2022
Emily Suarez
The Garden Club Scholarship committee selected Emily Suarez as our 2022 winner. She met the requirements of strong academics, STEM major (nursing) and financial need. Emily is very involved in school activities, sports, and leadership as well as holding down a job. Her application was supplemented with three letters of recommendation that spoke of her strong drive, positive attitude, and follow thru. We feel she is deserving of our scholarship and will succeed in her goals. Emily is pictured above with Toni Appell who presented the award on Class Night.
Emily Suarez
2021
Reef Holdinga
The Marathon Garden Club is pleased to recognize Reef Holdinga as the winner of our 2021 scholarship. Reef will be attending the University of Central Florida Fall 2021 and will major in computer science. Reef achieved high grades and college entry test scores. He participated in marching band, National Honor Society, Interact, Drama Club, and the Technological Education and Engineering Club while in high school. He volunteered for beach cleanups and also worked at Dynasty Marine. Reef used extra time during the pandemic shutdown to learn the Dutch language, his father’s country of origin.
2020
Delaina Ross
The Marathon Garden Club is pleased to recognize Delaina Ross as the winner of our 2020 scholarship. Delaina, graduating senior from Marathon High School, will be attending the University of South Florida this fall and majoring in Sustainability and Environmental Policy. She is currently involved in planting mangroves to assist in restoration efforts aimed at aiding in ecosystem recovery following Hurricane Irma. She also is in training to be a scientific diver with DiveN2Life where she is collecting water quality samples and participating in experiments with N.O.A.A., MOTE, and The National Marine Sanctuary. She states, “Bringing my knowledge of ecology and sustainability to the Keys will help ensure that all life is respected, nature is conserved, and human interaction with nature is safe and nondestructive.” The Marathon Garden Club scholarship is renewable during undergraduate studies.
Members Nancy & Carl Miller present the 2020 Marathon Garden Club Scholarship to Delaina Ross.
2019
Luke Hoffman
This year’s Marathon High School graduate receiving our Club’s scholarship, Mr. Luke Hoffman, sports an unweighted Grade Point Average of 3.8. Luke is a member of Marathon High School (MHS) National Honor Society, MHS National Art Honor Society, Captain of the Varsity Soccer Team, Chief Editor, Dolphin Pride newsletter, MHS mock Trial Team, Mu Alpha Theta (tutoring in mathematics) and Delegate to Florida Boys State (studying City, County and State governments). He is also active at his church and volunteers at our local domestic abuse shelter. And he works at a few local businesses too. Then he moonlights as a videographer “creat(ing) quality videos at low cost”! Luke will be attending Florida State University in Tallahassee. He plans to major in environmental engineering or scientific computing, with maybe a little video production on the side.
Luke Hoffman and MGC representatives, Nancy & Carl Miller
2018
Natalie Mendoza
The Marathon Garden Club is pleased to recognize their 2018 scholarship winner, Natalie Mendoza with a scholarship check. Natalie recently completed the fall semester at Florida State University where she is majoring in Biology and will resume her studies after the winter break. Marathon Garden Club member Linnea Cunningham presented her with a scholarship check in the amount of $1500. The scholarship is renewable for each of four years of undergraduate studies. Natalie is a 2018 graduate of Marathon High School.
The Marathon Garden Club is pleased to announce our 2018 scholarship to graduating Marathon High School senior Natalie Mendoza. The $1500 scholarship is renewable each year of undergraduate school. Natalie’s experience during a month long trip to Vietnam to study Ecology and Sustainability with the Experiment in International Living led her to an interest in studying environmental science. In addition to achieving excellent grades, many volunteer hours, and sports participation, she has maintained various jobs throughout high school to save for college. Natalie will begin her studies in the Fall 2018 term at Florida State University. Carl and Nancy Miller made the scholarship presentation at the MHS Class Night.
Three prior scholarship winners have met the criteria for scholarship renewal and will receive a check in the amount of $1500. These include Claire McCarthy, rising junior at FSU; MacKenzie Helms, rising sophomore at FSU; and Alyssa Turner, rising sophomore at FSU. Congratulations to the recipients of our Marathon Garden Club Scholarships for 2018.
2017
Alyssa Turner and Mackenzie Helms
The Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s scholarships. The students selected as the 2017 recipients are Alyssa Turner (on the left) and Mackenzie Helms (on the right). Barbara Wright (center), represented the Club and announced the winners at Class Night at Marathon High School. For the first time, the Club has awarded two scholarships to graduating Marathon High School seniors. We received a record number of highly-qualified applicants, with a variety of science-based majors.
2016
Alaina Claire McCarthy
The club is pleased to announce that Alaina Claire McCarthy is the 2016 recipient of the Club’s $1,500 college scholarship award. Claire will attend Florida State University this fall, looking to pursue Environmental Studies. The Garden Club awards a scholarship each year to a Marathon High School graduating senior intending to enter college to pursue a career in the sciences.
Alaina Claire McCarthy
This year the Club will award a total of $6,500 in scholarships to four students. In addition to Claire, the other recipients are: Florida Atlantic Univ. Sophomore, Rosalia Parrado; Univ. of Florida Junior, Jonathan Rios and Univ. of Central Florida Senior, Sean Roussin.
2015
Rosalia Parrado
Marathon High School senior Rosalia Parrado was recently selected as the recipient of the 2015 scholarship from the Marathon Garden Club. The $1500 scholarship will assist her as she begins college at Florida Atlantic University this fall where she will study chemistry. Her determination and focus throughout high school helped her to achieve high grades while staying involved in sports, volunteering, and drama productions as well as holding down jobs as a counselor at the Community Park and at McDonald’s.
Rosalia Parrado
This scholarship was presented at Class Night by Marathon Garden Club President Sande Neiditz and Marathon Garden Club member, Barbara Wright.
In addition, the Marathon Garden Club announced they have renewed the $1500 scholarships for the 2014 winner, Jonathan Rios, at the University of Florida and Sean Roussin, 2013 winner, at the University of Central Florida.
The Marathon Garden Club is pleased to provide a total of $4,500 in college scholarships for students in the middle keys for 2015.
2014
Jonathan Rios and Sean Roussin
The scholarship committee is pleased to announce there were scholarships awarded in 2014 to Sean Roussin and Jonathan Rios.Sean Roussin, last year’s winner, was awarded a second scholarship. Sean completed a very successful freshman year at the University of Central Florida where he carried a rigorous course load including biology and chemistry He will be starting his sophomore year in the fall and continuing his studies in the area of science and math. He is most appreciative of the continued support of our club with this additional scholarship.
Jonathan Rios
Jonathan Rios, class of 2014 at Marathon High School, was also awarded a scholarship. Jonathan graduated at the top of his class and will be attending the University of Florida with a major in Environmental Studies. While in high school, he was a well-rounded young man active in football, basketball, Jazz Ensemble, National Honor Society, and his church youth group. He was in several leadership positions and volunteered many hours as a peer tutor and in Relay for Life. He was recognized with numerous academic awards including Sunshine State Scholars, Dartmouth Award, and National Society of High School Scholars.
Seeking a degree in Chemical or Environmental Engineering, Jonathan states that “a degree in this subject would allow me to make a significant contribution to improve the environmental quality and public health to benefit communities like Marathon. Our community has the ability to prosper due to tourism and having a very attractive and healthy environment in the Keys is vital to our tourism industry.”
Jonathan is greatly appreciative of the support that the Marathon Garden Club scholarship will provide. Jonathan has already begun his studies this summer and is eager to begin the fall semester. He will be awarded his scholarship check at the completion of the first semester.
The scholarship committee would like to thank the generosity of our members whose work and donations made these scholarships possible.
2013
Sean Roussin
Sean Roussin is the winner of the $1,000 scholarship this year. A 2013 graduate of Marathon High School he just completed a very successful first semester at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. His full course load included chemistry, biology and other coursework. He received excellent grades and is back starting winter term with another set of science courses. We are very proud of his fine start to his college education. Sean stated that the money will be used for books and other college expenses and was very appreciative of this financial help.
2012
Michelle McKenna
Marathon High School senior Michelle McKenna received a $1,000 MGC college scholarship presented by Ali Adams. The club awards a scholarship each year to a student whose plans include majoring in horticulture, botany, floral design, landscape design, environmental studies, agriculture or conservation of natural resources.
Michelle McKenna was chosen to receive the Marathon Garden Club Scholarship for a student interested in horticulture, botany or conservation of the environment. She graduated from Marathon High School this past June. She is now attending Florida Gulf Coast University located in Fort Myers and is enrolled in Environment Studies. After completing her first full semester Ms. McKenna has achieved a Grade Point Average of 3.67. The maximum average is 4.0. She enjoys college and is not “home sick”. This young woman deserves recognition as she moves forward to reach her career goals.
The Marathon Garden Club holds raffles sponsoring a yearly scholarship award which totals $1000 dollars. The next opportunity for individuals to assist with this endeavor will be at the January Jamboree, the club’s popular annual rummage and Vendor Plant sale. The raffle will include unique and beautiful plants. This event will be held on January 28th from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM located at 5270 Overseas Highway in Marathon.
2011
Ethan Wallace
Ethan Wallace, 2010 graduate of Marathon High School , received a $1000.00 scholarship from the Marathon Garden Club. This award is given to a student majoring in the field of horticulture, botany, landscape design, environmental, marine studies or conservation of natural resources. Ethan is planning a career in Fish & Wildlife Conservation and will be attending Florida Keys Community College for the first two years of his studies. Shown with Ethan is Linnea Cunningham, President of the Marathon Garden Club.
2010
Ethan Wallace
Ethan Wallace, 2010 graduate of Marathon High School, received a $1000.00 scholarship from the Marathon Garden Club. This award is given to a student majoring in the field of horticulture, botany, landscape design, environmental, marine studies or conservation of natural resources. Ethan is planning a career in Fish & Wildlife Conservation and will be attending Florida Keys Community College for the first two years of his studies. Shown with Ethan is Linnea Cunningham, President of the Marathon Garden Club.
2009
Joshua Gratton
Joshua Gratton, 2009 graduate of Marathon High School, will receive a $1000.00 scholarship from the Marathon Garden Club. This award is given to a student majoring in the field of horticulture, botany, landscape design, environmental studies or conservation. Josh has worked at the Sombrero Country Club golf course for 3 years & has applied to Lake City Community College Golf Course Operations Program in Lake City, Florida. His studies will include courses in principles of plant growth; agricultural chemistry; turf grass, soils & fertilizer science; landscape engineering; weeds & insect management and horticulture laboratories. Shown with Josh is Linnea Cunningham, newly elected President of the Marathon Garden Club.
