New College is thrilled to host First Things magazine’s inaugural Neuhaus Lecture, Thursday February 13, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at Sainer Auditorium. Professor Patrick J. Deneen, author of Why Liberalism Failed, will present a lecture entitled “We Are All Postliberals Now.” The event is open to the general public as well as the New College campus community. For more information about New College of Florida, visit NCF.edu. 

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Seven Sarasota County high school students were awarded prizes for their 2D artwork, essays and a video expressing this year’s theme “Your Vote is Your Voice,”. Dr. Jill Lewis-Spector, LWVFL VP and LWVSRQ Education Action Team leader presented the awards on December 10th at the Sarasota County School Board meeting. First place winners received $500; second place received $300 and third place received $200.  The YVote contest is conducted in partnership with the Sarasota County School District and is fully funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Winning entries will be on display at Sarasota County libraries on a rotating basis. 

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The Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab was abuzz with excitement on December 15 as 20 teams of young innovators in grades 1–6 took to the arena for the second annual LEGO® RoboRumble competition. Nearly 70 students, including homeschoolers from across Sarasota and Manatee counties, showcased their creativity, technical skills and teamwork after spending the past two months designing, building and programming LEGO® robots. The event drew over 150 enthusiastic family and community members who cheered on the young participants as they competed for awards and prizes. Under the guidance of Robotics Director April Pan and a dedicated committee of high school student volunteers, RoboRumblers embarked on their robotics journey with hands-on mentorship and encouragement. The high school volunteers not only supported the younger students but also developed invaluable leadership and project management experience by assisting with the event's planning and execution—including constructing the epic battle arena and crafting lasercut trophies and awards. 

Pictured: RoboRumble teams compete in a Maze Game to see whose robot can escape first! Courtesy of Suncoast Science Center.

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Ringling College of Art and Design’s Virtual Reality Development program will host the At-Home Hackathon alongside 3lbXR from 10 am on Dec. 27 to 12 pm on Dec. 30, 2024. This exciting virtual event will offer participants the opportunity to use GroKit Core, 3lbXR’s cutting-edge Unity development platform, to create innovative virtual and mixed-reality applications. The hackathon will feature $3,500 in total awards across categories such as Industry Impact, Social Impact, Most Engaging Experience, and Most Innovative Use of GroKit Core. Ringling College’s Virtual Reality Development major was named #1 in the United States for Production Excellence in Immersive Media and #2 in the United States for Immersive Media in the 2024 Annual Rookies rankings. They also hosted the virtual lobby at SIGGRAPH for a second consecutive year and launched the first-ever XR Women student Chapter.

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Sarasota Crew is proud to announce that Head Coach and Owner, Casey Galvanek, has been named 2024 Rowing News Coach of the Year. Galvanek’s recognition comes as a result of his exceptional leadership both on the international stage and in his role guiding Sarasota Crew to national prominence over the years. Galvanek’s crowning achievement this year was leading the U.S. Olympic Men’s Four to a historic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Summer Games . The victory marked the US first gold in the men’s four event since 1960 and the first for the U.S. men in any rowing event since 2004. As the only coach to guide a U.S. crew to gold in this event, Galvanek’s place in rowing history is secure, but his influence stretches far beyond the Olympic stage. As Rowing News noted in their announcement: "We're recognizing him for more than just what he achieved in Paris, winning at the pinnacle of our sport. He's also been the leading figure, the true president, of Sarasota Crew, one of the top junior programs in the world in one of the most important rowing cities on Earth." 

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Get ready to kick off the new year with a day dedicated to health, wellness, and self-improvement! On January 11th, the "New Year, New You" Health & Wellness Expo is coming to the UTC Mall, and you won't want to miss it! This exciting event is proudly presented by Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, with generous support from Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Nurse Holly Aesthetics, and Lotus Women’s Health. This event is free to the public, so gather your friends and family and come ready to embrace a healthier, happier you in 2025. For more information, visit our website at LWRCA.org. Stay connected with us on social media for event updates by following us at facebook.com/lwrcommunityactivities and instagram.com/lwrcommunityactivities.  

Realize Bradenton is planning an exciting new spring event that will bring the entire community together for an immersive Bradenton arts experience along the beautiful Bradenton Riverwalk. Join us for the official event announcement at the Bradenton Public Market on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 10:30 am at the corner of Old Main Street and 4th Ave W in downtown Bradenton. All event details will be shared via a press release on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

New Event Announcement, Saturday, January 18, 2025, 10:30 am, Bradenton Public Market, Old Main Street. 

The Ringling College Galleries celebrate the legacy of iconic cartoonist and illustrator Jack Davis, December 2024.

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