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® Enlist Community Leaders to Judge Scholarship Essay Contest
ORLANDO, Fla., June 2005 -- What do a number of educators, Realtors, business executives, media representatives, civic organizers and elected officials across Florida have in common? They all can add serving as a district judge for the Florida Association of Realtors’® (FAR) 2004-2005 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors to their resumes of community service.
The topic for this year’s essay contest -- “How Does a Realtor Professional Benefit the Community?” -- provided students with the chance to research a wide range of real estate disciplines. This year, a total of $41,000 in scholarship funding will be awarded by FAR, with student winners in each of the Association’s 13 districts receiving a $1,500 scholarship prize and the second-place district winners receiving a $500 award. The 13 district-winning essays now go on to compete for three state FAR scholarship awards -- each worth an additional $5,000.
These state scholarship winners may be announced as part of FAR’s 89th annual Convention and Trade Expo, set for Aug. 24-28, at the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista.
The district judges who volunteered their time and expertise to participate in FAR’s scholarship program form a distinguished “Who’s Who” list of community leaders from across the state. They include:
District 1: Foy Maloy, publisher of the Fernandina Beach Newsleader & Nassau Record; Rick Ferrin III, executive director of the Jacksonville Port Authority; James F. Bailey Jr., publisher of the Financial News and Daily Record; Adelva Johnston, Realtor; Elke W. McMenemy, Realtor; and Selby Kaiser, FAR District 1 vice president.
District 2: Ron Prichard, Brevard County Commissioner; Kathy Starkey, president of the Space Coast Board of Realtors; Cynthia DeLuca, president of the West Volusia Association of Realtors; and Lisa Durgin, FAR District 2 vice president.
District 3: Dr. Edwin Massey, president of Indian River Community College; Ann Decker, district manager for Congressman Mark Foley; Sharon Lowe, coordinator of Indian River Community College's Career Planning and Placement Services; and Bob Lowe, FAR District 3 vice president.
District 4: Susan Calleja, association executive for the Key West Association of Realtors; Ed Salazar, president of the Key West Association of Realtors; and Michael Behmke, FAR District 4 vice president.
District 5: John Dattola, a Realtor and former journalist with Newsweek and the Boston Globe; Toni Shoemaker, Realtor and former English teacher; Linda Lally, educator; Cynthia Shafer, president of the Florida chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors; and Dolores Stevenson, FAR District 5 vice president.
District 6: Susanna Madden, Realtor with RE/MAX ACR Elite in Tampa; Sandra Murman, a former state representative; and Connie Johnson, FAR District 6 vice president.
District 7: Sue Mosley, Marion County School Board chairman; Beth McCall, executive director of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County Inc.; Deputy Chief Greg Graham of the Ocala Police Department; and Sherri Meadows, FAR District 7 vice president.
District 8: U.S. Rep. F. Allen Boyd Jr. (D-FL); Commissioner Cliff Thaell, chairman of the Leon County Board of Commissioners; and Kevin Hattaway, FAR District 8 vice president.
District 9: Debbie Neale; Sandy Kemp; Linda Fox; Rosa Stanley; Joy Simonson; Patricia Price; and Janice Henke, FAR District 9 vice president.
District 10: Sharon Watson, a Realtor with Choice-Dantzler Properties; Vera Tungate, president of the Lakeland Association of Realtors; C.D. "Chip" Boring III, president of the Florida Association of Realtors in 1999, and Jane Tyl, FAR District 10 vice president.
District 11: Susan Starkey, Town of Davie councilwoman; Mary Hafenbrack, pre-press operations manager for the South Florida Sun Sentinel; John Santulli II, vice president of Nova Southeastern University; Debby Eisinger, mayor of Cooper City; Lynn Goldman, community relations, McFatter Technical Center; and Diana Cronkhite, FAR District 11 vice president.
District 12: William C. Nichols, broker, Goodwin Realty & Associates in Kissimmee; Dr. George Gant, mayor of Kissimmee; Paula Stark, publisher of the Osceola News-Gazette; Mary Cooper, Osceola County human resources director; and Kim Goodwin, FAR District 12 vice president.
District 13: Nancy Padgett, manager, Title Partners of Southwest Florida LLC; Lindsay Harrington, broker with Coldwell Banker Florida in Punta Gorda and a former state representative; David Thame, president and owner of Eclipse Canopy Inc.; and Bob Roberts, FAR District 13 vice president.
The Florida Association of Realtors, the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its more than 125,000 members in 70 boards/associations.
© 2005 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
