INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Five graduating seniors from area high schools were awarded college scholarships by the Democratic Women’s Club of Indian River County.
Presented $1,000 grants in recognition of academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement were Edmond Charlette and Nicholas Guenin, both of Sebastian River High; Kasia Wake and Nicolas Ramirez, both of Indian River Charter High; and Nicolette Duong, of Vero Beach.
The scholarship program, the local Democratic Women’s Club’s signature event for nearly three decades, added a fifth $1,000 award this year.
Designated for excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the annual scholarship is named in honor of long-time DWC member Josephine Gallo and her husband, Albert.
Edmond Charette is the Gallo Scholarship’s first recipient. He is a candidate for the National Honor Society and has made the honor roll every semester at SRHS, where he was in the Honors Program and enrolled in AP courses. His career goal is to be an aerospace engineer or an air traffic controller.
The DWC scholarship recipients were honored by club members at a luncheon that included the students’ parents and featured a program by local educator Jorge Lugo. The five winners were also recognized during their schools’ senior awards ceremonies.
This year’s DWC event was coordinated by a scholarship selection committee consisting of Chair Laile Fairbairn, Jane Kreizman, Claudette Pelletier and Barb Spelman, and by the scholarship fundraising committee of Chair Sharyn Seiler, Kathie Jaskolski and Elsie Visel.