By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The Gator Club of Madison started about 1984, and Gator Club Scholarships for local graduates headed for college at the University of Florida began soon afterward. Gator Club member Joe Akerman was the scholarship chairman for many years, and he always envisioned the Gator Club scholarship award as having criteria similar to that of a Rhodes Scholarship; an award that looked at not only the student’s academic achievement but also took into account service to his or her community.
Following Akerman’s death last year, Frances “Sissy” Adleberg, an NFCC English instructor, assumed the scholarship chairman duties for the Club.
The club raises most of its scholarship money through the Gator Club Golf Tournament it holds each year. B.F Killingsworth, another devoted Gator Club member, worked very hard every year to organize the fundraising event.
Sadly, Killingsworth also passed away last year, and the golf tournament has been renamed the B.F. Killingsworth Golf Classic in his honor.
“We’re thankful for all the businesses and individuals who participate in the golf tournament each year and contribute to our fundraiser,” said current Gator Club member Tim Sanders, Clerk of the Court, Madison County. “All the money raised goes toward scholarships.”
Any graduate of Madison County High School or North Florida Community College, who is continuing his or her studies at the University of Florida, is eligible and may apply. This year, six Madison County students were awarded Gator Club scholarships:
Clay Daniel Sapp
Major: Agriculture Education
MCHS Class of 2010 Salutatorian, Summa Cum Laude
AA degree from NFCC
December 2011
Enrolled at UF Spring of 2012
Caitlin Renee Tourangeau
Major: Agricultural Operations Management
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
AA degree from NFCC
December 2011
Enrolled at UF Spring of 2012
Hunter Jacob Elliot
Major: Exploring Engineering Studies: Intent – Electrical Engineering
FCCLA – Two years
Leadership Staff of MCHS Band
Enrolled at UF Spring of 2012
Kayla Leann Sapp –
graduated 2010, valedictorian, MCHS, currently at UF.
Major: Accounting
MCHS Class of 2010 Valedictorian
AA degree from NFCC May 2011
Enrolled at UF Fall of 2011
Daniel Sanders
Major: Hospitality Services/ Parks, Recreation and Tourism
AA from NFCC May 2011
Enrolled at UF Fall of 2011
Calaysia Jones
Major: Health Services/Pre-Med
FCCLA – Four years
Enrolled UF Fall of 2011
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