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Matlacha organization is ‘hooked on education’

By Staff | May 19, 2009

Marianne Paton Last week, the Matlacha Hookers presented its Hooked on Education scholarships to five deserving students. Pictured are scholarship recipients John Ashbrook, Haley Warner, Reanna Edwards, Robert Rodgers and Sabrina Long.

Known for being “hooked on education,” the members of the Matlacha Hookers recently presented scholarships to deserving individuals seeking a higher education. During the regular monthly meeting of the Hookers on Monday, May 11, scholarships were presented to John Ashbrook, Haley Warner, Reanna Edwards, Robert Rodgers and Sabrina Long. Each of the students was awarded $1,200 to go toward tuition, books, supplies, housing or whatever the student needs to find success in the upcoming school term.

Representing the Hooker Scholarship Committee was Melanie Weaver, who presented the scholarships before the membership.

“These grants provide us an opportunity to give back to our young island people who will go on to make a difference in their chosen field and in the lives of others,” said scholarship chair Melanie Weaver. “Our grants are made possible by the hard work you (Hookers) all do to raise funds for our Pine Island Community.”

The Matlacha Hookers generate the funds for these scholarships through its annual Bag and Tag Sale and other fund-raising events held throughout the year.

According to Weaver, the scholarship committee focuses not only on the quality of the person who applies, but also his or her aptitude to succeed.

“We know these young people will be outstanding representatives of our scholarship program,” Weaver said “We are confident they will continue to expend whatever effort it takes to reach their goals to find success in whatever the future holds for each of them.”

A four-time recipient of the Hooked on Education scholarship, St. James City resident John Ashbrook is a graduate student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His field of study at the Daytona Beach school is aeronautical maintenance.

Bokeelia resident Sabrina Long is also a multiple recipient of the Hooked on Education award. While raising her three children, she is currently studying elementary education at Edison College in Fort Myers and hopes to one day teach at the Pine Island Elementary School.

Haley Warner is a resident of St. James City and is enrolled in the nursing program at Nova Southeastern University and is interested in pediatrics. After graduation, Warner is considering working in the neonatal field or as a midwife.

Robert Rodgers resides in Bokeelia and has ben accepted into the honors program at Florida State University and plans to study pre-law.

St. James City resident Reanna Edwards will attend Florida Gulf Coast University this fall and plans to work toward eventually becoming a wildlife biologist.

For more information about the Matlacha Hookers, attend a monthly meeting held on the second Monday of each month at the Sandy Hook Restaurant in Matlacha beginning at 6:30 p.m. or visit matlachahookers.org