Scholarships offered to Collier County high school students

Three local businesses offer scholarships for Collier County high school athletes

By Naples Daily News staff report
Published Monday, March 8, 2010


Gulfcoast Foot & Ankle Center, Bank of Florida-Southwest and Physicians Regional Medical Center are recognizing Collier County student athletes through a new scholarship program. Each season, two male and two female graduating seniors from each of Collier County’s public high schools are being recognized. The students are awarded certificates and sports medals and become eligible for one of three $2,500 scholarships awarded in late spring.

Students recognized for the winter season include, from Barron Collier High School: Carter Mack, soccer, cross country and swimming; Gabriella Paisan, cross country, track, soccer and swimming; Jenna Tinney, swimming; and Jon Coulter, swimming; from Gulf Coast High School: Kristine Ma, soccer and track; Riki Carach, basketball, track and softball; and Mackenson Timothee, track and field and cross country; from Immokalee High School: Samantha Molina, volleyball, soccer and softball; and Stephen Herrera, wrestling and cross country; from Lely High School: Cody Mendel, golf, basketball and tennis; Da-Anna Paul, basketball and track and field: Kayla Douglas, swimming and soccer; and Paul Tateo, cross country, basketball and golf; from Naples High School: Jordan Leach, basketball; Kimberly Loewel, basketball and softball: Kyle Zech, football and baseball; and Ryan Iamurri, golf, soccer and softball; and from Palmetto Ridge High School: Dylan Gamret, wrestling and football.

The student-athletes recognized for the fall season were, from Gulf Coast High School: John Shelton, golf; and Rachel Elliott, track and swimming; and from Immokalee High School: Argeo Cruz, cross country and track.

Dr. Mickey E. Gordon, a Naples podiatrist with Gulfcoast Foot & Ankle Center, created the program after hearing of the difficult times his patients’ children and grandchildren were having with increased expenses of a college education. During his 31-year career as a podiatric physician and surgeon, Gordon has treated many athletic and sports injuries and has become well aware that lower extremity injuries are all too common in high school sports.

Gordon recruited his bank, Bank of Florida-Southwest and hospital Physicians Regional Medical Center to jointly pledge three $2,500 scholarships for student athletes.

“It is a pleasure to recognize these student-athletes for their hard work and accomplishments both in the classroom and on the field, court, pool or track,” Gordon said.