INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — College scholarships have been awarded to five local graduating seniors by the Democratic Women’s Club of Indian River County.
In recognition of academic achievement, leadership and community involvement, the $1,000 grants went to Syeda Raza, Samantha Howard and Marissa Rollins of Vero Beach High School; Kadasha Eliacin of Sebastian River High School, and Marissa LoPresti of Indian River Charter High School.
The annual scholarships, which have been funded and presented by the local Democratic Women’s Club for nearly three decades, include the Albert and Josephine Gallo Scholarship, designated for excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
This year’s Gallo award was presented to Syeda Raza, an advanced placement scholar planning to major in environmental science. She said her goal is to pursue a career where she can positively impact the world.
Scholarship recipient and honor student Samantha Howard will attend Brown University and major in architecture and minor in environmental studies. She is interested in learning more about how humans interact with the environment and its effect on our planet.
Marissa Rollins plans to study music education at the University of South Florida. She is enrolled in honors and advanced placement classes and has been a violinist with the Gifford Youth Orchestra since 2008. She will seek a career as a music educator or as a professional musician.
Kadasha Eliacin has been accepted to Florida State University and plans to study criminal justice and political science. She is enrolled in advanced placement classes and will graduate with honors from Sebastian River High School, where she has been an award-winning standout in track and field.
With a dedication to science and a desire to help others, Marissa LoPresti intends to pursue a career in the medical field. She has been accepted to the University of Florida, where she will major in biology.
The five DWC scholarship recipients were honored by club members at a Grand Harbor luncheon that included the students’ parents. The program speaker was Indian River State College Provost Casey Lunceford, who praised the students’ achievements and encouraged them to follow their dreams.
The winners were also recognized during their schools’ senior awards ceremonies with plaques presented by organizers of the DWC scholarship program.
This year’s DWC event was coordinated by a scholarship selection committee consisting of Chair Barb Spelman, Rayma Kreider, Pat O’Hara and Nancy Hernandez, and by the scholarship fundraising committee of Chair Sharyn Seiler, Kathie Jaskolski, Laura Copeland and Elsie Visel.
The Democratic Women’s Club hosts meetings and activities designed to stimulate an active interest in governmental affairs and provide a public forum for discussion of political matters. Information on the organization is available through the website dwcirc.org, the Facebook page Democratic Women’s Club of Indian River County, or by contacting the membership chair at kathie773@msn.com.
