Take Stock in Children is a statewide scholarship program for at-risk students. It provides a unique opportunity for deserving students from low-income homes to escape the cycle of poverty through education. The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools is the local administrator of the program. We offer our students college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors and hope for a better life. When these students are accepted into our program, they sign a contract to maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA; stay crime and drug free; and meet with their mentor regularly. When they graduate from high school, having kept this commitment, they are guaranteed a four-year tuition scholarship to college.
Over 300 applications were received this year. They were reviewed by our Take Stock in Children Selection Committee and ranked based upon several criteria. Although we would like to accept every deserving student, we are pleased to have the ability to induct 46 students to the program this year. The value of these scholarships is over $782,000.
Students and their parents were introduced to their mentors at a luncheon held at Harborside Event Center today. Dr. Nancy Graham, Superintendent of The School District of Lee County gave the keynote address. Marshall T. Bower, President and CEO of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools emceed the event. Take Stock in Children graduate and current student at FGCU, Frank Nater encouraged the new scholars to do their best and listen to what their mentors had to say. Nater’s mentor, John Romine, who has continued mentoring other students, shared about the uplifting experience he has had as a mentor.
The 46 New Scholars for 2013-14 are:
Gilberto Benavides – Bonita Springs Middle School
Adriana Gutierrez – Bonita Springs Middle School
Rosalva Hernandez – Bonita Springs Middle School
Noah Cain – Cape Coral High School
David Lorenzo – Cape Coral High School
Gian Carlos Miranda – Cape Coral High School
Slade Stovall – Cape Coral High School
Bailee Gull-Dechristopher – Challenger Middle
Elvine Edouard – Cypress Lake High School
Michael Elsberry – Diplomat Middle School
Angel Escobar – Dunbar High School
Leonardo Felipe – Dunbar High School
Cody Garvey – Dunbar High School
Jo’Mazia Lewis – Dunbar High School
Scott Swiatek – Dunbar High School
Jorge Gonzalez – Estero High School
Esmeralda Patino-Chavez – Estero High School
Sara Simms – Estero High School
Sara Van Kirk – Estero High School
Nicole Aaqil – Fort Myers High School
Samaya Herard – Harns Marsh Middle School
Corey Smith – Ida S. Baker High School
Alyssa Tompson – Ida S. Baker High School
Shinna Valladares – Ida S. Baker High School
Tatiana Anthony – Island Coast High School
Gabriela Rapalo – Island Coast High School
Day’drian Stanford – James Stephens International Academy
Renu Asrafuzzaman – Lehigh Acres Middle School
Benjamin Mekelski – Lehigh Acres Middle School
Nitchma Coulanges – Lehigh Senior High School
Alexxius Crawford – Lehigh Senior High School
Jada Crespo – Lehigh Senior High School
Shayra Delgado – Lehigh Senior High School
Valerie Joinis – Lehigh Senior High School
Aaliyah Richlen – Lehigh Senior High School
Morgan Wozniak – Lehigh Senior High School
Jayme Jones – Mariner High School
Dakota Moore – Mariner High School
Zachary Amburgey – North Fort Myers High School
James Javaruski – North Fort Myers High School
Eric Martinez – North Fort Myers High School
Charles Commander Jr. – Oak Hammock Middle
Brianna Dixon – Oak Hammock Middle School
Alexandra Rodriguez – Oak Hammock Middle
Kiarra Rensel – Riverdale High School
Helena Pichardo – South Fort Myers High School