Kiwanians complete presentations of 2011 scholarship awards
Having already bestowed several scholarships just two weeks ago, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island held a second meeting last week to complete the awards for this year’s deserving students.
Those receiving financial assistance from the Kiwanis were Luke Whitaker, Jared Wentz, Dale Wagner, Keith Robertson, Justin Uhl, Francisco Castaneda, Caleb Davis, Brandi Schultie and Alexandra Honc.
Whitaker is a Bokeelia resident and a graduate of Mariner High School. Throughout high school, he was an honor roll student and maintained a 3.30 GPA. He also worked several jobs including lawn mowing, painting houses and at Creative Coast Pre-school. In his free time, he enjoys racing radio controlled cars, playing guitar and working out at the gym. Currently he is attending the University of Central Florida and is majoring in mechanical engineering and plans to eventually work in the vehicle industry.
Wentz also is a Bokeelia resident and graduate of Mariner High School. At Mariner, he was a member of the Mariner Model United Nations Club, the Mariner Astronomy Club and the Mariner Academic Team. He earned the Principal’s Award in 2009 and 2010 and the Superintendent’s Award in 2010 and 2011. He plans to attend the University of Central Florida in the fall to major in engineering.
Wagner is a recent graduate of Mariner High School and resides with his family in Bokeelia. A member of the National Honor Society and a participant in the Mariner High Talent Show, Wagner worked as a volunteer at Randell Research Center in his free time. He plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University and aspires to be a master mechanic and eventually own his own auto mechanic shop.
Robertson currently lives in Arcadia, but spent much of his childhood on Pine Island. Travis, as he is known to friends and family, recently graduated from DeSoto County High School and when he was younger played baseball for several years with the Greater Pine Island Little League. He also played football and was in the band while in high school. Throughout his school career, he maintained perfect attendance and was on the honor roll in elementary, middle and high school. He will be attending Nashville Auto-Diesel College in Nashville, Tenn., and intends to pursue a career in diesel mechanics focusing on ships or heavy equipment.
Uhl is a Bokeelia resident and a graduate of Ida Baker High School. He played Little League on Pine Island and for four years in high school, football for Bishop Verot High School. He will attend the Universal Technical Institute in Orlando where he will receive automotive technical training and plans to work in the automotive industry.
Castaneda also lives in Bokeelia with his family and graduated from Ida Baker High School. While in school, he enjoyed volunteering at Pine Island Elementary School and was a member of the Hot Shots Photo Club in St. James City, as well as the Flasher Photo Club. He also worked part-time at Red’s Fresh Seafood House and Tavern and served as a photographer for PalmCo. He will be attending Edison College in Fort Myers this fall and plans to begin his working career as a physcian’s assistant and eventually as a physician. He was honored as the recipient of the Kiwanis Skip Schwartz award.
Davis resides in Pineland and is attending Edison State College and graduated from Ida Baker High School in 2010. He kept busy at school with activities such as setting up a dancing stage for a Rhythm in Motion performance and helped to establish a local business by planting a variety of plants. He enjoys swimming at the local pool, playing tennis and dancing the waltz, swing, fox trot, baler and rumba. He also likes to skydive, and studies various forms of martial arts. He hopes to one day become a registered nurse and eventually work as a nurse anesthetist.
Schulte resides in Bokeelia and is a graduate from Mariner High School. While in high school, she served in student government, was a member of Key Club, Book Club, Environmental Club and participated in Odyssey of the Mind. She also has volunteered as an assistant teacher at Pine Island Elementary School, for the Soup Kitchen, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. She is currently in her second year at the University of South Florida studying criminology. It is her hope to one day have a career as a criminal profiler.
Honc also lives in Bokeelia and graduated this year from Bishop Verot Catholic High School. At Bishop Verot, she was a member of Key Club, Choir and the Fishing Club as well as being a junior varsity basketball cheerleader. She has worked at Winkler Court Nursing Home in the Alzheimer Section for the past three years, as well as for Honc Industries during the summer months for several years. She plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University and will study business management and hopes to one day start her own business.
This year, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island presented a total of 14 scholarship awards, which represents more than $200,000 awarded over the last several years. These funds were made possible through fund-raising efforts of the Kiwanis members.