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
Florida Association of Realtors® Presents $5,000 Scholarships to 3 College-bound Students
ORLANDO, Fla., September 2004 -- Beginning classes this fall with more money to pay for tuition and books will make college life a little easier for three recent Florida high school graduates and their families, who have each won a $5,000 state scholarship award from the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). The students’ winning essays were written on the topic “How Does a Realtor Professional Benefit the Community?”
The three state winners are Omega Johnson of Jupiter, a 2004 graduate of A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts; Jennifer Quinn of Coral Springs, a 2004 graduate of J.P. Taravella High School; and Jenaia Fowlkes of Orlando, a 2004 graduate of Dr. Phillips High School.
The three students each had previously received a district-level scholarship of $1,500 for their winning essays in FAR’s 2003-2004 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors, resulting in a total of $6,500 in scholarship money to help with their future college expenses. There were 13 district winners, and FAR also recognized each student whose essay won second place in their respective districts with a $500 scholarship, for a total of $41,000 in scholarship funding to Florida students. Johnson won the District 3 scholarship award; Quinn received the District 11 scholarship award; and Fowlkes was named the District 12 scholarship winner.
2004 FAR President Russell Grooms announced the scholarship winners and presented them with their $5,000 awards during FAR’s 88th annual Convention & Trade Expo, held at the Renaissance Orlando Resort. About 350 members of FAR’s Board of Directors honored the students for their achievements.
The students’ families were also present to see them receive their scholarship checks and hear them read their winning essays to the appreciative Realtor audience. The winners and their families thanked Florida Realtors for establishing the scholarship/essay contest and helping to make their college dreams a reality.
Johnson will use the scholarship funding to attend the University of Southern California, while Quinn and Fowlkes both are enrolled at in-state colleges in Jacksonville. Quinn will attend the University of North Florida and Fowlkes plans to major in secondary education at Edward Waters College.
In her essay, Omega Johnson wrote, “Realtors spend their lives building communities. Each day they come to work and open their hearts to clients to assist them to make the best choice. They are on call nearly every day of the year and have an endless store of dedication. They build communities by helping families find homes. They guide their clients toward sound investments, and protect them from shady deals. They do this with their heads, but more importantly, their hearts.”
Jennifer Quinn discussed how a real estate professional helped her family make the difficult transition from trying to sell their home in a neighborhood succumbing to inner-city pressures to finding a new and safe community to live. “Realtors like my family’s don’t see their job as a vehicle for a hefty commission. Instead, they want people to achieve the American dream of a beautiful and loving home. Families like mine are the cornerstone of our city’s foundation, and the Realtors that showed us the way are helping to build a thriving community from the ground up,” she wrote.
And Jenaia Fowlkes had this to say about Realtors in her entry: “Today's Realtor professionals have the difficult task of familiarizing themselves with an individual's financial picture, overcoming credit shortcomings, and negotiating purchase agreements. The Realtor professional can be compared to a chameleon. Always adapting to accommodate the needs of a developing community, while helping families like mine make the American dream a reality.”
Business executives, educators, media representatives, Realtors and community leaders from across Florida volunteered their time and expertise to serve as judges for both the district- and state-level essay competition. In the fourth year for FAR’s scholarship program, about 350 high school seniors from across the state sent in entries for the essay contest.
The Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its more than 110,000 members in 70 boards/associations.
© 2004 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
