2009 WSW SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

Back Row, left to right:  Mary Curry, Assistant Superintendent, Citrus County Schools, Jontrell Hutcherson, Evan Marshall, and Donna Rayne, WSW Education and Scholarship Committee.  Front Row, left to right:  Larra Townsend, Alyssa McKibbin and Michelle Nowak.  Unable to attend the luncheon (picture held by Larra) was Katie Camp.

This year we had $17,000 to award.  We had over 30 applications which the Education & Scholarship Committee scrutinized, poured over, and agonized over!  Our two most significant criteria for initial consideration were financial need and meeting the minimum grade point average.  We had a few candidates who did not meet the financial need guidelines, and we had a few candidates whose parent or guardian chose to not reveal the requested financial detail.  These applicants were pulled aside, only to be considered if we had no other students who qualified for our awards -- which was not the case.  Grade point averages, class selection, personal essays, community service hours, and personal references were then gone over in much detail by the committee.  We proudly present WSW 2008-2009 Scholarship recipients.
 
Larra Townsend, recipient of our WSW CFCC Foundation Endowment Scholarship, plans to study math, computers, or education at CFCC. She will graduate from Crystal River High School with a 3.8 GPA and over 150 community service hours.  Larra was accompanied to our luncheon by her grandmother, Glenda Townsend.
 
Alyssa McKibbin was awarded our Withlacoochee Technical Institute Technical Scholarship to complete her studies toward becoming an LPN.  By January, 2009, Alyssa had already accumulated the required credits to graduate from Lecanto High School; she is already enrolled in the Patient Care Assistant Program at WTI.  Alyssa has performed over 200 hours of community service.  Once she completes her LPN studies at WTI she plans to enroll in the RN program at CFCC.  She was accompanied to our luncheon by her father, Randy McKibbin.
 
The following students were awarded WSW General Academic Scholarships ($4,000 comprised of $500 per semester up to 8 semesters):
 
Evan Marshall will graduate from Lecanto High School with a 4.37 weighted GPA.  Evan is also doing dual enrollment classes at CFCC. He has racked up over 200 hours of community service.   Evan will be attending the University of Central Florida where he will pursue a degree in business.  Evan was accompanied to our luncheon by his mother, Kristie Marshall.
 
Michelle Nowak will study to become a RN at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville; upon completion of their program she will transfer to a 4-year college to finish her program.  Michelle has maintained a 3.66 GPA at Crystal River High School.  Michelle has already taken her state certification exam to become a CNA, which will help her supplement her income while attending college.  Michelle was accompanied to our luncheon by her mother, Barbara Nowak.
 
Katie Camp could not attend the presentation luncheon due to the state vocal competition in Daytona Beach.  Her mother, Cindy Camp, attended our luncheon and accepted her daughter's scholarship award.  Katie will graduate from Crystal River High School with a 3.7 GPA.  Katie has performed over 300 hours of community service.  Katie will be attending the University of Central Florida where she aspires to a degree in teaching.
 
Jontrell Hutcherson is a graduating senior at Crystal River High School with a 3.92 weighted GPA.  He has also given almost 400 hours of community service.  Jontrell will be attending the University of Florida to pursue a career in the medical field as a physician. Jontrell was accompanied to our luncheon by his mother, Edna Hutcherson.  Jontrell also received the Bill Gates Scholarship, which will cover all his expenses for his college education.  Because of this, Jontrell's WSW scholarship money will be applied to another deserving applicant in 2009-2010.