Today, May 27, the University of West Florida Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Manny Diaz Jr. as interim president, pending the Florida Board of Governors’ approval. Diaz, who currently serves as commissioner of the Florida Department of Education, will begin his new role on July 14, 2025, following the resignation of Dr. Martha Saunders. 

Pace NJROTC held its annual Senior Signing Day on Friday, May 16, honoring senior cadets who have committed to military service through college ROTC programs or academy appointments.

This year’s event recognizes the dedication of four outstanding cadets. Family, friends, faculty, and fellow cadets will gather to show their support and celebrate these seniors as they take the next step in their leadership journeys.

In collaboration with the Santa Rosa County School District, the Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County’s (DOH-Santa Rosa) Opioid Prevention Program hosted a fourth-grade poster contest at 10 schools across the county.

The University of Florida (UF), Milton Campus, celebrated 18 Natural Resource Conservation and Plant Science graduates on May 9.

UF Academic Recruiter Dallas Brooks said the two programs are different but do have similarities. Natural resource conservation students focus on how resources that make up the natural world are utilized. Plant science focuses on how plants are utilized as an industry and commercial commodity.

On Monday, May 5, Central High School social science teacher Ken Maxwell was honored by the Board of County Commissioners.

Maxwell brought some of his students from Central High School, who stayed throughout the meeting for a firsthand look at how local government operates. Commissioner Rhett Rowell, who is also a history teacher at Jay High School, read a proclamation to honor Maxwell.

More than 1,300 high school students convened for the 2025 Northwest Florida Construction Career Days on April 22-23. The two-day event was a hands-on experience and an opportunity for students to explore new career possibilities.

The Milton City Council invited bus drivers to City Hall on April 9 to be honored and recognized for their dedication to safely transporting students to school.

Mayor Heather Lindsay read the proclamation, which read:

Avalon Middle School teacher Theresa Yankovoy was one of five teachers in the state of Florida to receive the Florida Power and Light (FPL) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Classroom Makeover Grant for the 2024-2025 school year.

Students from 16 schools in Santa Rosa County descended upon Pace High School’s football field for the inaugural north end edition of the Zack Butler Memorial Sports Ability Games Thursday, April 3.

Named for a physical education teacher and coach who lost his battle with cancer in 2022, the Sports Ability Games are designed to expand the field of opportunity for special needs students in athletics.

On March 24, Santa Rosa County District Schools announced the Defined Learning Contest Winners. The district created a contest, in partnership with Defined Learning, to celebrate the incredible achievements of their talented educators and the inspiring project-based learning happening throughout the district. Submissions were completed throughout the months of January and February from educators around the district. Submissions were reviewed, and winners were determined by Defined Learning based on the project, student impact, and evidence provided. One submission from each grade band (pre-k/elementary, middle, and high) was selected.