Community Scholarships Presentation at the Estero High School Awards Ceremony

On May 4th, 2021, with an invite from Career Counselor Ms. Terri Hensley and Principal Mike Amabile, 6 community leaders attended and presented the first, and hopefully annual, Estero Community Essays/Scholarships.

We, Estero Council of Community Leaders, Estero Historical Society, and Estero Chamber of Commerce, conceived the idea in October 2020.  Estero Council of Community Leaders would provide a scholarship with the best essay on Estero Governance (us old folks called it civics). Estero Historical Society would provide a scholarship with the best essay on Estero Area History – we all know our history goes back to before the Calusa Indians. The Estero Chamber of Commerce would provide a scholarship with the best essay on Estero Business – very relevant in these challenging times.

With input from School District Board member Chris Patricca, we received permission from Principal Amabile and started working with Ms. Terri Hensley in late January 2021.  After a couple of Zoom meetings, we worked out the details and dates to announce the scholarships and final essay submittal dates.

We left the essay requirements open, other than maximum 2 pages, as we wanted the students to use their abilities and their perspective to write the essays.

Ms. Hensley received the essays and forwarded for our review. We received 6 essays to judge for the 3 Scholarships.  Vicki Risko provided a rubric to score the essays.  17 judges were identified and 10 evaluated the essays.  Although the scoring was close, 3 winners were identified.  The winners were reported to the Estero Council of Community Leaders, Estero Historical Society, and Estero Chamber of Commerce contact person.  Large checks were prepared for presentation and pictures, and actual checks provided by the organization treasurer.

On the awards night, at the Estero High School Auditorium, the 6 community representatives walked on stage and presented.

Mike Wasson, ECCL Education Council Chair and Mark Novitski, ECCL COO, presented the Estero $1,000 “Governance Scholarship” on behalf of the Estero Council of Community Leaders.  The recipient is Brian Robinson!!!  Congratulations

Gail Langner, EHS President, and Vicki Risko, EHS Education Chair, presented the Estero $1,000 “History Scholarship” on behalf of the Estero Historical Society.  The recipient is Mary Sue Burun!!!  Congratulations

Blake Chapman, Estero Chamber Board Chair, and Pamela Mueller, Estero Chamber President & CEO, presented the Estero $1,000 “Business Scholarship” on behalf of the Estero Chamber of Commerce.  The recipient is Brian Robinson!!!  Congratulations

A group photo was taken to commemorate the event.

Thanks to all those volunteers that worked to make this effort possible.  Thanks to the students and recognize their efforts in taking the time to write essays.  Thanks to the community sponsors who funded the 3 scholarships.  A big thank you to the judges who took the time to read the essays.  Many reported they learned a lot from the students.

Judges: Brian Hurwitz, Ramona Novitski, Mike Wasson, Victoria Risko, Dr. Marino Alvarez, Allan Bowditch, Gretchen Wright, Nolen Rollins, Pamela Mueller, and Rosalyn Gula

Thanks to Vicki Risko for compiling the scoring.

We are all looking forward to working this again next year!