Matlacha Hookers recognize 2011 scholars

The Matlacha Hookers held true to its statement “Hooked on Education” when they presented scholarships to five deserving students last week. With funds raised during the past year, the members of the Hookers presented scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to Francisco Castaneda, Caleb Davis, Dale Wagner, Keith Robertson and Justin Uhl.
Francisco Castaneda, 18, is a resident of Bokeelia and will graduate from Ida Baker High School with a 4.25 GPA. He is fluent in Spanish and has taken three years of French. While at Ida Baker, he has been a member of the school photography club as well as the Hot Shots in St. James City. Castaneda also works part-time at Red’s Fresh Seafood Restaurant in Bokeelia and serves as a photographer for Palmco on Pine Island. Castaneda plans to attend Edison College in the fall to pursue an education in the medical field. When asked why he felt he deserved the scholarship, Castaneda said, “This scholarship will help me in getting where I want to go in life and become a physician’s assistant.”
Caleb Davis, 19, is a resident of Pineland and is currently attending Edison College. A two-time recipient of the Hooked on Education scholarship, Davis has maintained a 3.18 GPA and has earned a C.P.R. health care certification and is an active member in his church, as well as various charitable fund raisers. He also works at the Pine Island Dairy Queen while attending Edison as a full-time student and is pursuing a career in the medical field. Davis chose to study pre-med because he felt he was well suited for a life of helping others. “I chose this field of study because I am fascinated with it. The medical field clicks with me almost perfectly,” Davis said. “It requires passion since it is often times, thankless work and I have it. It has also helped me to give first aid directly, or through advice, to friends and family. In short, it is almost as if the medical field chose me, instead of me choosing it.”
Dale Wagner, 18, is a resident of Bokeelia and will graduate from Mariner High with a 4.13 GPA and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University and eventually attend High Tech Central to attain his goal of becoming a certified master mechanic in automotives. While at Mariner, Wagner achieved the rank of Summa Cum Laude and is a member of the National Honors Society. Wagner said he hopes to own his own business one day. “My ultimate goal would be to work at a well-recognized dealership as a certified master mechanic. I am very ambitious about creating my own auto-mechanic shop and possibly starting my own franchise,” Wagner said.
Keith Robertson, 18, is a resident of Arcadia, but lived on Pine Island as a child where he attended Pine Island Elementary and will graduate from DeSoto County High School with a 3.25 GPA. He plans to attend Nashville Auto Diesel College this fall. While in high school, Robertson has consistently made honor roll and was active in baseball and football. Robertson comes from a family with a long history in the island fishing industry and has also worked as a commercial fisherman and as a ranch hand on his family’s farm. “As a ranch hand on the family farm, I was able to work on tractors, loaders and grove pumps, all of which are diesel engines. I feel there is a great demand for diesel mechanics now and in the future with boats, trucks, semi’s and heavy equipment.”
Justin Uhl, 17, is a resident of Bokeelia and will graduate from Ida Baker High School with a 2.18 GPA. His aim is to attend Universal Technical Institute in Orlando to obtain training in the automotive field. For four years, Uhl played football for Bishop Verot High School where he earned the Iron Man trophy. He also played Little League baseball and enjoys fishing, hunting and working outside. A very ambitious young man, Uhl also has his own lawn mowing service which began when his grandfather gave him a mower when he was 13 years old. Uhl decided on a career in auto mechanics because he feels that it is one job that won’t be “outsourced.” In addition to job security, Uhl also said he enjoys working with his hands. “I enjoy working on my own vehicle and since I was 11, my grandfather taught me to fix a flat tire, change the oil and filters in my vehicle when I was 16. I also can perform the maintenance and service my lawn mower. I have always been interested in working hands-on and by attending U.T.I. I will receive advanced training opportunities in the automotive field and will have skilled instructors.”