Spanish American Club awards scholarships to St. Lucie County students
Three high school seniors from St. Lucie county received college scholarships from The Spanish American Club.
This year recipients are Nicholas Gomez, Ariana M. Ramos and Alexia Cepeda. The recipients were honored at the club's dinner dance party in Port St. Lucie.
Nicholas Gomez was born in Denville, New Jersey. His parents were born in Colombia, Walter Gomez in Medellin and Ana Maria Giraldo was in Armenia. Nicholas graduated from St. Lucie West Centennial High School in Port St. Lucie. He is attending University of Florida and will major in engineering. He would like to pursue a career as an engineer.
Adriana M. Ramos was born in Puerto Rico. Her parents, Raul Ramos and Iris Perez are both natives of Puerto Rico. Ariana graduated from Treasure Coast High School in Port St. Lucie. She will attend Indian River State College and will major in criminal justice. She would like to pursue a career as an attorney.
Alexia Cepeda was born in Fort Lauderdale. Her parents, Jose Vargas (legal guardian) and Maria Oviedo were born in Mexico. Alexia graduated from St. Lucie West Centennial High School in Port St. Lucie. She will attend University of Central Florida and will major in biology with a pre-med track. She would like to pursue a career as an ob-gyn doctor.
The club has steadily increased its scholarship support since the first scholarship of $500 was given to Armando Gil in 1994. Over just the last 22 years, more than $28,000 in scholarship money has been provided to local students from Martin and St. Lucie counties.
Next events of the club are a Thanksgiving Party on Saturday, Nov. 26, and the Christmas Dinner Dance on Saturday, Dec. 17. Reservations are required. For more information, contact the president of the club, Carlos Bonet, at c.bonet@aol.com. For more information, visit http://www.thespanishamericanclubinc.org.
The following students (listing their ethnicity and hometown) have been awarded scholarships since 1994:
- 1994: Armando Gil, México, Fort Pierce
- 1995: Elisa Rodríguez, Puerto Rico, Port St. Lucie
- 1996:Jennifer Torres, Puerto Rico, Port St. Lucie
- 1997: Alfredo Rosado, Puerto Rico, Port St. Lucie
- 1998:Pedro Luna, México, Fort Pierce
- 1999: Ella R. Flores, México, Fort Pierce
- 2000: Miguel J. Gaspar, Guatemala, Indiantown
- 2001:Gabriela Padilla, México, Indiantown
- 2002: Roberto Cabrera, México, Fort Pierce
- 2003: María A. Fernández, Venezuela, Stuart
- 2004: Mónica A. Herrera, Colombia, Port St. Lucie
- 2005: Viridiana Félix, Guatemala, Indiantown
- 2006: Jessica Benítez, México, Port St. Lucie; and Miriam Hernández, Guatemala, Indiantown
- 2007: Amy Pérez, Guatemala, Indiantown; Daisy Trujillo, México, Indiantown; and Venessa Pelayo, México, Fort Pierce
- 2008: Floriberta Reynoso, México, Fort Pierce; and Anthony Sanchez, Colombia, Fort Pierce
- 2009: Tayliz J. Rodríguez, Puerto Rico, Palm City; and Ana G. Fuentes, México, Indiantown
- 2010: Marisol Gómez, México, Fort Pierce; and Elba Valdéz, México, Stuart
- 2011: Nancy Velásquez, Guatemala, Indiantown; Tatiana Muñoz, Colombia, Port St. Lucie; and Adriana Rodríguez, Cuba, Port St. Lucie
- 2012: Lorena Morales, México, Indiantown; Vladimir Villa, México, Stuart; and Daniel González, Venezuela, Fort Pierce
- 2013: Sarahi Mojáras, México, Stuart; Pamela Garcia, México, Stuart; and Vanessa Guárnico, Colombia, Port St. Lucie
- 2014: Samuel Villa, México, Stuart; and Antonett Nuñez, Perú, Stuart
- 2015: Juan Carlos Perez, Guatemala, Jensen Beach; and Matias N. Campora, Uruguay, Port St. Lucie
- 2016: Nicholas Gomez, Colombia, Port St. Lucie; Alexia Cepeda, Mexico, Port St. Lucie: and Ariana Ramos, Puerto Rico, Port St. Lucie