(407) 468-5289 or AnnMarie.Varga@ocfl.net
Students from Timber Creek High School Win Mayor for a Day Challenge
Orange County, FL– A group of bright and talented student leaders from Timber Creek High School have won Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs’ 2014 Mayor for a Day Challenge.
In February, Mayor Teresa Jacobs hosted her third annual Youth Leadership Conference at Rollins College in Winter Park. Students who attended the Conference were encouraged to post a video on Mayor Jacobs’ official Facebook recapping what they learned at the conference for a chance to job shadow Mayor Jacobs for a day.
The Challenge engaged 850 unique visitors, garnered 549 shared links and 253 total votes on Mayor Jacobs’ official Facebook page.
“The students who walk the halls of our high schools are the next generation of community leaders. We recognize that these rising stars are the future of Central Florida,” Mayor Jacobs said. “I see it as our collective responsibility to give them the tools and resources they need to make Orange County the best place to live, work and raise a family. Even as they complete their education, these bright students can make a significant contribution in our community and engage in their government.”
Timber Creek High School’s video focused on the issue of bullying in schools. With 191 Facebook votes, the east Orange County high school was named this year’s video challenge winner.
“Mayor Teresa Jacobs did a wonderful job at identifying the three major issues that currently have the largest, negative impact our generation, which are drug abuse, peer pressure, and bullying,” said Andy Torre, a Timber Creek High School student. “By hosting the 2014 Youth Leadership Conference, student leaders from across Orange County were able to come together and collaborate on solutions for each problem.”
Dr. Phillips High School, Timber Creek High School, and Oak Ridge High School submitted their videos through the month of March and April.
Joining Mayor Teresa Jacobs in the leadership conference were Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles, Chairman of the Orange County School Board Bill Sublette, Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools Dr. Barbara Jenkins, and City Year Orlando Vice President and Executive Director Jordan Plante, as well as members of Orange County’s Board of County Commissioners and school board members.
High school juniors and seniors dedicated to public service and bettering their community are also encouraged to share their volunteer experiences and community service activities for the Charles T. Smith Community Service Award. Student nominees should demonstrate engagement and participation in activities or projects that benefit Orange County.
For more information on the Charles T. Smith Youth Community Service Award, please visit
About Orange County Government: Orange County Government strives to serve its residents and guests with integrity, honesty, fairness and professionalism. Located in Central Florida, Orange County includes 13 municipalities and is home to world-famous theme parks, one of the nation’s largest convention centers and a thriving life science research park. Seven elected members make up the Board of County Commissioners, including the Mayor, who is elected countywide. For more information, please visit www.OCFL.net or go to Orange County Government’s social media channels.