Issue #351: Tampa Showcases AAPI Talent, Marine Returns Home, Odessa Farm Inspires, Bartow’s Clayton Jr. Named MVP

4/10/2025

Author

Ted Grellner
10 Apr

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GOOD MORNING

Dr Ted
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar

Local News

— Tampa Celebrates AAPI Heritage with Pageant and Singing Idol Contest

— A Hero’s Homecoming: Injured Marine Finds Freedom in Wesley Chapel

Of Interest

— Odessa Farm Offers Hope and Healing for Pediatric Cancer Patients

Sports

— Hometown Hero: Bartow’s Walter Clayton Jr. Wins NCAA MVP

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Tampa Celebrates AAPI Heritage with Pageant and Singing Idol Contest

The City of Tampa Mayor’s AAPI Advisory Council will host the 2025 Miss Asia Pacific Scholarship Pageant and Asia Pacific Singing Idol Contest on Saturday, May 3, at the Barksdale Senior Center, 1801 N. Lincoln Ave. Doors open at 12:00 p.m. for lunch, followed by the program at 2:00 p.m. Pre-registration for tickets is required.

Held in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the event will feature cultural performances, national costume displays, and a live Q&A with pageant contestants. Judges from the Hillsborough County School Board, Board of Commissioners, and City Council will select winners.

Mayor Jane Castor praised the program for empowering young AAPI leaders through education and cultural pride. This initiative builds on the success of the city’s annual Tampa AAPI Festival at Curtis Hixon Park.

Applications and tickets: tampa.gov/MAAPIAC-Event
Contact: Anh Nguyen – 813-570-0122 | [email protected]

A Hero’s Homecoming: Injured Marine Finds Freedom in Wesley Chapel

Marine Sgt. Christopher Lawrence, injured in Iraq by an IED in 2007, is preparing to move into a specially adapted home in Wesley Chapel, thanks to Homes for Our Troops. After losing his right leg and enduring years of surgeries, Lawrence continued to serve as a police officer in California but found his current home increasingly inaccessible.

With a growing family and the physical demands of daily life, he was selected by the nonprofit to receive a fully accessible 2,800-square-foot home tailored to veterans with injuries like his. The home includes over 40 adaptive features, such as roll-in showers, wider doorways, and pull-down shelving.

A community kickoff event took place April 5 at Pinecrest Academy. Lawrence plans to move in June and is exploring new career paths like law school or small business ownership. For Lawrence, the home represents more than mobility—it’s a path to family stability and renewed opportunity.

​

Odessa Farm Offers Hope and Healing for Pediatric Cancer Patients

In Odessa, Florida, a 15-year partnership between Quantum Leap Farm and the 1Voice Foundation has brought the healing power of equine therapy to nearly 300 children battling pediatric cancer. Currently, 12 kids ride weekly at no cost, forming deep bonds with their horses while regaining strength and confidence.

Six-year-old Selene, who lost motor function after emergency tumor surgery, now rides a horse named Waffles. Her mom says her posture and voice have dramatically improved, marking a powerful recovery.

“Horses are like heating blankets with legs,” says 1Voice Director Mary Ann Massolio, emphasizing the therapeutic effect of riding. The farm also offers a peaceful environment that fosters emotional healing and peer connection.

Founded in 2000, Quantum Leap Farm sees over 1,200 riders annually, while 1Voice now offers 20+ free programs for families facing cancer. Both nonprofits rely on community support and donations to continue changing lives.

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Hometown Hero: Bartow’s Walter Clayton Jr. Wins NCAA MVP

Bartow native Walter Clayton Jr. led the Florida Gators to a thrilling NCAA men’s basketball championship win over Houston and was named the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. A former star at Bartow Senior High, Clayton won two state championships and remains a source of pride in his hometown.

“He’s a first-round draft pick player, but he’s a better person,” said Coach Terrence McGriff, who traveled to San Antonio to witness the victory. Principal Lance Lawson praised Clayton as a hardworking role model whose photo now hangs in the school gym.

As Clayton prepares for the NBA Draft, McGriff believes he deserves lasting recognition. “There’s a Tim Tebow statue on the football field… they should have one for Walter Clayton too.”

Bartow, known as the “Home of Champions,” now celebrates a new legend whose talent and character shine just as brightly.

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