Flagler Kiwanis Club awards $36K in scholarships

<p>Ten students from Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas High schools received scholarships  from the Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club during a luncheon this week at the Hilton Garden Inn.</p><p>Kiwanis president-elect Ed Pruitt, Jr. read a short biography of each of the students selected for scholarship awards, noting each student's academic achievements and community involvement.</p><p>Kayla Bennett, a Matanzas High School scholarship recipient, has plans to attend the University of West Florida and build a career in human resource management. She said the $2,000 scholarship will be a big help.</p><p>"I'm nervous and excited about college, but I feel really well prepared," she said. "I have been a Key Club member, which is the high school version of the Kiwanis, for three years and I served as treasurer this year. Going through the process of learning the leadership skills that I've had to take on, it's put me in a spot where I know I ca n take on anything." </p><p>Other scholarship winners include: Sokret Pond, Matanzas senior of the year, $2,000; Bailey Perosa, FPC senior of the year, $2,000; Garrett Monroe, FPC Key Club scholarship, $2,000; Erin Verdi, FPC, $2,000; Ally Erikson, FPC, $2,000; Nicholas Kiraly, FPC, Robert Osner Kiwanis Scholarship, $4,000; Haley Wordie, Matanzas, Robert Osner scholarship, $4,000; Tiara Hampton, FPC, Kiwanis Foundation scholarship, $8,000; and Urszula Komenda, Matanzas, Kiwanis Foundation Scholarship, $8,000.</p><p>The 2016 Teachers of the Year were also recognized during the luncheon with Ed Wolfe, a 2015 Teacher of the Year recipient, on hand to help deliver the awards.</p><p>Teachers recognized include: District Teacher of the Year 2016 Kim Weeks, Old Kings Elementary; Melissa Irving, Belle Terre Elementary; Katherine Acosta, Buddy Taylor Middle; Randi Fasnacht, Bunnell Elementary; Courtney VandeBunte, FPCHS; David Nelson, FTI; Lo ri Decker, Indian Trail Middle; Michelle Czarneck, Matanzas; Amber Baumert, Rymfire Elementary; and Jamie Byrne, Wadsworth Elementary.</p><p>"Today is a day where we honor the special people who give of their time, professional teachers and in Flagler County we have great teachers," said Denise Calderwood, president of the Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club. "As a result, we have great students and today we recognized those young people with scholarships."</p><p></p><p>The local Kiwanis Club awarded a total of $36,000 in scholarship commitments during the ceremony.</p><p></p>
Source: Flagler Kiwanis Club awards $36K in scholarships