ARTICLE
Dick Vitale awards college scholarships to five teens at Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County Contact Name: Sara Bealor Contact Email: sbealor@bgcsarasota.com Contact Phone Number: 9413663911 Five outstanding, college-bound teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County were recognized on Tuesday, October 15, by ESPN Television sports analyst, author and philanthropist Dick Vitale for their commitment to their academic excellence and career goals. Vitale and his wife Lorraine awarded each recipient a $1,000 scholarship to help support their postsecondary education. The Vitales have been presenting college scholarships to deserving Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County members since 1997, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 110 and amount of scholarship support to $110,000. “The Vitales are wonderful proponents of our mission with a passion to inspire and empower youth to reach their full potential,” said Bill Sadlo, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. “With their support, these exceptional Club members can focus more on their studies and less on tuition.” The 2019 Dick Vitale Scholarship recipients are: • Katherine Hernandez, a Sarasota Military Academy graduate who attended the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club for 12 years and is pursuing a degree in Nursing at Keiser University Flagship Campus in hopes of becoming a registered nurse; • Alex Lam, a 2-year Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club member who recently graduated from Pine View School and is studying Biology & History at University of South Florida; • Ian McLean, a 4-year Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club member and graduate of Sarasota High School who is seeking a degree in Social Sciences from University of South Florida to ultimately work in the nonprofit sector; • Jeremy Morales, a Business major at State College of Florida who graduated from North Port High School, attended the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club for 12 years and aspires to be an entrepreneur; • Jatavian Peterson, a Booker High School graduate who attended the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club for 12 years and is pursuing a degree in Musical Theatre at Pace University in New York City in hopes of becoming a Broadway Performer. “It is such an honor and privilege to support the great kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County with academic scholarships,” said Dick Vitale. “We hope these awards will encourage these young leaders to follow their dreams in college.” In addition to personal contributions, the Vitales have helped raise more than $1 million for the organization’s award-winning programs that help youth, ages 6 to 18, excel in school, become leaders, adopt healthy habits and plan for success after high school graduation. The family also gives their time and energy through several motivational speaking engagements throughout the year, as well as, thousands of dollars to provide holiday gifts to local Club members every December. About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County have played an integral role in the Sarasota County community for more than 48 years, providing daily programs and services to thousands of young people. The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The vision is to provide a world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit bgcsarasota.com.