a luncheon meeting at 11 a.m. June 12 at Club Renaissance, 2121 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., Sun City Center. John Lawson will make a presentation about Hydro Harvest Farms.

Doors open at 11 a.m.; the lunch and program will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $17; reservations or cancellations must be made before noon , June 9.

There is no membership requirement; all women are welcome to the get-together, which is affiliated with Stone-

croft Ministries.

Call Linda Corbin at (813) 633-8415 or Tara Flood at (813) 383-7540, or e-mail

godluvsme40@gmail.com.

Send news and photos of community interest to Barbara Routen at The Tampa Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon FL 33511, call (813) 657-4531 or e-mail neighbors@tampabay.rr.com.

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