Every year, Lee County high schools nominate male and female student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom and their respective sports for the annual Rotary South Scholar Athlete Banquet.
Here are the 42 nominees for the 39th annual banquet, which will be held on Monday, May 12, at Bell Tower DoubleTree. The top male and female athletes will be named, and additional student-athleteswill be awarded Service Above Self Award scholarships, for a total of $41,200 in scholarships given to local seniors by the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South.
The college of each nominee, if available, is listed as well as their honors and accolades, and the grades in school in which they were achieved.
Mackenzie De Lisle
School: Bishop Verot
College: Harvard
Sports: Cross Country, Track
Athletic Honors: Team MVP for Cross Country (10-12); Team MVP for Track and Field (10-12); 2024 state champion in 1600 meters; Cross country state runner-up (2023); The News-Press Cross Country Runner of the Year (10, 11); cross country and track captain (11, 12); Bishop Verot record holder in: 5k XC, 5k track, 800 meter, 1600 meter, 3200 meter, 4×8 relay.
Activities and Awards: Scholars Academy (9-12); Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society (11, 12); Spanish Honor Society (11, 12); National Honor Society (10-12); Vikings for Heroes Club (11, 12); SHARC Nonprofit Youth Running Camp Director (11, 12); Summa Cum Laude Graduation Honors (12)
Jerry Ashley
School: Bishop Verot
College: US Naval Academy
Sports: Basketball, Football, Track
Athletic Honors: The News-Press Basketball All-Area First Team (12), Second Team Basketball (11); Defensive MVP Basketball (9, 10); Find A Way Award Football (12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society (10-12); Cum Laude Academic Honors (12)
Addison Findley
School: Bonita Springs
College: Georgia Southern
Sports: Cheer, Track
Athletic Honors: Bull Shark “Award for Leadership”; Captain for Cheer/Competitive Cheer: All-American Cheerleading
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society; Bonita Buddies, working with special needs students, and supervise/assist in Special Olympics.
Landon Ide
School: Bonita Springs
College: Wayne State University
Sports: Baseball
Athletic Honors: The News-Press All-Area First Team (12); Baseball team captain
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society; Student Government, Senior Class President; Student Section Club; Dual Enrollment at FGCU
Kaya Langford
School: Canterbury School
College: Lynn University
Sports: Basketball, Lacrosse
Athletic Honors: Basketball varsity letter (7-12), captain (10-12), coach’s Cougar Award (11); Lacrosse varsity (8-12), captain (11, 12), lacrosse MVP (11), The News-Press First Team (11); Varsity cross country letter (9, 10)
Activities and Awards: SOUP club (9, 10, 11, 12); Rotary Interact club (10, 11, 12); Smile club (10, 11, 12); Sunshine club (11, 12); Canterbury school ambassadors club (11, 12); Red Cross club (10, 11, 12); Arts Honor Society (10, 11, 12); Scholar Athlete Society (9, 10, 11, 12)
Kyle Scharlau
School: Canterbury School
College: Florida
Sports: Basketball, Football
Athletic Honors: Basketball MVP (11), basketball captain (11,12); Football captain (12), Football Cougar Award (12)
Activities and Awards: President and founder of Rotary Interact Club (10-12); Class president (10-12); Business Professionals of America (11,12); Cougar Captains Academy (11,12); Science Olympiad (9-12); Canterbury School Ambassador (10-12); National Merit Commended Scholar (12); National Honor Society (10-12); Math, English, History and Science honor societies (11, 12)
Emma Best
School: Cape Coral
College: West Florida
Sports: Swimming
Athletic Honors: Swimming MVP Award (11, 12), Captain (11, 12), Class 3A state qualifier (10-12) and medalist (11, 12); The News-Press All-Area First Team (11, 12), Swimming Coach’s Award (11)
Activities and Awards: Spanish Club (10-12); National Honor Society (10-12); National Honor Society Historian (11, 12); National Art Honor Society (10-12) and president (11, 12); Art Club (9-12); Literary Contest Winner, 1st place duet (11), 1st place trio (11); Scholastic Art Silver Key Award (11); Scholastic Art Gold Key Award (12); Hawks Nest (Top 10 Most Involved)
Ricky West
School: Cape Coral
College: Florida
Sports: Basketball, Football, Track, Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: Football varsity letter (9-12), captain (11, 12), student-athlete award (11, 12), Defensive Lineman Award (12); Basketball varsity letter (11, 12), basketball verbal leader and integrity award (12); Track varsity letter (10, 12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society (12); National French Honor Society (10-12); National English Honor Society (12); Student Government Head Fundraiser; Member of young men development group at Cape Christian Fellowship Church
Zoe Kurtz
School: Cypress Lake
College: Western Carolina University
Sports: Soccer, Flag Football, Track
Athletic Honors: Scholar-Athlete Award (11); Academic All-State Award (11)
Activities and Awards: Yearbook Staff (9-12); Be A Buddy (9-12); National Honor Society (11, 12); National Honor Society for Dance Arts (11, 12)
Ezekiel Dube-Garrett
School: Cypress Lake
College: MIT
Sports: Basketball, Football, Track
Athletic Honors: Basketball Student Athlete Award (11, 12); Track and Field Student Athlete Award (11, 12); Football Student Athlete Award (11, 12), captain (11)
Activities and Awards: Student Government, class president (11, 12); Spanish Honor Society (11, 12); Math Team (9-12), president (11, 12); National Honor Society (11-12), Historian (12); Science National Honor Society (11, 12); Be a Buddy (9-12); Rho Kappa (12); English Honor Society (12); AP Scholar With Distinction (11, 12); Dual enrollment at FSW
Jennifer Gonzalez
School: Dunbar
College: Daytona State College
Sports: Bowling, Cross Country, Softball, Track
Athletic Honors: Bowling varsity letter (9-12), captain, MVP (11, 12); Softball varsity letter (9-11), captain (11), MVP (11); Cross Country captain (12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society (11, 12); Student Government; Literacy Club (10, 11); Yearbook (9-12); TV Production (10-12); St. Raphael Catholic Church Event Commitee
Jaden White
School: Dunbar
College: United States Military Academy
Sports: Cross Country, Track
Athletic Honors: Track varsity letter (9-12), three-time state qualifier, captain; Cross country three varsity letters, two-time state qualifier
Activities and Awards: Engineering Academy (9-12); College Board 2024 National African American Recognition Program; Selected for 2024 West Point Summer Leaders Experience; Selected for 2025 FGCU Stem Academy
Kenisha Thybeau
School: East Lee
College: Undecided
Sports: Cheerleading, Soccer, Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: Cheerleading varsity letter (10-12); Weightlifting varsity letter (11, 12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society (11, 12); Key Club (11, 12); CROP (12); Interact Club (12); Student Government (12)
Noah Figueroa
School: East Lee
College: Keiser University
Sports: Football, Weightlifting, Wrestling
Athletic Honors: Football and Wrestling captain (10-12), Scholar Athlete Wrestling, School wrestling record for most pins and most wins in season; Two-time weightlifting state qualifier, regional champ, and 8th at state at 219 pounds; The News-Press All-Area First Team weightlifting (11), Second Team wrestling (12). Honorable Mention football (12)
Activities and Awards: Model Men; Student Government vice president, R.I.S.E; National Honor Society; New Life Assembly Youth member
Avery Sommers
School: Estero
College: Stetson
Sports: Cross Country, Track
Athletic Honors: Cross country and track varsity letters (9-12), captain and team MVP (11-12); The News-Press Cross Country All-Area First Team (11, 12)
Activities and Awards: DECA meeting director (12); HOSA; Interact Club; Pathways Club; National Honor Society
Tyler Doyle
School: Estero
College: Barry University
Sports: Baseball
Athletic Honors: Baseball varsity letter (11,12), Most Sportsmanlike Player award (11)
Activities and Awards: Bonita Springs Senior Living Facility volunteer; Rutenberg Park youth baseball volunteer
Marlee Appell
School: Evangelical Christian
College: Mississippi
Sports: Cheerleading, Soccer, Track
Athletic Honors: Cheer Captain; FCC Scholar Award, grand champion, first place traditional, game day and nationals
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society, Historian; Little Stars Leader; Pep club President; Aviation (2 years), Yearbook (3 years) and yearbook editor; Bright Beginnings Early School volunteer
Derek Washington Jr.
School: Evangelical Christian
College: Southeastern University
Sports: Football, Wrestling
Athletic Honors: Football and wrestling varsity letter (9-12), football captain (12), wrestling captain (10-12), wrestling MVP (10), Wrestling Rookie of the Year (9), Football Sentinel Award (10), ECS Male Athlete of the Year (9, 11), Defensive Gridiron Award (11), Wrestling High School All-American Award and Character & Leadership All-American Award (11)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society (Treasurer), Sports Mentor (Football & Wrestling), Sentinels for Christ (co-leader), Living Waters Outreach, ECS volunteer worker
Julia Lemmon
School: Fort Myers
College: Stanford
Sports: Track, Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: Discus state champion (11) and two-time runner-up (9-10), school record holder for discus and shotput, The News-Press All-Area Track First Team (9-11); Regional weightlifting runner-up (12), The News-Press Weightlifting All-Area Second Team (12)
Activities and Awards: Member of The Women in Law Club; National English Honor Society member; Three-year member of the Fellow Christian Athletes Association Club; Student Government class secretary; AP Scholar Award; Sanibel Sea School camp counselor; Guest relations volunteer at Wonder Gardens Nature Center
Nick Bloomston
School: Fort Myers
College: Florida State
Sports: Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: Three-year varsity letter winner, two-time state champion (11-12), Fort Myers Weightlifter of the Year (11), 8 weightlifting school records, captain, The News-Press All-Area First Team (11, 12), Southwest Florida Wrestler of the Year
Activities and Awards: Lee County Student Athlete Advisory Council; Co-founder of Exercise Science Club; Vice president of Greenshore Initiative; DECA Treasurer; Santa Claus Society member
Ellie Morin
School: Gateway Charter
College: Florida
Sports: Basketball, Flag Football, Track, Volleyball
Athletic Honors: Basketball two-time MVP, captain, The News-Press All-Area Honorable Mention basketball two times, and volleyball once
Activities and Awards: Freshman President; Model UN at FSW, head delegate for the FSW delegation; Participated in Read Across America week at Gateway Charter Elementary; MC at Veterans Day Breakfast; Griffin Award for academic achievement; Dual enrolled at FSW; Riverside Youth Group; Buckingham Exceptional Center volunteer; Gateway Charter youth basketball cmp volunteer; Riverside Church kids ministry volunteer
Trey Fogle
School: Gateway Charter
College: Undecided
Sports: Basketball
Athletic Honors: Basketball varsity letter (9-12), captain, 1,000-point scorer, The News-Press All-Area Third Team (12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society; Sophomore Class Vice President; Riverside Youth Group; SWFL Hoops travel organization; Volunteer youth basketball coach
Miracle Salters
School: Gateway
College: Barry University
Sports: Basketball, Flag Football
Athletic Honors: Two-time Basketball Scholar Athlete Award; The News-Press All-Area Honorable Mention (11, 12); Holds Gateway records for most 3-pointers made in a game, in a season, and career
Activities and Awards: JROTC; Usher at local church and church choir; Jack and Jill of America
Christopher Davis
School: Gateway
College: Williston State College
Sports: Basketball, Football
Athletic Honors: Eagle Award; SFABC basketball All-Star
Activities and Awards: FGCU Collegiate Academy; Summa Cum Laude; Yputh basketball coach volunteer; Read Across America volunteer
Alexis Klutsarits
School: Ida Baker
College: Florida
Sports: Cross Country, Soccer, Track
Athletic Honors: Varsity soccer and track letters (10-12), varsity cross country letter (12), track captain (11, 12), track regional qualifier (10-12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society, Student Liaison (12); Medical Academy (CNA license upon passing state test in April 2025); JROTC Leadership Academy (9-12), Cadet Master Sergeant/S-3 NCOIC, Academic Achievement Ribbon; HOSA (9-12); National Technical Honor Society (10-12); Eight-time Carson Scholarship Recipient
Miguel Lara
School: Ida Baker
College: Central Florida
Sports: Cross Country, Soccer, Track
Athletic Honors: Cross country varsity letter (10-12), captain (11, 12), coaches award (12); Track varsity letter (10-12), coaches award (11)
Activities and Awards: Key Club; Dual enrollment at FSW; Victory Church kids ministry, production ministry, hospitality ministry
Alexandra Flores
School: Island Coast
College: Florida
Sports: Soccer, Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: Soccer varsity letter (9-12), weightlifting varsity letter (12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society (9-12); Athletic Operations Squad (11, 12); Student Government (10-12); Lee County Student Advisory Representative (10-12); ROTC Staff (10-12); Key Club (10-12); Dual enrollment at FSW; Gulf Coast Village volunteer (10-12); Lee Health volunteer (12)
Antonio Snyder
School: Island Coast
College: North Florida
Sports: Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Track and Field
Athletic Honors: Cross country and track varsity letter (9-12), track captain (12), 2-mile track school record; Spring Sports MVP (11); Basketball Academic Award
Activities and Awards: JROTC Raiders (12); Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Church food pantry
Jodali Lopez
School: Lehigh
College: FGCU
Sports: Beach Volleyball, Volleyball
Athletic Honors: Beach volleyball three-time captain and varsity letter, and indoor volleyball two-year letter winner and one-time captain
Activities and Awards: Student Government (11, 12), Senior Class President; Latinos in Action clas, club historian; National Honor Society (11, 12); Environmental Club member (11, 12); Best Buddies (12)
Dominic Raulerson
School: Lehigh
College: Undecided
Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football
Athletic Honors: Football varsity letter (9-12); Three-time baseball varsity letter; One-time basketball varsity letter
Activities and Awards: BETA club, treasurer; Brightest and Finest Award
Mia Standard
School: Mariner
College: Florida SouthWestern
Sports: Basketball, Flag Football, Softball
Athletic Honors: Varsity letters in softball (9-12), flag football (11, 12) and basketball (11, 12); Triton Pride Award for softball, Slugger Award; Basketball captain (12), highest free throw percentage award
Activities and Awards: Daycare volunteer; Church volunteer
Nicholas Purdy
School: Mariner
College: Columbia
Sports: Football, Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: 2024 Sam Sirianni Award for Academic Achievement; The News-Press All-Area First Team (12), Second Team (11), football letter winner (10-12), captain (11, 12), Mariner Lineman of the Year and Scholar-Athlete awards; Weightlifting varsity letter (9-12), captain (11, 12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society (11, 12), vice president (12); National Technical Honors Society (12); STEM Engineering Academy (9-12); Superintendent’s Award for Academic Excellence (9-11); Dual Enrollment at FSW; Crosspoint Church volunteer; Night to Shine volunteer
Alexis Neumann
School: North Fort Myers
College: FGCU
Sports: Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Track
Athletic Honors: Cross country, soccer, track varsity letter (9-12), tennis varsity letter (10-12), Soccer Most Improved Award (10), cross country MVP (9-11), tennis district champion
Activities and Awards: Science National Honor Society (11, 12); Interact Club (10-12); Student Government (10-12); National Honor Society (10-12), treasurer; Key Club secretary (12); Small Business and Entrepreneurship Certification
Seth Tshiams
School: North Fort Myers
College: Southeastern University
Sports: Wrestling
Athletic Honors: State heavyweight champion (12), North Fort Myers Athletic Achievement Award, The News-Press All-Area First Team (11, 12)
Activities and Awards: Interact Club; Environmental Action Club; Cape Coral Animal Shelter
Sarah Mikulus
School: Oasis
College: Keiser University
Sports: Volleyball
Athletic Honors: Volleyball varsity letter (9-12), captain (12), scholar athlete (12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society (11, 12); National English Honor Society (12); Student Government Executive Board (12); Oasis Middle School volunteer coach; Club volleyball assistant coach
Brendan Overbaugh
School: Oasis
College: FGCU
Sports: Basketball, Football, Tennis
Athletic Honors: Varsity letter basketball (10-12), football (11-12), tennis (12), basketball coaches award for Best Offensive Player (11), basketball captain (12)
Activities and Awards: National Honor Society; Leadership Award, AICE Thinking Skills 2023; Student Government, Junior class secretary; Cape Coral Parks & Recreation volunteer
Zoey O’Nan
School: Riverdale
College: Undecided
Sports: Cheerleading, Flag Football, Golf, Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: All-Star Worlds Cheerleading Championship Gold Medalist, cheer captain, Cheerleading Scholar Athlete of the Year (12); Flag football captain (11, 12), Flag football MVP; Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year (12); Weightlifting Scholar Athlete of the Year (12)
Activities and Awards: IB Class of 2025 Risk Taker; Top Gun Junior Coach
Cole Hayes
School: Riverdale
College: St. Thomas University
Sports: Football, Weightlifting, Wrestling
Athletic Honors: First Team All-State Football (12), First Team All-Region Football (11, 12), football MVP (11, 12), Battle of the Bell Offensive MVP (11, 12), Football Scholar Athlete (9-12), football captain (11, 12), The News-Press All-Area First Team; Weightlifting regional qualifier (11, 12)
Activities and Awards: Best Buddies Program (11, 12); Reading to students at River Hall and Mirror Lakes Elementary; Buccaneer Bowl at Bayshore Elementary volunteer (11, 12)
Emily Staller
School: South Fort Myers
College: South Florida
Sports: Swimming, Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: Swim Captain; Weightlifting regional qualifier; Most improved swimmer (10)
Activities and Awards: Marching band (9-12); Key Club (9-12), treasurer, vice president, president; National Honor Society; Arts and Crafts Club
Giovanni Patel
School: South Fort Myers
College: Florida
Sports: Football, Weightlifting
Athletic Honors: Football captain; SGFOA Scholarship winner; Pride of Pack school Award
Activities and Awards: Lee County Student-Athlete Advisory Council; National Honor Society; Student Government, senior class secretary; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; South Fort Myers Faith Alliance; Entrepreneurship Academy president
Candice Chime
School: Southwest Florida Christian
College: Binghamton University
Sports: Basketball, Softball, Swimming, Volleyball
Athletic Honors: Softball letter winner (9-12), captain (11, 12), softball Defensive Player of the Year (11), swim captain (11)
Activities and Awards: Student Leadership Academy (12); Teen Court Attorney (11, 12); National Honor Society; Dual Enrollment at Florida College; Principal’s List (11, 12); Scholastic Honors Award (11)
Asa Rogosich
School: Southwest Florida Christian
College: Undecided
Sports: Basketball
Athletic Honors: Basketball letter winner (9-12), MVP (11, 12), FACA Player of the Year (11, 12), captain (11, 12), single-season points record with 858, single-season steals record with 84, The News-Press All-Area Second Team
Activities and Awards: Student Leadership Academy (9-12); Athletic Advisory Council (12); Student Advisory Council (9-12); Student Government, senior class vice president; Dual Enrollment at Florida College; National Honor Society (10-12); Triple Threat Basketball Camp and Southwest Florida Christian Academy Basketball Camp volunteer
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