For Immediate Release: April 9, 2007

Contacts:
Dr. Sheila Dickison or Dr. Jeanna Mastrodicasa (352-392-1519)

LOMBARDI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SELECTS 2007 CLASS

(GAINESVILLE, Fla.)--The University of Florida is pleased to announce the selection of eight additional participants in the Lombardi Scholars Program.  Each year, eight students who exemplify John V. Lombardi's commitment to academic excellence, community service, leadership, and public responsibility are selected as recipients of this prestigious award program.   Eight students have accepted this scholarship beginning the 2007-2008 academic year and will be traveling to Mexico at the end of June as part of the program.  

Lombardi Scholars will receive a scholarship for four years of study at UF; they will also be matched with a faculty mentor in their field and will receive support for overseas study and leadership experiences.  Florida high schools were invited to nominate one student, and winners were selected from 164 nominees and 17 finalists. 

Students in the first year of the program spend six weeks participating in an overseas study program in Merida, the capital of the Yucatan in Mexico during the summer before they begin at UF.  All the students will participate in the Honors Program at the University of Florida. 

The eight Lombardi Scholars who have been offered the John V. Lombardi scholarship beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year are:

Scott Brown: A senior at William H. Turner Technical High School in Miami, Florida, Brown is ranked in the top 1% of his class.  His extracurricular activities include Associate Editor of Tech Times, member of the National Honor Society, Peer Mediators and Future Business Leaders of America.  Brown is the recipient of many academic and artistic awards and honors, such as winning first place at the 2006 Miami-Dade Youth Fair for presentations in Business Package, Free Verse Poetry, & Digital Design.  Scott has more than 350 hours of community service as a Vacation Bible School Teacher at his church and is a member of the church’s Youth Group.  Scott plans to study chemical engineering.

Noah Camenker is the author of the one act play: A Thousand Ways to Skin a Cat, which debuted at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the summer of 2006, as part of a festival of the best of high school theatre. The play was initially awarded “Best of Show” at a district Thespian competition.  Following its debut, it was featured at Apopka High School, where it was directed by Noah.  Noah recently presented his second work: Don’t Fear Joseph, at this year’s Thespian competition, where it received a rating of “Superior.” In addition to theatre, Noah is an AP Scholar and founder and president of the school’s chess club. He is also captain of the varsity cross-country team, captain of the quiz bowl team, and is a top ten National Honor Society student in the competitive magnet program at Apopka High. He plans to major in English and education.

Jennifer Griffith-Delgado: A senior at Lecanto High School in Lecanto, Florida, Griffith-Delgado is currently Governor of the Florida District of Key Club International, a world-wide, student-led community service organization.  As Governor, she represents almost 12,000 students in Florida, the Cayman Islands, and the Turk and Caicos Islands.  She is a four-year member of Key Club, and has also served as the Lieutenant Governor for her division.  In 2005, Griffith-Delgado organized a reading carnival for over 100 children in her community, sending each child home with a new book.  She has regularly volunteered at a local primary school, helping with monthly reading sessions for the past three years, in addition to organizing and participating in many other community service projects.  Griffith-Delgado was a member of the Lecanto High School Chorus for three years and has been a Florida All-State Choir Musician.  Griffith-Delgado plans to major in public relations and to someday work for a nonprofit organization that helps children in need.

Andrew Hutchins: Hutchins ranks first in his senior class at Rockledge High school in Rockledge, Florida.  He is an AP Scholar with Distinction, a Cambridge Scholar, a National Merit Semifinalist and received a Cambridge Diploma with Merit.  Hutchins has written for FLORIDA TODAY’S teen section, The Verge and served as one of twelve Teen Fellows chosen from thousands of candidates nationwide for the 2005 Newspaper Association of America/Youth Editorial Alliance National Conference.  Andrew was selected as one of fifteen competitors for the 2007 “JEOPARDY!” Teen Tournament Summer Games and flew to Los Angeles in early March to tape episodes airing this July.  He participated in Brevard County’s Model Student Senate for four years, serving as Minority Leader of the 2006-vintage Senate this past year.  Andrew plans to major in journalism.

Johnathan Lott, the valedictorian at Gulf Breeze High School, has been named National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Honor.  He has played 1st Chair at in the Santa Rosa All-County Band, the Southern United States Honor Band, and the Dixie Band Camp Concert and Jazz Bands, and has earned 15 Superior Solo & Ensemble Medals for alto saxophone.  He was on his school’s three-time state champion Science Olympiad team, and has competed in the national competition each year.  At this competition, he received the Luminary Award for excellence in science.  Lott is the overall PRIDE academic competition winner for his county and placed 1st in the county at the Academic Team competition in both Science and Math.   He plans to double major in political science and musical performance and pursue a career in law.

Joshua Villanueva: As a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Joshua has pursued many leadership roles.  He is a member of the National Honor Society and is currently the president of Social Studies Honor Society where he promotes voting through a close partnership with Broward Kids Voting and the County Supervisor of Elections.  Joshua has participated in high school sports for four years during which time he has lettered in soccer, cross country, and track.  In addition to sports, Joshua enjoys serving his community by leading services and helping out at Temple Shalom in Pompano Beach.  Joshua also attends weekly leadership classes and Judaic Studies courses outside of school. Joshua has been named a National Hispanic Scholar as well as an AP Scholar with Distinction.  Villanueva plans to major in philosophy and history.

Domonique Worship: Worship ranks in the top two percent of her class at Pembroke Pines Charter High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida.  A national Achievement Scholar and member of the National Society of High School Scholars, Domonique was also recognized as a Silver Knight Award Finalist.  She was also recognized for her strong moral character as a “Sun-Sentinel Kid of Character.”  Worship has held leadership positions in Key Club such as Senior Director.   She is the Chairperson for the Becca’s Closet and Caps for Cancer Committees in National Honor Society. Domonique plans to major in business administration and hopes to focus on international business.

Huiling Wolff-Koo: Wolff-Koo a senior in the International Baccalaureate program at Eastside High School in Gainesville, Florida has been the Brain Bowl President and member of Key Club, National Honor Society and Conferencia team. She was also named a National Merit Finalist. Huiling was selected to go to Washington D. C. for the Global Summit: Diplomacy in International Affairs (Lead America 2006).  Wolff-Koo is also the Varsity Captain of the Swim and Dive Team at Eastside and is ranked number one in her graduating class.  She hopes to major in anthropology.