Meet our deserving winners and read their bios
= multi-year scholarships awarded
2019 Winners
Oscar is a first-generation student-athlete of a migrant worker family with great pride. He has greatly assisted his family with the financial burdens of his mother and grandmother being diagnosed with cancer in September 2015. He became his mother’s primary caregiver and has helped with uninsured treatment costs. At the same time, he created a second job for his father by designing the Chavez Lawn Service. Oscar received the Military Officer Association of America Award in the ROTC program at his high school. He led and mentored many of the program’s students for 4 years. He was named the MVP for his Club Soccer team after their area championship game this past year. He was selected as a candidate for Florida American Legion Boys State which is a program where only the best rising seniors in the State of Florida are selected to go and learn about how the government works and participate in similar government activities. Oscar is planning on attending University of Central Florida in Orlando this coming Fall 2019.
In 8th grade, Morgan was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, Alopecia Areata, which makes your hair fall-out. She overcame this physical disability to go forward and served as a Representative for the GJHS Chapter of the National Honor Society for her junior and senior years with a 4.22 GPA. She was elected Co-Captain for the GJHS Lady Eagles soccer team by her teammates during her Junior and Senior years. Morgan’s soccer team finished second in District 5A playoffs this year. She served as Secretary for FFA at GJHS during her junior year. She was nominated to compete at the state level for the GJHS FFA Veterinary Academic Team where they finished second in the State of Florida. Morgan will be attending Florida State University this Fall 2019.
Alexa graduated 6th in her class at Harrison School for the Arts in Lakeland with a 4.525 GPA and over one thousand community service hours. She made the most of high school experience following the heartbreaking loss of her father in 8th grade. School academics and diving served as solaces for her to forget the tragic event and became positive outlets on which Alexa could focus her energy. Consequently, academics and athletics will remain a top priority for he as she ventures to Gainesville in the fall as an Honors Student at her father’s alma mater....the University of Florida!
At the young age of three, Dominic was diagnosed with a type of high functioning Autism. Pervasive Disability Disorder (PDD). This meant as a student-athlete He would face many challenges in the classroom and on the field throughout his educational and sports careers. He received IEP by the third grade, pulled out of classes for PT and OT, having specialist come into his class for services such as reading support, homework support and help with mathematics. Somehow, he managed to excel and reached high school with his class. Dominic has been part of the Varsity Track and Field team since his freshman year and has consistently been the top fundraiser/seller for the team while still maintaining a 3.53 GPA. He has participated in the school's NJROTC program for four years of high school. Dominic has been voted Athletic Director for the program for the second straight year. He organized a flag football game, where admission was canned goods which in turn was donated to the church who has hosted our variety football team for several team dinners over the past four years. Dominic is planning on attending Catholic University of America in Washington DC this coming Fall 2019.
