Contact:
Jeff Zipper, Vice President of Communications
407/438-1400, ext. 2314
JeffZ@far.org
Marla Martin, Communications Manager
407/438-1400, ext. 2326
MarlaM@far.org
Lucky 13: Florida High School Seniors Win $1,500 District Scholarships from Florida Association of Realtors®
ORLANDO, Fla., May 2004 -- Thirteen talented seniors from public and private high schools across the state each have been awarded a $1,500 scholarship as district winners of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) 2003-2004 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors.
For the first time, FAR’s scholarship program also has recognized the students whose essays won second place in their respective districts by awarding each of them with a $500 scholarship. The state Realtor association offers these scholarship awards to help each student with his or her college or technical school plans. The top winning essays from FAR’s 13 districts across the state are now vying to win one of three $5,000 state-level FAR scholarships -- for a total of $41,000 in scholarship awards.
Winners of FAR’s district-level scholarship/essay contest are: District 1 – First place, Enoch S. Nadler, Keystone Heights High School; Second place, Cortney D. Surrency, Paxon School for Advanced Studies; District 2 – First place, Andrew Dugan, Melbourne Central Catholic School; Second place, Andy Hirschfeld, Seabreeze High School; District 3 – First place, Omega D. Johnson, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts; Second place, Kyle Adam Johnson, John I. Leonard Community High School; District 4 – First place, Victoria Gerstman, Miami Palmetto Senior High School; Second place, Nicole Ebaugh, Design & Architecture Senior High School; District 5 – First place, Steven Wylie, Mariner High School; Second place, Amie Walker, Naples High School; and District 6 – First place, Hakija Halilic, Gulf High School; Second place, Ramon N. Snow, St. Petersburg Senior High School.
Also, District 7 – First place, Melissa Parker, Hernando High School; Second place, Derrick Drake, Hernando High School; District 8 – First place, Katherine Grimm, Lawton Chiles High School; Second place, Cassie Prichard, Chipley High School; District 9 – First place, Shelley McDavid, Pensacola High School; Second place, Whitney Nixon, Milton High School; District 10 – First place, Ashley Aceto, Lake Region High School; Second place, Audrey Hine, Lake Placid High School; District 11 – First place, Jennifer Quinn, J. P. Taravella High School; Second place, Dukens Labaze, Plantation High School; District 12 – Jenaia Fowlkes, Dr. Phillips High School; Second place, Heather Orlando, Circle Christian School; and District 13 – First place, Philip Watt, Sarasota High School; Second place, Jennifer Cherry, Venice High School.
A number of community leaders, media representatives, educators, business executives and Realtors from across the state volunteered their time and expertise to serve as judges for the district-level essay competition. The 13 district-winning essays -- written on the topic, “How Does a Realtor Professional Benefit the Community?” -- will be reviewed by a state panel of judges, who will select the top three state winners. State scholarship winners may be announced either prior to or as part of FAR’s annual Convention and Trade Expo, Aug. 18-22 at the Renaissance Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fla.
“Helping young people to continue their education and fulfill their dreams for the future is an investment in our community,” says 2004 FAR President Russell Grooms. “Florida Realtors take great pride in our scholarship program, knowing that we have encouraged these students to achieve their goals and provided a boost to start them on their road to success.”
The Florida Association of Realtors, the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 100,000 members in 70 boards/associations.
© 2004 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
