Students STRIVE for Success

VENICE — Nearly 80 students across Sarasota County were recently recognized during the 26th annual STRIVE Awards Celebration.

The STRIVE Awards were started by H. Jack Hunkele, a philanthropist who believed in honoring students who have overcome significant challenges to succeed.

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County has continued to support Hunkele's dream for the last 35 years, offering students and teachers personalized resources to enhance their potential in education.

STRIVE Awards honors those who show perseverance in reaching that potential.

This year, the STRIVE Awards honored students at schools including North Port High School and Venice High School, all nominated by school counselors, teachers and principals.

Each senior STRIVE Award recipient received a cash gift of $1,000 to pay for items that scholarships do not cover.

One SUPER STRIVER, a senior from each high school, received a gift of $2,500.

Junior STRIVE Award recipients received $100 gifts and a $50 stipend to cover expenses like ACT and SAT test registration fees or college tours.

Juniors were also invited to join the Education Foundation’s mentoring program.

“It is such an honor for the Education Foundation to shine a spotlight on these remarkable young people,” Education Foundation President and CEO Jennifer Vigne stated in a news release. “STRIVE Award recipients embody the power of resilience and the importance of persistence in the face of setbacks."

Students honored with the Senior STRIVE Award included:

Anastasiia Lezhanina, North Port High SchoolSavanna Maroney, North Port High SchoolAlainie Rodriguez, North Port High SchoolMichael Sprague, North Port High SchoolMichael Noe Wishart, North Port High SchoolMakeda Bailey, Venice High SchoolAryana Lovely, Venice High SchoolCaroline Matos, Venice High SchoolJenna Pack, Venice High SchoolLogan Slack, Venice High School

Students honored with the Junior STRIVE Award included:

Kalaya Clark, North Port High SchoolEthan Gural, North Port High SchoolHailey Hieger, North Port High SchoolVanessa Lopez, North Port High SchoolLayla Toussaint, North Port High SchoolKostadinos Booras, Venice High SchoolTiyan Cunningham, Venice High SchoolAlexis Chipol Garcia, Venice High SchoolTaylor Velardi, Venice High School

The 2024 STRIVE Awards are supported by the H. Jack Hunkele Charitable Foundation, the Harold & Jacqueline Bladel Charitable Trust, Florida Blue, the Bruce J. Heim Foundation, the McSweeney Family Foundation Inc. and Suncoast Credit Union, according to the news release.