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® Announces District Scholarship Winners
ORLANDO, Fla., May 2005 -- The Florida Association of Realtors® has awarded 26 college scholarships to Florida senior high school students. Thirteen seniors from public and private high schools in each of the state’s 13 districts have received first-place $1,500 scholarships, while 13 second-place essayists have won $500 each.
The scholarship program is designed to help Florida’s most talented high school students achieve their goals in college, and all seniors are eligible except for immediate family members of a Realtor, of a person licensed to sell real estate or of a Realtor association's staff. The top winning essays from FAR’s 13 districts across Florida now compete to win one of three $5,000 state-level FAR scholarships. Scholarships from FAR this year total $41,000.
First place winners of FAR’s $1,500 scholarship
| Deltona |
Haley Singleton, Deltona High School |
| Gainesville |
Jennifer Anne Lynch, Buchholz High School |
| Gulf Breeze |
Aaron Shoemaker, Gulf Breeze High School |
| Lakeland |
Kathryn Anne Kimball, Lakeland Christian School |
| Miami |
Dmitriy Rokhfeld, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School |
| Miramar |
Edgard Daniel Dique, Miramar High School |
| Mt. Dora |
Sarah Bay, Christian Home and Bible School |
| Naples |
Rasheed Muslimani, Barron Collier High School
|
| Oviedo |
Kelly Rhinesmith, Oviedo High School
|
| Sarasota |
Lindsay Robinson, Sarasota Military Academy
|
| Tallahassee |
Xiaolin (Layne) Zhao, Lincoln High School |
| Wellington |
Daniel Stirling, Palm Beach Central High School
|
| Zephyrhills |
Amber Michelle Leonard, Calvary Baptist Church Academy |
Second place winners of FAR’s $500 scholarship
| Clearwater |
Adora B. Williams, Clearwater High School
|
| Davie |
Crystal Mason, Nova High School |
| DeLand |
Andrew J. Adkins, DeLand High School |
| Ft. Pierce |
Caroline E. Blanton, John Carroll Catholic High School |
| Key West |
Dekariss Barnett, Key West High School |
| Lake City |
Carmen Kam, Columbia High School
|
| Lakeland |
Marie Nicole Kirby, Lakeland Christian School |
| Leesburg |
Dana Morris, Leesburg High School
|
| Madison |
Brian Gordon, Madison County High School
|
| Naples |
Larae Connelly, Lely High School
|
| North Port |
Summer Star Fox, North Port High School
|
| Orlando |
Jenna Linduff, Circle Christian School
|
| Panama City Beach |
Jerad Jacob, J.R. Arnold High School |
"The Florida Association of Realtors created the 2004-2005 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors because Realtors understand the value of education," says FAR President Frank Kowalski. “It’s not only good for our young people, but a good educational system builds strong communities and draws high-paying jobs to Florida. Show me a top-notch school and I'll show you a thriving community with rising home values."
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 first-place 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 2005 Convention & Trade Expo held Aug, 24-28, at the Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista.
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
