NORTH PORT — With more than $15.7 million in scholarship offers, North Port High School seniors shattered last year’s record.
On Thursday, about 75 soon-to-be graduates received medallions as scholars who’ve been offered thousands from colleges, universities or the military.
Seniors learned there’s still two major foundations that haven’t awarded scholarships to NPHS yet, so there’s more to come.
During the senior awards night, top seniors who earned scholarship offers included Robert French ($841,250); Simone Fletcher ($784,680); Cory Wainwright ($516,000); Aaliyah Floyd ($498,000); Jordan Wager ($405,600) and Brenda Smith ($456,000).
Andrew Khoroshenko, 17, earned more than $100,000 in scholarship offers. He will attend the University of Florida to study biochemistry and Alzheimer’s research.
Longtime photographer and North Port resident Monica Amaya, whose three sons graduated from NPHS with honors, created her own scholarship. She awarded Kendall May for her “outstanding achievement and dedication.” Amaya told May her “hard work and determination have paid off.”
“We are thrilled to support her on her journey ahead,” Amaya said.
Theater teacher Dena Henderson gave seniors Rachel Bullock, Julia Fritz, Emilee McKelvy and Morgan Rand top thespian honors. Rand and McKelvy were named best actress.
Teacher Michelle Slay awarded Makenna Finley, Madison Gotts and Chloe Talbott with the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. Rachel Bullock was named best supporting actress.
Several students are entering the military, including Kevin Petrishin going into the Air Force; Bryce Woodward is going into the Coast Guard. Seth Giacobbe, Caden Mefford, Jose Noyola and Ryan Smith all enlisted in the Navy.
Other scholarships were given to Alyssa Morris, Savannah Morgan, Victoria Serrano and Brenda Smith from the Moose Lodge and Women of the Moose. Morris, Smith, Morgan also received $13,000 for college housing costs.
The Rhonda Gustitus Team awarded Cayden Thomas with a scholarship
Athletes of the year honored by the NPHS Athletic Booster Club were C.J Kemble and Neveah Pryer.
The Charlotte Harbor Military Officers Association gave Jordan Wager a scholarship. The Methodist Women’s Organization gave Tristan Blankenship a scholarship.
The Butterflies and Dreams Book Club and Manasota ASALH gave Simone Fletcher a scholarship. She earned another from volunteering at Teen Court.
The math ACES top award for the school district went to Brianna Stoltz who scored a 100 on the test.
Bianca De Almeida, who earned thousands in scholarship offers, was honored at the North Port Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year.
The Grandmother’s Club of Harbor Cove gave a scholarship to Alyssa Morris. The Elks National Foundation gave Jaden Pina a scholarship.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital gave a scholarship to Victoria Serrano, who received thousands in scholarship offers.
Savannah Morgan, who also received several thousand in scholarship offers and scholarships from the Women of the Moose and Achevia Credit Union, was greeted with flowers by her grandma after the ceremony.
“I’m so proud of Savannah,” Wanda Erickson said of her 17-year-old granddaughter who will attend Florida Gulf Coast University for health science for pre-medicine. She wants to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.
“I want to be able to help a pregnant mom whose baby may need surgery because something is wrong while in the womb,” Morgan said. “It can be done. It could be a lifesaving procedure. It’s what I want to do.”
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