INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Moorings Club sported a roomful of colorful blue and orange Gator gear as approximately 200 University of Florida alumni and fans gathered for the sixth annual Treasure Coast Gator Toast to honor its 2013 scholarship recipients.
The Treasure Coast Gator Club was awarding $28,500 in scholarships to 19 exceptional students from Indian River and St. Lucie County who will or currently are attending UF in Gainesville or the UF Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce.
The scholarship program is now the second largest in the state, having awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships since 2007.
The evening began with a high decibel cocktail reception sporting the camaraderie of an exciting pre-game tail-Gator, giving multiple generations of alumni enough time to swap favored Gator tales.
The esteemed man of the hour was keynote speaker Jeremy Foley, University of Florida’s deservedly legendary athletic director.
Foley entered the “Gator Nation” in 1976 on an internship, and has held the title of director of athletics since 1992.
The very personable Foley spoke with reporters during the cocktail party, sharing that he obtained the 1976 internship to complete his Master’s degree.
“They were the only ones to give me a chance. It’s been the most fortunate thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Equally auspicious for the University, under his leadership the athletic program has been ranked consistently among the top in the nation.
He has also set high academic standards for UF student athletes, who have been honored 92 times as Academic All-Americans, with more than 2,500 placed on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
“This is a pretty high level speaker for us,” said Gator Toast committee chairman Bryan Beaty.
“He is very highly respected because of his history and the success record he has had for all sports. The women’s gymnastics team just won its first national championship.”
The event drew three other high level Gainesville representatives – Gator Boosters executive director Phil Pharr and development director Veronica Meinhard, and UF Alumni Association executive director Danita Nias.
“The three of them recognize the success of our event and the scholarships we’ve awarded,” said Beaty. “We have started to really get noticed in Gainesville.”
The 19 scholarship recipients were selected from 66 applications, each reviewed for financial need and academic worthiness by a scholarship committee chaired by Katy Block Faires.
“It’s so tough to pick the recipients,” said Anthony Guettler, Club president, who went Gator all the way, graduating in 2003, ’05, and ’09 with degrees in Finance, Law and Tax Law.
“It’s hard enough to even get into the school. All of the applicants are at the top of their class already.”
Later in the evening, as proud parents, siblings and friends looked on, Guettler presented the coveted scholarship awards.
A. A. Block Endowment Scholarships were awarded to Amanda Bieber, Matthew Colbert, Matthew Flanagan, Alexia Ann Nolan and Ashley Michelle Pleie.
Bryan Schirard Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Rachel Elizabeth Ciccarelli, Jayne Elizabeth Johnson, Morgan Ann Johnson and Rachel Ann Lowe.
Treasure Coast Gator Club Scholarships were awarded to Kurtis Dickson, Hailey Innocent, Megan Cay Miller, Joshua Lamothe, Gwendolyn Lamothe and Emily Wood.
The Elizabeth F. Addison Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Jordanne Lamothe; the Clint S. Malone Memorial Scholarship to Abigail Sarnoski, the Mark & Robbi Pierce for the Hardee Family Foundation Scholarship to Jacob Mingear; and the Scholarship in honor of Ray and Beth Smith given by Trey Smith was awarded to Ashley Witkowski.
