Nineteen scholarships were presented to future attendees of the University of Florida at the 2016 Gator Toast Dinner hosted by the Treasure Coast Gator Club last Tuesday evening. Mike Hill, UF executive associate athletics director for external affairs, was the guest speaker at the event, which was held at the Moorings Yacht & Country Club.
Gator Nation camaraderie was unmistakable as alumni celebrated with one another and gave some back-patting encouragement to the students who would soon be attending their alma mater.
As always, UF’s blue and orange – standard apparel in every Gator’s wardrobe, according to Toast Chair Katie Profeta – were the fashionable colors of choice for most of the guests.
“As Gator alumni, to come back to Indian River County and be able to give back to our local students who are going up to Gainesville is priceless,” said Lenora Ritchie. “We hope that these students are going to one day give back to the next generation here, so there is a sense of pride in knowing that this community supports them.”
Parents of the scholarship recipients were both proud of their children’s achievements and grateful to the Gator Club for the financial support they were providing.
“My son has wanted to go to UF practically since he could talk,” joked Tracey Kinsley, Justin Kendrick’s mother. “Out of the 150 people who applied he was one of the lucky recipients. The scholarship will 100 percent pay for his books for the year, which would have been quite a substantial cost for us.”
Each recipient receives a $1,500 scholarship from the organization, which has awarded more than $150,000 over the nine years it has been in existence. Students must be from either St. Lucie County or Indian River County and must have already been accepted or currently attending UF.
Many of the students said that the cost of college would be out of their grasp if it weren’t for scholarships, and most had applied for more than just one. Scholarship recipient Amanda Gard entered and won the Miss Hibiscus Pageant last year specifically for the scholarship awarded with the crown.
“I also applied to eight other scholarships and just received one from the Indian River Scholarship Foundation and am now waiting to hear from others,” said Gard. “It would be really helpful for us since there are so many fees beyond tuition, like housing and books.”
“My wife and I are both CPAs and it is encouraging to know what a good education can do for you,” said Gator Club President Will Schlitt, whose wife also attended UF. “Our teachers there taught us life lessons, how to learn and how to grow on our own.”
Hill spoke directly to the students, telling them they were now becoming part of a really special family at a university where people take care of one another.
“University of Florida is aspiring to be a Top 10 public university and are right on the cusp of doing that,” said Hill.“The fact that you have been admitted to that school speaks volumes about you. As much pride as you should feel by being awarded these scholarships, the Gator Club should also take tremendous pride in what they are doing by helping these kids realize their dreams.”
