UF awards scholarships to 11 top Florida high school graduates

May 29, 2013

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida has named eight Florida high school seniors to the Lombardi Scholars Program and three to the Stamps Scholars Program.

Each year, students who exemplify former UF President John V. Lombardi’s commitment to academic excellence, community service, leadership and public responsibility are selected as recipients of this prestigious award program. Lombardi Scholars receive a scholarship for four years of study at UF. They also receive support for overseas study and leadership experiences.

The Penelope W. And E. Roe Stamps IV Leadership Scholar Awards are made possible by generous funding from the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation. The Stamps Foundation seeks to reward exceptional students who exemplify leadership, perseverance, scholarship, service, and innovation.

Florida high schools were invited to nominate two students, and winners for both programs were selected from 204 nominees and 20 finalists. The Lombardi program is in its 12th year, and the eight additional students will maintain the program at 32 participants. This is the fourth year of the Stamps program.

Both programs choose students from the same applicant pool who receive the same financial package and participate in the same enrichment activities. Students spend five weeks participating in a study program in Merida, the capital of the Yucatan, Mexico, during the summer before they begin at UF. All students will participate in the Honors Program.

The 11 students who have accepted the Lombardi and Stamps scholarships beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year are:

LOMBARDI SCHOLARS

Sean Patrick Bliven of Lutz was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age nine. He has since then been highly involved with the Arthritis Foundation, working to spread awareness through an annual charity golf tournament as well as other fundraising events. Bliven has been a member of the Youth Advisory Board at the Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa, the largest science museum in the southeast for the last five years, serving as president this year. In 2012, he was awarded the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award from the Florida Holocaust Museum in recognition of his years of service to the community. Bliven will graduate from Freedom High School where he serves as editor-in-chief of the yearbook, president of the Interclub Council, and as officer in numerous other organizations.

Alexis Cunio is a National Merit Finalist in the International Baccalaureate Program at Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra. She is fluent in American Sign Language and teaches it to elementary school children in downtown Jacksonville. Committed to service, Cunio spends vacation time on mission trips to Guatemala, Honduras and Jamaica, where she managed arts at a camp for deaf teens. She plans to major in chemistry in order to pursue a career as a pediatrician.

Juan Ehringer is a senior at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange. Fascinated by machines and technology since childhood, he serves as president of the Florida Junior Academy of Science as well as the Physics and Engineering Club, and vice president in the American Chemistry Society. He has competed in the Florida state science fair several times, securing a fourth place finish in 2012. In his spare time Ehringer enjoys tinkering with the electric sports car he has been constructing since his sophomore year of high school or managing computer donation drives in his community. He plans to major in materials science or mechanical engineering.

Nishtha Garg, a National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction, is a senior at Stanton College Preparatory High School in Jacksonville. She plans to pursue a career in medicine. Garg conducted research in Dr. Ben Dunn’s lab as a participant in the Student Science Training Program at the University of Florida. She also volunteers at St. Luke’s Hospital and organized a project to spread awareness about cardio cerebral resuscitation as a member of her high school’s medical society. Since seventh grade she has choreographed, coordinated, and taught Indian cultural dances to children in the Jacksonville area and plans to continue this activity at UF. Garg intends to major in biology.

Nicholas Johnson is an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate at C. Leon King High School in Tampa. Johnson served as drum major for three years, and in that role he led the band at major events such as the Gasparilla Festival Parade and the Under Armour All-America Football game. Johnson is also principal chair in the Jazz Band, Full Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble for tenor saxophone and bass clarinet. As an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, he is especially concerned about the protection of tribal lands and preservation of natural resources, and to that end he plans to become an environmental lawyer. Johnson will study history with a minor in music performance.

Alexander Sargent of Oviedo is a senior at Veritas Academy. He has participated in competitive forensics for five years and was a nationally ranked debater for three years, including a sixth-place finish in Lincoln Douglas Debate at the 2012 NCFCA National Championship. He also taught Public Speaking 101 at The Regent Academy, an Orlando area private school. Sargent was one of two students selected to represent the state of Florida at American Legion Boys Nation in Washington D.C. after being elected Attorney General at Boys State in 2012. He has served as the North Florida District Governor of Junior Optimist Octagon International, where he helped to get young people involved in community service, while logging over 450 community service hours of his own. Sargent plans to major in political science and hopes to work in the field of political theory.

Ciara Styles is a senior at Ocoee High School and dual-enrolled at Valencia College. She is heavily involved with the Student Government Association and serves as the Florida Association of Student Council’s District Three Vice President, earning the Outstanding Dedication in SGA award for her commitment to the organization. Styles participated in the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, and volunteers with Give Kids the World, Habitat for Humanity and the Second Harvest Food Bank. Recognized as an Outstanding Participant in the 2013 National Achievement Scholars Program, Styles plans to major in neurobiological sciences in her path to becoming a psychiatrist.

Alexander Touchton is an Advance International Certificate of Education candidate at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville. He serves as president of Spanish Club and as editor-in-chief and founding member of the school newspaper “The Mandarin Times.” In 2012 Touchton won the Florida Black History Month Essay Contest, earning a scholarship as well as recognition from the governor. He plans to double major in chemistry and linguistics, and continue on to graduate school to earn a doctorate in chemistry.

STAMPS SCHOLARS

Robert King, a National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction, is a senior at Maclay School in Tallahassee. He is a national champion certamen player, state parliamentarian of the Florida Junior Classical League and president of the Maclay Junior Classical League. An avid soccer player, he is co-captain of his varsity soccer team and volunteers in a soccer training program for disabled youth. King was selected to represent his school at Boys State in 2012, where he was elected laundryman and state representative. He plans to earn dual degrees in classical studies and biology.

Ethan Landrum is a senior at Pensacola High School, where he is president of the National Honor Society, editor-in-chief and founder of his school’s digital newspaper “The Prowler,” and founding member of the Science Olympiad chapter. He has been named a QuestBridge Scholar and an AP Scholar, and competed at the state level of Science Olympiad as well as the History Fair. Landrum participated in a research program at the University of West Florida in 2012, where he studied the optical properties of liquid crystals. He plans to major in engineering in preparation for a teaching career.

Christina Wiley is an International Baccalaureate senior at Bartow High School. She is passionate about youth engagement in the civic process, a cause she has been working to advance during her six years as a part of Florida YMCA Youth in Government. Wiley founded a chapter at her high school and a local middle school, mentored middle school students for the past four years, served as Speaker of the House and Florida Youth Governor, and was distinguished as an Outstanding Statesman in her third year at the Conference on National Affairs. During her junior year, she spent a week working as a Senate Page in the Florida Capitol where she has also served as an inaugural YMCA Youth Advocate. In addition to her civic involvement, Wiley enjoys playing violin within the First United Methodist Youth Orchestra and scouting. She plans to earn degrees in economics and political science with a minor in public service.