Air Force Airman Anthony W. Boyd graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Boyd is the son of Constance Boyd of Bluff Road, Mulberry, and Darryle Boyd of East Tee Circle, Bartow. He is a 2011 graduate of Mulberry Senior High School.

School out early Wednesday

Wednesday is an early release day.

Students will arrive at bus stops an hour earlier than usual and car riders will also be ready for pickup an hour earlier, the school district said.

The reason for early release is for teachers to use this time for planning and professional development in preparation to academically advance our students.

Pigeon Pull set

The Achievement Academy has its Seventh Annual Pigeon Pull and Evening Round-Up on Saturday,
Feb. 23 at S-S Ranch, 4098 J.A. Fenton Road in Lakeland.

The four man flurry skeet shoot will be from 2:30-6 p.m.

The evening party is scheduled 6-10:30 p.m., with a BBQ dinner and live entertainment.

The levels of sponsorship range from a Remington Sponsorship of $500 to a Beretta Sponsorship of $3,000. Individual tickets are also available for $50 for the evening event.

For information, call Eunice
Hutto at 863-683-6504 or visit www.achievementacademy.com.

SAT prep class offered

Explorations V Tutoring & Test Prep has started offering a SAT prep class and it will run on Tuesdays 6-8 p.m. until March 5.

It will be offered at Explorations, 109 N. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland.

The fee for the eight weeks of classes is $160 per student and it features guided practice in critical reading, mathematics and writing; test-taking strategies to maximize test scores and an opportunity to become familiar with the test.

To register call Terry Lauretta, Academic Services Director, at
863-687-3869 or 863-838-2926.

Volunteers sought
for reading workshop

READ Polk has a training workshop to volunteers who would like to teach adults how to read on Friday, Jan. 18 from 9:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at Polk State College, in the Lakeland Technology Building, Room 1310, 3425 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland.

Lunch is provided, however, there is a full service restaurant within the building that will be open until to 2 p.m. Morning refreshments will be provided.

No experience is necessary and volunteers receive the training and materials to become certified tutors. Class size is limited.

The workshop is sponsored by READ Polk and hosted by READ Lakeland. READ Polk not-for-profit coalition of volunteers from businesses and the community. READ Polk is dedicated to facilitating relevant literacy instruction which improves the capacity of adults to negotiate their daily lives as parents, consumers, employees, and citizens.

For information, call Diane Oropeza, program coordinator, at 863-802-1512.

Essays sought on Tuskegee Airmen

For the third year, Central Florida students are being asked to to share their thoughts and dreams in an essay contest honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation’s first African-American military aviators – and to compete for prize money.

Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to enter the contest, themed, “They Dared to Fly” in reference to the values that landed the Tuskegee Airmen in the history books – leadership, excellence, advocacy and determination. First place winners in each of two categories (grades 6-8 and 9-12) will take home $500; two second place winners each will receive $300.

The contest is sponsored by Fantasy of Flight in conjunction with scheduled appearances by several original Tuskegee Airmen Feb. 7-9. The event will be held in celebration of Black History Month and marks the first of six symposiums in the attraction’s 2013 Legends and Legacies Symposium Series.

Essays must be at least 350 words for those in grades 6-8 and 500 words for students in grades 9-12. They will be judged on overall content, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, legibility and penmanship (as applicable). The deadline is 5 p.m., Feb. 22. Winners will be announced March 8, 2013. There are more rules at www.fantasyofflight.com.

Christine Roslow can be reached at croslow@polkcountydemocrat.com