2002 Lombardi Scholars Announced

Contact: Dr. Sheila K. Dickison, Associate Provost, 352-392-1519
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 4, 2002

Contact: Sheila Dickison or Jeanna Mastrodicasa (352-392-1519) The University of Florida is pleased to announce the names of the 2002 Lombardi Scholars. Eight students who exemplify John V. Lombardi's commitment to academic excellence, community service, leadership, and public responsibility were recently selected as recipients of this prestigious award program. Students selected for this honor embody the same level of energy, enthusiasm, and excellence as the Program's namesake: UF's dynamic ninth president, John V. Lombardi. Winners were selected from 147 nominees and eighteen semi-finalists. Sheila Dickison, Associate Provost, said that the selection committee was very impressed with the exceptionally high quality of all the nominees, which made choosing the winners a very difficult task.

Lombardi Scholars will receive a substantial scholarship for eight to ten semesters of study at UF; they will also be matched with a faculty mentor in their field and will receive support for several overseas study and internship experiences. All the students will participate in the Honors Program at the University of Florida. Further information on the program is available at www.honors.ufl.edu/lombardi.

The eight Lombardi Scholars are:

TODRE JANARRIS ALLEN, a senior at Immokalee High School, is the Senior Class Vice President, Scholar's Club Vice President; and has been elected the state of Florida's BETA Club Vice President. In addition, he is very involved in school activities, including: Executive Board, Student Government, SWAT, and Mock Trial; in his spare time he enjoys tutoring younger students and singing in different functions at school and around the area. Todre has set as a goal for himself to be an example for others growing up in his community, showing them that one can succeed and that it is also possible to have fun in the process. Todre is the recipient of a UF Presidential Scholarship and he plans to do a business major before attending law school.

JENNIFER ROSE BONDS, a senior at James S. Rickards High School in Tallahassee, is an honors student in the International Baccalaureate Program. Her activities include Student Government Association, Varsity Football Statistics, Future Business Leaders of America, Key Club, and National Honor Society. Jennifer's greatest service to her community is her role as Student Member of the Leon County School Board, where she represents 33,000 students in the district by lobbying for their interests and providing a student prospective on current legislation. She plans to attend the University of Florida, where she has been selected as a Gold Scholar, and to pursue a joint degree, Doctor of Pharmacy and a Masters of Business Administration. Jennifer's career goal is to become a pharmaceutical attorney and lobbyist.

AMELIE ESCOBIO, a senior in a program for gifted students and the Academy of Banking and Finance at Southwest Miami High School, has won numerous competitions through the Association of Marketing Students (DECA) and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and is president of her high school's chapters of DECA, FBLA, and the Social Studies Honor Society. In addition, she is a member of numerous honor societies at Southwest Miami. Her commitment to a project called Life 101, in which she has marketed the need for bone marrow transplants to fellow students and the entire community, has been outstanding. She spends her free time doing ballet, a life-long passion. Amelie plans to major in accounting and to become a criminal attorney after attending law school.

DAVID M. KENNEDY is a senior at Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville. As a member of the International Baccalaureate Program (IB), he excels in the most challenging curriculum available, including the highest math course, Calculus BC, as well as ten other Advanced Placement courses. While maintaining a very high GPA, he is also involved in many activities including the Engineering and Robotics club (communications officer), Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society (co-president), and IB Peer Tutoring. He enjoys participating in the Varsity Brain Brawl Team and the JETS science and engineering competition where his team tied for first place last year. He is an Eagle Scout, achieving this prestigious rank during 9th grade. David plans to major in engineering at the University of Florida.

ZACHARIAH LAKEL, a senior at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, has been involved throughout high school in numerous school activities including Forensics, where he debated in Student Congress, Math Club, was production editor for the Yearbook and section editor for Phoenix, the school's literary magazine, and president of Model United Nations. Zachariah founded and is the Director of Student Technology Support Services, a volunteer computer help desk at his high school. Out of school, Zachariah studies Tae Kwon Do, holding the rank of Black Belt Candidate, has done American Civil War Reenacting with the 3rd U.S. Artillery, and has played classical piano for the past twelve years. A National Merit Scholar, he intends to major in economics or accounting, and after completing college he hopes to acquire a law degree with the intention of entering the legal profession.

ROBERT MACK, a senior from Williston High School, ranks near the top of his class while lettering three years for the WHS Red Devils Football Team and weightlifting team. Robert is active in both 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA), currently serving as the President of the Florida 4-H State Council and as District III FFA President. His activities on behalf of these two organizations have taken him all over the state of Florida and Alachua County and include many initiatives such as coordinating a state-wide literacy initiative for teens, launching an on-line magazine for 4-H members, and lobbying on behalf of 4-H camps, threatened by state budget cuts. Recently selected as TV20's "Scholar-Athlete of the Week", his future plans are to attend the University of Florida to major in Food and Resource Economics.

PATRICIA PECHTER is a senior at St. Edward's in Vero Beach. She is a National Merit Scholar, a national champion baton twirler, and has received national recognition from Intel and Siemens-Westinghouse for science research involving cancer therapy. Using bioassay-guided purification on a fan coral, Patricia discovered a novel compound that has shown promise in laboratory testing with its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. As president of the school math competition team, Patricia has won individual and team awards in the calculus division. She is accomplished in debate competition, drama, French, studio art and dance. She was captain of the varsity cross-country team and runs track. During college she hopes to pursue scientific research in chemistry and take advantage of study abroad opportunities.

RYAN SMITH, a senior at Niceville High School, plans to major in Electrical Engineering and Physics at the University of Florida. A National Merit Scholar, Ryan is at the top of his class and involved in many extra curricular activities including Math Club, German Club, National Honor Society, Varsity Football, Literary Guild, Young Historians Guild, Knowledge Masters, and Academic Team. This year, he spent the entire season as the starting left offensive tackle for Niceville's football team, which just completed their most successful season in three years. The recipient of many academic awards, Ryan has always tried to excel in everything he does. Ryan was recently elected by his teachers for the Niceville Hall of Fame.

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2002
Contact: Sheila Dickison or Jeanna Mastrodicasa (352-392-1519)

The University of Florida is pleased to announce that three additional students were named to the 2002 Lombardi Scholars class. During six weeks of the summer of 2002, these students will participate in a custom program for Lombardi Scholars through the University of Florida/Autonomous University of the Yucatan Summer Program. The program will consist of overseas study in anthropology and Spanish, exploration, and research in the state of Yucatan, Mexico under the direction of two UF faculty members Dr. Allan Burns of Anthropology and Dr. Mark Brenner of Geological Sciences. A total of eight students who exemplify John V. Lombardi's commitment to academic excellence, community service, leadership, and public responsibility were selected as recipients of this prestigious award program. Students selected for this honor embody the same level of energy, enthusiasm, and excellence as the Program’s namesake: UF’s dynamic ninth president, John V. Lombardi.

Lombardi Scholars will receive a substantial scholarship for eight to ten semesters of study at UF; they will also be matched with a faculty mentor in their field and will receive support for several overseas study and internship experiences. All the students will participate in the Honors Program at the University of Florida. Further information on the program is available at www.honors.ufl.edu/lombardi.

The new Lombardi Scholars are:

Casey Furman is a senior at Bayshore High School in Bradenton, where is the number one ranked student and Manatee County’s Sunshine State Scholar. He founded and serves as president of the Bruin Service Club at Bayshore, which provides tutoring, and is the recipient of a Harvard Book Award. An AP Scholar, Casey is a second degree black belt and plays hockey, is treasurer of the student council, president of the chess club, and a member of the National Honor Society. In a summer research program, Casey conducted research with ceramic superconductors at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. He intends to pursue a degree in finance.

Michael Lane, a senior at Lake Mary High School, participates in extensive aspects of the school’s fine arts program. Michael has been a percussionist in the school’s symphonic and marching bands for three years, earning numerous accolades at the county and state level as well as being the 1999 national runner-up in the MTNA percussion performance competition. He has participated in twenty-one drama-sponsored mainstage productions at Lake Mary, in both technical positions as well as lead acting roles. Michael has earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was ordained as an Elder of the Presbyterian Church USA in January 2001. He plans to pursue a major in microbiology and conduct research during his undergraduate experience.

Trang Tran is the valedictorian at Thomas Jefferson High School in Tampa. Trang came from Vietnam eight years ago and is the president of the National Honor Society and Shanti, the school’s multicultural student organization. She has been active in Mu Alpha Theta math club, Future Business Leaders of America, Civenettes, brain bowl competitions, and the Interclub Council. Trang spends her free time serving as a peer tutor, teaching Vietnamese with her mother within the community, and working part-time. She is interested in medicine and education for her career path.

The previously announced Lombardi Scholars who will be enrolling at the University of Florida are Todre Allen, of Immokolee; Jennifer Bonds of Tallahassee; David Kennedy of Jacksonville; Robert Mack of Williston; and Ryan Smith of Niceville.