It was a festive Tuesday evening at the Savannah Center as 76 Villages High School graduating seniors lined the stage for the Senior Awards Ceremony.
Director of Education Randy McDaniel, Principal William Zwick, and Vice Principals Janice Thompson and David Krakoff, beamed with pride at the outstanding academic, athletic, vocational and community accomplishments of the school’s graduating seniors. Also on hand was Gary Lester, president of the school board.
Zwick thanked members of the audience for all the community support on behalf of the charter school students — year after year after year — for their individual, business and organizational scholarships and volunteer efforts. A total of $223,000 in scholarships was distributed to students in this Class of 2015 — for a grand total of over $900,000 since the school opened.
School counselor, Katie Stephenson, distributed Bright Futures awards to 22 students, and a long series of other categories of scholarships to dozens of young men and women.
Of the seven total scholarships the Marine Corps League Detachment #1267 distributed this year, three were for Villages High School students — Kiersten Ballou, Emily Flack and Harrison O’Keeffe. Col. Fred Geier (USMC Ret.), who distributed the certificates, and said in terms of achievement, the Villages students were by far tops on their list.
Alexia Character received a scholarship from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Committee. Several students going on to higher education in music and the performing arts received scholarships from the Harold Schwartz Scholarship Fund. Catherine Burns, Emily Flack and Emalyn Deak received SPARKLE scholarships from popular Villages entertainer Petrina and Jane Bloom, representing the Villages Homeowners Association Community Foundation.
Nick Jones, founder of The Village AirHeads (COPD Support Group), Laura Lynch of the Music Boosters Club and from the Villages Memorial Park, Harold Sievers and Richard Simpson, were on hand to offer scholarship funds. Scholarships were handed out on behalf of the American Legion; the Sumter Electric Cooperative (SECO) by Trustee Dick Belles; the Kiwanis and Lions Clubs — among numerous others.
Dot Trondle will be taking over the leadership reins of Dollars for Scholars from Carol Lutgen, who is stepping down after nine years as president of the philanthropic group.
“It is so gratifying to see this promising group of patriotic, high-achieving young people,” said Trondle, a former New York school principal and resident of the Village of Fernandina. “We feel privileged to be involved in fundraising efforts to assist this young generation of leaders. When we were giving out scholarship money this morning to graduating seniors in Wildwood , a few people came up to ask how they could volunteer. We’re hoping tonight’s event will also attract others interested in joining our efforts.”