From the Chairman
August 2022
It was my honor to serve as the General Scholarship Chair this year. My committee is responsible for selecting students to receive the Department of Florida’s 7 General Scholarships. The students need to be direct descendent of a veteran, be in their senior year at a Florida High School. Their parents must be Florida residents. My committee reviewed 60 scholarship applications this year.
The 4 individuals that were awarded a $500 scholarship are:
- Maxwell Fletcher
Brandon River High School - Madison Fiske
Cardinal Newman High School - Thomas L Roesner
Winter Springs High School - Mark Thomas Levine II
Newsome High School
Cooper James Kappeler from Indian Rocks Christian School was awarded a $1000 scholarship.
The winner of the $1,500 scholarship that is funded by the County Veterans Services Officer Association of Florida (CVSOA) is Lucas Dye. Lucas attended Winter Springs High School and was eligible for the scholarship by the Service of his father Retired Army Lt Col Erik Dye.
Not only did Lucas attend the Florida American Legion Boy State program in 2021, was also the Director of the 2021 Boys State Video News. He was the President of the Winter Springs High School Video Cub. The Chronic Illness Collective organization benefited from his unique ability to utilize video media when he made video commercials and social media graphics for their Christmas Program advertising campaign. He also helped edit several parts of their prep-work for the 2021 calendar year. Lucas’ Community service activities involved numerous organizations. Some of the organizations were American Legion Post 243, Chronic Illness Collective, Penguin Point productions, WSHS JROTC, Special Olympics, Wreaths Across America, High School Leadership, and Gary Sinise Foundation.
The winner of the $2,500 scholarship is Sage Alexandra Hall. She attended Gulf Breeze High School and was eligible for the scholarship by the Service of her Grandfather Army Chief Warrant Officer Donald Hall.
Sage founded an organization called “Between the Lines of Literacy”. Her group provided free books to children and families. They focused on abused and neglected children who resided in the Gulf Coast Kid’s Home. Her efforts resulted in over 1200 books being donated. She was recognized by her community by being awarded the Proactive Community Service Award. She also received the Rho Kappa History Honor Society Dedication Award for her efforts in organizing and raising over $14,000 to support 3 service projects: Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Wildlife Sanctuary of NE Florida and Pensacola Humane Society. She was also selected to be a Messenger in the Florida House of Representatives. The following year she served as a Page in the Florida Senate. Her education goal is to become a psychiatrist.
This report was presented to membership during the Florida Department’s Convention in June 2022.
Shirley Douglas
Scholarships Chair
scholarships@legionmail.org