Class of 2023 Earns Big Scholarship Awards

    The Umatilla High School Class of 2023 celebrated its achievements on Friday, May 12, when the annual Senior Recognition program was hosted at UHS. Seniors were recognized for academic and athletic achievements, with class members together for the last time before official graduation ceremonies arrive this Friday night.
   The ceremony was held in the UHS gym, with family members and other well-wishers on hand to celebrate the class, which attended in their caps and gowns.
   The class earned just under $90,000 in local scholarships, with untold thousands added to the class's earnings through state and institutional awards.
   Here is a breakdown of the scholarships awarded on Friday:
First Presbyterian Church of Umatilla:
Riley Lange $10,000 (UCF)
Samantha Hunt $5,000 (LSSC)
Ariel Lundy $2,500 (Lake Tech)
1.    Martin Luther King Scholarship:
Jenna Harden $1,000
Samantha Hunt $1,000
Riley Lange $1,000
1.    Alpha Delta Kappa Upsilon Education Chapter:
Samantha Hunt $1,000
1.    Spring Creek Alumni Scholarship:
Samantha Hunt $1,000
1.    Kiwanis Club of Umatilla presents the Howard Babb Memorial Scholarship:
Eli O’Brien $2,000 for Lake Tech
1.    Kiwanis Club of Umatilla presents the Fred Yancey Memorial Scholarship:
Jasmine Riggin $2,000
1.    Kiwanis Club of Umatilla presents the Florida’s Natural Scholarships:
Grace Tyree $2,000
Riley Lange $2,000
1.    Kiwanis Club of Umatilla presents the Doug Hasley Community Service Memorial Scholarship:
Haley Stynchcomb $2,500
1.    Edwin Budge Mead Scholarships through AdventHealth Waterman Foundation:
Emma Hinton $1,000
1.    Eagles #2241 Umatilla
Jenna Harden $2,000 LSSC
Dylan Grennell $2,000 Lake Tech
1.    Lake-Sumter State College:
Saimya Mitchell-Williams/Johnson Scholarship-$1,200
McKayla Bowes-Trustee Scholarship-$2,400
Samantha Hunt-Trustee Scholarship-$2,400
Hailey Stark-Opportunity Scholarship-$2,600 (12 credit hours per semester)
Jenna Harden-Opportunity Scholarship-$2,600 (12 credit hours per semester)
Clara Lara-Principal’s Scholarship-$2,400
1.    Lake-Sumter State College Foundation:
Haley Stychcomb-Celia Linda Kissmer Endowment-$500
Samantha Hunt-JD & Marie Burnsed Scholarship-$625
1.    Education Foundation presents the Bill Hayes Memorial Scholarship:
Serena Maloney $1,500
1.    Education Foundation presents the Jerrod Hall Memorial Scholarship:
Grace Hawkins $1,000
Samantha Hunt $1,000
1.    Education Foundation presents the Scott A. Strong Memorial Scholarship:
Jasmine Riggin $1,000
1.    Education Foundation presents the Kurt’s AC & Heat Vocational Scholarship:
Gabrielle Long $1,000
1.    Umatilla Masonic Lodge #65:
Haley Stynchcomb $1,000
1.    The Bill Bland Rotary Scholarship:
Alysia Fritzke $1,500
Jasmine Riggin $1,500
Dalton Romano $1,500
1.    Eustis Elks Lodge:
Dalton Romano $1,000
1.    Umatilla Chamber of Commerce:
Grace Tyree $500
Grace Hawkins $500
1.    Lake Technical College “Career in a Year” Scholarships:
Elijah O’Brien $500
Dylan Grennell $500
Madison Crews $500
Serena Maloney $500
Chad Taylor $500
1.    Nick Faryna Memorial Scholarship:
Samantha Hunt $500
Grace Hawkins $500
1.    Friends of the Umatilla Public Library:
Grace Hawkins $500
Haley Stynchcomb $500
1.    Toney J. Donaldson Memorial Scholarship:
Grace Hawkins $500
1.    Umatilla High School Athletic Association:
Kyleen Fischer Memorial Scholarship-Grace Hawkins $500
Doug Hasley Memorial Scholarship-Jeric Hutto $500
1.    Lake County Gator Club:
Lauren Shields $1,000
1.    Lake County Fair Association:
Michaela Melchiorre $1,000
1.    UHS Culinary Arts Scholarship:
Serena Maloney $500
1.    Student Government Association Scholarships:
President Jasmine Riggin $300
Vice-President Grace Tyree $450
Secretary Chevin Camp $150
Treasurer Aubrey $300
Honorary Member Grace Hawkins $600
1.    American Legion Post #21 School Medal:
Eli O’Brien and Grace Hawkins-Medals
1.    United States Marine Corps Excellence Awards:
Scholastic-Lauren Shields and Dalton Romano
Music-Samantha Hunt and Grace Hawkins
Athletics-Jenna Harden and Jordan Brown
1.    Korean War Veterans of Lake County:
Alissa Furman $750
   In addition, the class’s valedictorian and salutatorian were recognized
Valedictorian: Lauren Shields
Salutatorian: Haley Stynchcomb
   Finally, many class members received honor chords and additional recognition for the following programs:
- Talented Twenty: The Florida Talented Twenty Program recognizes seniors ranked in the top 20 percent of their graduating class. This honor provides them eligibility for admission to one of the 12 state universities, if they choose to apply. Twenty-five seniors were recognized as the Talented Twenty - Braden Bahurnisky, Timothy Canady, Jenna Harden, Emma Hinton, McKayla Bowes, Grace Hawkins, Haley Stynchcomb, Jocelyn Holloway, Riley Lange, Mason Cannon, Delany Dotson, Aubrey Hart, Kadyn Foster, Emily McCormack, Dalton Romano, Haily Stark, Jazulin Wisdom, Laney Bentz, Grace Tyree, Michael Peacock, Jasmine Riggin, Michaela Melchiorre, Lauren Shields, Samantha Hunt, Cameryn Hughes.
1.    - Top 3% Scholars: Each year the Education Foundation recognizes seniors ranked in the top third percent of their class. Five seniors were recognized and they received a gift from the foundation - McKayla Bowes, Michael Peacock, Lauren Shields, Haley Stynchcomb, Riley Lange.
2.    - Merit Diploma Designation: Students graduating with Merit Diploma Designation have passed one or more Industry Certification Exams.
3.    - Scholar Diploma Designation: The accolade of graduating with a Scholar Diploma Designation is a rigorous achievement and one to be highly praised. Fourteen seniors have completed nine extra requirements beyond those required for a regular diploma. Recognized students - McKayla Bowes, Timothy Canady, Colby Champoux, Delaney Dotson, Kadyn Foster, Alysia Fritzke, Jenna Harden, Grace Hawkins, Cameryn Hughes, Michael Peacock, Arianna Reid, Dalton Romano, Lauren Shields, Haley Stynchcomb.