The Academy Prep Center of Tampa hosted a ribbon-cutting on August 24, celebrating changes made to the school in July.
The campus, at 1407 E. Columbus Dr., recently underwent a much-needed renovation project, including a new on-campus student recycling center, an improved library and the introduction of
SMART Boards into classrooms.
"This small project blossomed into a renovation project and would not have been possible if not for the funds by a donor who is committed to literacy and education," says Academy Prep Community Relations Coordinator Sharon Joller. "Before we knew it, several partners also donated time, materials and labor to the project."
Also funded by community businesses and in-kind donations made by Academy Prep partners such as
Rooms To Go and
the Hillsborough Community College Ybor Campus, phase one of the two-phase project included a complete overhaul to the campus' Poe Family and Bill Wilson Library: the library was repainted, new shelving and reading lounges were installed and a workstation for computer research was added. Phase two is expected to include a new student media center.
"Our library is one of the most unique spaces at Academy Prep. Not only does it serve our students as a classroom and library, but it also is used for Prep Talks and board meetings," says Joller. "When it was time to replace a few shelves and buy another table for our growing classes sizes, we took into consideration the multifunction of the space and felt that students could benefit from reading areas to encourage them to read, as well as the addition of student computers for research and writing."
Also celebrated at the ribbon-cutting was the installation of the school's
new synthetic turf field.
Writer:
Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Sharon Joller,
Academy Prep Center
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