Rotary awards nine scholarships to students
$280,000 in scholarships to date to over 85 students
BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News vici@gulfbreezenews.com

Jim Green/ Special to the News Scholarship winners at the presentation included Evelia Singleton, Annie Godwin, "Rain" Bowman, Mea Adams and Ryan Roose.

Gulf Breeze Rotary continued its commitment to helping students complete higher education courses this year with the presentation of nine scholarships.

"Rotary understands that helping these students is an investment in our community's future," encouraged scholarship committee chair "Bo" Marks during the awards presentation. "Some very special Rotarians have sponsored endowed scholarships with the club, and year in and year out Jim Reeves challenges us to go the extra mile and raise more money for these scholarships. This year we are awarding five $5,000 four-year scholarships and four $1,000 twoyear scholarships."

Endowed scholarships are sponsored by Rotarians Scott Brodie and Wes Reeder and their families in honor of R. G. Martin and Dr. and Mrs. Fenner McConnell, respectively. All other scholarships awarded are the result of all the club's fundraising efforts.

Rotary receives more than twice the number of applications for the scholarships available. "So many talented and deserving students are out there," reminded Marks. "These are all exceptional achievers."

The five four-year scholarships were awarded to Laura Brosch, Ryan Roose, Morgan "Mea" Adams, Brooke Boylan and Annie Godwin, and all were praised as leaders in their class in scholastic achievement and extracurricular excellence. Jasmin Busbee, Kelsey "Rain" Bowman, Dylan Millikan and Evelia Singleton received the PJC Foundation Scholarships. Career aspirations range from the media to medicine, drama and scientific research.

"Let's remember the statistics about Gulf Breeze High School," Marks concluded. "GBHS ranks number one in the county based on FCAT scores and in the top two for the state of Florida. They consistently score above the national, state and local levels on ACT/ SAT tests, and approximately 90 percent of the GBHS grads continue their learning and go directly to college."