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Terrace Community Receives Blue Ribbon Award

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By MICHELE SAGER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2007

Thonotosassa - Thonotosassa - Terrace Community Middle welcomed a state politician, a federal education leader, a school board member and a mayor.

But the stars of a recent award ceremony were the students.

A collection of the community came out to the school Thursday to watch Terrace Community earn the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award. The award is the highest honor a school can receive. Terrace was one of 287 to receive the award this year, and the only site in the Tampa Bay Area.

The Blue Ribbon Award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or demonstrate gains in student achievement.

Schools are selected based on one of two criteria. Schools must have at least 40 percent of students from disadvantaged backgrounds dramatically improve their performance on state tests. Schools also must have students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests.

The U.S. Department of Education sent Anne Hancock, a regional representative, to the school Thursday to present the award. Terrace is one of only two Florida schools to receive its award on campus.

"So why did I choose you?" Hancock said to the students. "I chose to come here because I knew there was something special here. I know all of this isn't for me. This is an everyday occurrence."

Terrace Community leaders let students plan the award ceremony. The students decided to have the school band and step team perform and to present student testimonies.

Former Terrace Community student Dylan Scaglione told the crowd about how his alma mater gave him an edge in high school.

"My teachers now tell me they can always determine which students come from Terrace Community," the King High ninth-grader said. "My teachers not only gave us the information but allowed us to use it. My only disappointment with the school is that it doesn't continue through high school."

Principal Gary Hocevar said the award was thanks to the students, teachers and community.

"You're the reason I came out of retirement," Hocevar said. "When I walked down the school halls, I could feel something special I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt a sense of community."

Hocevar will attend a second ceremony in Washington, D.C., next week to receive the school's official award and a Blue Ribbon flag.

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