University Scholars Program awards 11 high school seniors

June 22, 2015

The University of Florida has named eight 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.

Winners for both programs were selected from 287 nominees and 21 finalists. The Lombardi program is in its 14th year, and the eight additional students will maintain the program at 32 participants. This is the sixth 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 Lombardi and Stamps scholarships beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year and their areas of interest are:

LOMBARDI SCHOLARS

  • Miranda Craghead Jupiter Senior High School – Jupiter, FL (chemical engineering)
  • Xavier Edwards Westland John Glenn High School – suburban Detroit, MI (zoology)
  • Giovana Giraldo The Benjamin School – Palm Beach Gardens, FL (health science)
  • Adrianna Jones Blanche Ely High School – Pompano Beach, FL (neurobiological science)
  • Gillian Mangan Forest High School – Ocala, FL (English)
  • Matthew Shinego Stanton College Preparatory School – Jacksonville, FL (environmental engineering or marine science
  • Bailey Underill Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School – Cocoa Beach, FL (philosophy and women’s studies)
  • Madison Wolk Melbourne High School­ – Melbourne, FL (telecommunication) 

STAMPS SCHOLARS

  • Alexander Duran Coral Gables Senior High School – Miami, FL (advertising)
  • Trey LaNasa Fort Walton Beach High School – Fort Walton Beach, FL (industrial systems engineering)
  • Ziqi Wang, School for Advanced Studies Wolfson/Miami Dade College – Miami, FL (biochemistry)