Meet the 41 Lee County seniors nominated for 37th Annual Rotary South Scholar Athlete Awards
Each year, Lee County high schools nominate male and female student-athletes for the 37th annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet. These student-athletes from the county's 21 schools have proven to excel in both the classroom and athletics at their respective schools.
During the banquet, which will be held Monday, May 15 at the Crowne Plaza, the top overall male and female award winner will be announced and receive $5,000 scholarships. An additional 14 athletes will receive $1,500 scholarships for a total of $31,000.
Here are the 41 Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Scholar Athletes for the 2022-23 academic year:
Raven Gadson
School: Bishop Verot
College: Florida State
GPA: 4.33
An All-Area first-teamer, Gadson earned a district, regional, and state medal in the triple jump while Captain of both Viking Cheer squads in her junior year. The three-year varsity track athlete graduates having served 400 hours of community service since her freshman year, and plans to earn her Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Medicinal Services at Florida State.
Wyatt Whalen
School: Bishop Verot
College: Bryant University
GPA: 3.27
Whalen was a four-year letterman in both football as well as track and field. A dual-sport standout and six-time Private 8 champion, Whalen earned All-Area first-team honors in both sports his junior year. He was captain of the football team and named Homecoming King his senior year and will play football at Bryant University while studying Supply Chain Management.
Marsha Foreman
School: Bonita Springs
College: Thiel College
GPA: 3.76
A four-year varsity softball player, Foreman will compete at Thiel College while preparing to be a Special Education teacher. Foreman was extremely involved in media production at Bonita Springs, serving in seven different roles from TV Production to Yearbook.
Colton Ide
School: Bonita Springs
College: Methodist University
GPA: 3.80
Ide, a four-year varsity baseball letterman, earned an All-Area nod as a pitcher for the Bull Sharks. He worked in area Little Leagues as a coach and umpire and as a builder for Habitat for Humanity.
Gabriella Santucci
School: Canterbury
College: Undecided
GPA: 4.0
Santucci was a four-year varsity athlete in cross country as well as track and field. She was a National Merit Scholar finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, and earned the Princeton Book Award, all while serving as Secretary of the Science National Honor Society.
Matthew Dunn
School: Canterbury
College: Undecided
GPA: 4.0
Dunn was a two-year starter in basketball and lacrosse and was a captain for both in his senior year. Dunn graduates as a member of the English, Science, History, Math, and Spanish Honor Societies. He was an AP Scholar with Honors and earned the University of Pennsylvania Book Award while also completing 16 AP courses.
Madison Lehman
School: Cape Coral
College: James Madison University
GPA: 3.45
Lehman earned first-team All-Area honors and state medals in all four years swimming for the Seahawks' varsity squad. An IB student who was also part of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, she will continue her swimming career at James Madison University, where she plans to study to be a pharmacist.
Lucas Habash
School: Cape Coral
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.67
A four-year Honor Roll student, Habash played varsity baseball for two years and wrestled in his junior year. He was enrolled in the IB Program while being a leader at local churches, YMCAs, and Little Leagues.
Brittany Curley
School: Cypress Lake
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.98
Curley was a three-sport standout, playing four years of varsity soccer, track, and cheerleading. A member of the English and Science National Honor Societies, she was a Captain of the soccer and cheerleading squads while completing dual enrollment.
Matthew Bohl
School: Cypress Lake
College: University of Florida
GPA: 3.96
Bohl was a four-year varsity football letterman and competed in track for three years. He was a captain for both squads while graduating Summa Cum Laude and being nominated for the Liberty Mutual Merit Scholarship. Bohl will attend the University of Florida and study dentistry and orthodontics.
Ezarya Dale
School: Dunbar
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.79
Dale earned letters from four different varsity sports in her time at Dunbar, competing in track and field for four years, basketball for three years, bowling for two years, and one year of weightlifting. Dale holds the school record for shot put and discus, was a three-time LCAC champion in discus and shot put, and qualified for state in track and field and weightlifting, all while completing dual enrollment.
Denelson Estimable
School: Dunbar
College: University of Florida
GPA: 3.9
Estimable was a three-year letterman in track and field while competing in cross country for two years and football for one year. He holds the JROTC APFT school record and won the Cadet Challenge and graduates with an AP Scholar Award. He will study Kinesiology at the University of Florida.
Natalia Bowles
School: East Lee County
College: Florida State University
GPA: 3.47
An Honor Roll student, Bowles earned varsity letters in volleyball, soccer, and beach volleyball while participating in student government. She will study Sports Medicine at Florida State University.
Malachi Walker
School: East Lee County
College: Florida State University
GPA: 3.47
Walker played varsity football and basketball for the Jaguars while earning honor roll and participating in student government. Walker will go to Florida State University where he plans to study Sports Medicine.
Ava Povich
School: Evangelical Christian
College: Florida State University
GPA: 4.0
Povich had a storied career as a Sentinel, earning letters for five years of cross country, four years of track and field, and one year of soccer. A multiple All-Area first-team runner, she won bronze at the 2022 cross country state meet. Povich graduates as a Ben Carson Scholar, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and with over 220 hours of community service. She will run for the Seminoles' track and field and cross country teams.
Karsten "Joel" Slater
School: Evangelical Christian
College: Southeastern University
GPA: 4.0
A four-year varsity soccer letterman, Slater graduates Summa Cum Laude and as a member of the National Honor Society after earning 'A' Honor Roll for all four years at Evangelical Christian. He was a dual enrollment student at Southeastern University for his final three years.
Cadence Fort
School: Estero
College: Florida State University
GPA: 3.84
Fort swam for the Wildcats varsity squad for four years and was a member of last year's USA National Team. One of the most decorated swimmers in Estero history, she won LCAC, district, regional, and state championships, all while being an Honor Roll student. Fort was accepted to Florida State's Honors College and will compete on the Seminoles' swim team while studying to become a cardiovascular surgeon.
Brian Kirby
School: Estero
College: Wheeling University
GPA: 3.27
Kirby was a four-year letterman on the varsity swimming team and finished third in the state in the 50 free his senior year. Kirby holds the school record for four different events, all while being a three-time Honor Roll student. He plans to major in exercise science to someday work as a physical therapist.
Julia Knowler
School: Fort Myers
College: Clemson
GPA: 3.71
Knowler was a two-sport standout for the Green Wave, earning varsity letters from four years of softball and two years of weightlifting. She earned Gatorade Softball Player of the Year her sophomore year, Southwest Florida Softball Player of the Year in her junior year, and earned a state weightlifting title in her senior campaign. Knowler will continue an impressive career competing for Clemson's softball team.
Charles Michel
School: Fort Myers
College: Florida SouthWestern
GPA: 3.67
Michel was a two-year letterman for the Green Wave football squad, on the weightlifting team and in track and field. Michel, an Honor Roll student, plans on attending Florida SouthWestern to become an EMT.
Gabrielle Santibanez
School: Gateway Charter
College: Undecided
GPA: 3.64
Santibanez graduates with five letters after competing in varsity softball since eighth grade. She completed dual enrollment at FSW while also being a member of her school's AICE program. She plans to pursue a career in Psychology.
Thomas Martin
School: Gateway Charter
College: University of South Florida
GPA: 3.81
A four-year varsity soccer letterman, Martin graduates third in his class while completing dual enrollment at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he made the Dean's List twice, and also received his AICE Diploma.
Breona Ruark
School: Gateway
College: Florida SouthWestern
GPA: 3.81
Ruark was a three-year soccer and volleyball player for the Eagles and was a captain for both squads. Ruark, an Honor Roll student, was Vice President of the National Honor Society, graduates Summa Cum Laude, and was a representative for Lee County's Athletic Committee.
Dylan Alif
School: Gateway
College: Mount Union College
GPA: 3.3
Alif played football and baseball for the Eagles and made Gateway history as the first student-athlete to sign to play a sport in college, going to Mount Union for football.
Ella Peterson
School: Ida Baker
College: University of Central Florida
GPA: 3.97
Peterson, a four-year tennis player, was a member of the National Honor Society, earned the AP Scholar Award, and was Student Government President her senior year. The Women's Continental Scholarship nominee will study biochemistry at the University of Central Florida.
Luke Buzzelli
School: Ida Baker
College: Florida SouthWestern
GPA: 3.42
Buzzelli was a four-year letterman for the Bulldogs' weightlifting team and competed in cross country for one year. He earned a third-place finish in the state weightlifting tournament as a junior and won the state title as a senior. He will pursue a career in Physical Therapy at Florida SouthWestern.
Avery Brincat
School: Island Coast
College: Southeastern University
GPA: 3.68
Brincat played varsity basketball and volleyball for four years and competed in track and field for three years. She holds the school basketball record for most points scored in a game and furthest javelin throw, and earned All-Area nods for both sports twice. The class Valedictorian will graduate with an AA from Florida SouthWestern and will study Biomedical Sciences at Southeastern University.
Emilio Gonzalez
School: Island Coast
College: Florida Atlantic University
GPA: 3.63
Gonzalez played varsity baseball for three years, including the 2022 State Champion team, and holds the school record for most RBI in one season. He will play collegiately at Florida Atlantic while studying business administration.
Mia Saunders
School: Lehigh
College: University of Central Florida
GPA: 3.88
Saunders was a three-year varsity bowler and was a member of the National Honor Society. She plans on studying at the University of Central Florida to become a zoologist.
Rian Alvarez
School: Lehigh
College: Cape Coral Technical College
GPA: 3.15
Alvarez was MVP of the Lightning's bowling team for two years and was an Honor Roll student. He plans on studying at Cape Coral Technical to become a barber.
Katie Campbell
School: Mariner
College: Samford University
GPA: 3.81
Campbell played four sports for the Tritons, competing in softball, weightlifting, volleyball, as well as track and field. A softball All-Area first-teamer and finalist for player of the year as a junior, Campbell holds the school record for most home runs in a season and will continue her athletic career at Samford University while she studies to become a zoologist.
Christopher Minto
School: Mariner
College: University of Nebraska
GPA: 3.47
Minto is a four-year wrestling letterman who has won two regional, state, and national championships as a Triton. A leader in the youth wrestling community, he plans on wrestling at the University of Nebraska while studying business administration.
Kendall Wylie
School: North Fort Myers
College: Wofford College
GPA: 3.84
Wylie was a four-year varsity softball player, a two-time All-Area first-teamer, and an Honor Roll student. She volunteered at River Hall Elementary and at Cape Coral Animal Shelter, all while being a member of the National Honor Society.
Garry John Kamphouse IV
School: North Fort Myers
College: Florida State University
GPA: 3.92
Kamphouse IV was a four-year varsity baseball letterman and earned an All-Area second-team nod in his junior year. He was named to the North Fort Myers' Academic Hall of Fame, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was a dual-enrollment student at Florida SouthWestern.
Jaclynn Mars
School: Oasis
College: University of West Florida
GPA: 3.9
Mars earned letters from her four years of track and field, as well as three years of soccer and cross country. A captain of all three squads her senior year, she was a President of the Math Honor Society and will study mathematics at the University of West Florida.
Eric Feichthaler Jr.
School: Oasis
College: Georgetown
GPA: 4.0
Feichthaler excelled both in the classroom and as a dual-sport athlete in golf and tennis. He was a member of the Math, English, and Spanish Honor Societies, and completed over 500 hours of community service. He wrote Oasis' fight song his junior year and is a published author. Feichthaler will study environmental biology at Georgetown.
Kelsey Dodd
School: Riverdale
College: South Florida State College
GPA: 3.81
Dodd was a three-sport athlete at Riverdale, earning letters with volleyball and weightlifting for three years as well as one year playing beach volleyball. She was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council, all while completing dual enrollment at Florida SouthWestern, where she made the Dean's list twice. Dodd will play volleyball collegiately at South Florida State College.
Ivan Iriarte
School: Riverdale
College: Ringling College of Art and Design
GPA: 3.80
Iriarte was a two-year letterman for the Raiders' wrestling squad and earned the Ringling Merit Scholarship, as well as the School of the Art Institute's Merit Scholarship. Iriarte, an IB student, will attend Ringling College and major in Graphic Design with over $50,000 earned in scholarships.
Kaatja L. Veldhuyzen VanZanten
School: Southwest Florida Christian Academy
College: Undecided
GPA: 4.37
VanZanten earned letters from her five years playing varsity volleyball and holds the school record for most aces in a match (17). She was an Honor Roll student for four years, a member of the National Honor Society, participated in Student Government, and earned an AP Scholar Award.
Hayden Tank
School: Southwest Florida Christian Academy
College: Palm Beach Atlantic University
GPA: 4.42
Tank was a four-year letterman in track and field as well as cross country, earning first-team All-Area honors for both. He was Student Body President for all four years, an Honor Roll student, and played percussion in the symphonic band. Tank will run cross country at Palm Beach Atlantic.
Kayah Bonilla-Mas
School: South Fort Myers
College: University of Tampa
GPA: 3.94
Bonilla-Mas earned letters from wrestling and cross country while an Honor Roll student with perfect attendance. She was JRTOC Deputy Brigade Commander, a Ben Carson Scholar, and will continue her athletic career as a wrestler at the University of Tampa while pursuing a degree in musical theatre.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 37th Annual Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Scholar Athlete Awards honorees
