Ten students from Tri-County-area high schools who were selected by members of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Breakfast Committee, to receive 2015 scholarships gathered on Thursday at the Savannah Center in The Villages for camaraderie, photographs and interviews.
Dr. Lew Jones was happy eight of the ten winners could be present at the session.
“This is a very difficult task for committee members,” Jones said. “We had seventy applications from outstanding students and could choose only ten.” The break fast committee members were pleased that seven of the ten students with high academic and extra-curricular records are members of minority groups. “This is the first time we have had an Asian student among the winners,” Jones said.
Dr. Jones received his bachelor’s degree from Florida A & M University, a masters from Temple and his Doctorate from Virginia Tech.
“A number of these scholarship winners want to attend the University of Florida or Florida State,” Floridian Jones said, “but back in the day, as an African-American, I did not have that choice. After graduating from Florida A&M, which is a predominantly Black school, they sent me up north to continue my education — to Pennsylvania and Virginia — when I should have been able to complete my education right here in Florida. We still have progress to make, but things have changed a lot over those years.”
Destinee Forester, from Wildwood Middle High School, is thrilled with the financial assist from the scholarship but won’t declare her major this early. “I want to take a little more time, and talk to more people in various fields before I decide,” she said. Joryan Hernandez, from Belleview High, wants to pursue physical therapy at the University of Florida , and Nicole Bigio-Nieves , from Leesburg High, is waiting to hear from USF or UCF. She seeks a career in pediatric pain management. Also from Belleview, Javan Latson will be majoring in public health and hopes to attend Duke University medical school in the future.
AaLiyah Triumph, from Lake Weir High will attend Columbia University in New York City studying toward a career in neuroscience. Michelle Le, from Belleview, was very excited to be named a scholarship winner out of so many worthy students. “I cant believe this is happening,” she said. She will major in biology at the University of Central Florida. Heading to Florida State will be Amari Garner and Chyanne Harrison, both from Leesburg High. Amari will study nursing science and Chyanne is interested in a marketing career.
The scholarships stand at $2,000 right now,” committee member, Bob Janson said, “but we are still raising money, and that amount may go up between now and January, when the scholarship certificates are presented. How this works is the money is sent directly to each school in the award-winning students’ names.” The most senior committee member, Bob Kimbrough, 93, was in awe of all the bright young talent and wished all the students the best.
Brandon Stone-Gordon, from Lake Weir high school was tied up with basketball and could not attend. Alexia Character, from The Villages High School, was also delayed.
The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast will be held at the Savannah Center on Jan.10.