Florida Association of Realtors(R) Enlists Community Leaders to Judge Scholarship...

Florida Association of Realtors(R) Enlists Community Leaders to Judge
Scholarship Essay Contest

ORLANDO, Fla., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- What do a number of educators,
Realtors, business executives, media representatives, civic organizers and
elected officials across Florida have in common? They all can add serving as a
district judge for the Florida Association of Realtors'(R) (FAR) 2007-2008
Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors to their resumes of
community service.
The topic for this year's essay contest was "How Does a Realtor
Professional Benefit the Community?" which provided students with the chance
to research a wide range of real estate disciplines. A total of $106,000 in
scholarship funding will be awarded by FAR: The top student winners in each of
the Association's 13 districts receive a $5,000 scholarship prize, second-
place district winners each receive a $1,500 award and the third-place winners
will claim a $500 scholarship prize. The 13 district-winning essays also go on
to compete for three state FAR scholarship awards - each worth an additional
$5,000.
Once FAR's district vice presidents have announced their district winners,
a state panel of judges will review the 13 district-winning essays, narrowing
the field to the top three state winners. These state scholarship winners may
be announced either prior to or as part of FAR's annual Convention and Trade
Expo, set for Sept. 24-28 at the Buena Vista Palace in Lake Buena Vista near
Orlando. FAR District Vice Presidents for 2008 are: Jeffrey T. Taylor,
District 1; Sandra S. Miller, District 2; Maria S. Wells, District 3; Renate
K. Smith, District 4; Spencer E. Haynes, District 5; Alan N. Riley, District
6; Harry Willett, District 7; Robert "Robby" Turner, District 8; Teresa A.
Dyer, District 9; Matt Ruthven, District 10; Dorine Longhini, District 11;
Randolph W. "Randy" Martin, District 12; and Thomas H. Sponaugle, District 13.
The men and women who volunteered their time and expertise to participate
in FAR's scholarship program as district judges form a distinguished "Who's
Who" list of community leaders from across the state. They include:
District 1: Foy Maloy, publisher of the News Leader; Stan Batten, broker-
owner of Stan Batten Real Estate and the 2007 FAR District 1 vice president;
John Kasak, business owner of a State Farm Insurance office in Lake City; and
Jeff Taylor, FAR District 1 vice president.
District 2: State Rep. Dorothy Hukill; state Rep. Pat Patterson; Gary
Meadows, a retired professor from Stetson University; Melbourne City
Councilwoman Joanne Corby; and Todd Hague, president of the West Volusia
Association of Realtors.
District 3: Laura Deck Cunningham, marketing services director, The Palm
Beach Post; Maureen Burroughs, owner of Syble's Flowers & Gifts; Aileen M.
Pruitt, vice president and executive director, National City's Community
Development Association of Central and Northeast Florida; and Darrell
Hofheinz, Real Estate & Home Showcase editor, Palm Beach Daily News.
District 4: Randy Acevedo, Monroe County Superintendent of Schools; Bill
Becker, news director, US1 Radio; and Kimberly Kirschner, 2008 chairman of the
Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches.
District 5: Maggie Morris, Sellstate Achievers Realty Network in Fort
Myers and the 2006 FAR Treasurer; Cynthia Shafer, Lahaina Realty in Fort Myers
Beach; Marianne McCauley; Charlie Sobczak, Realtor and author; Brett Brown,
Realtor, Miramar Realty Inc.; Karen Hall, Realtor; and Ray Ochester, Realtor.
District 6: Barton Cobb, development director, Pinellas Habitat for
Humanity; Manny Funes, president of the East Pasco Association of Realtors;
Susana Madden, 2007 FAR District 6 vice president; Peter Altman, regional
manager, District Management Services, LLC, former New Port Richey Mayor and
former Pasco County Commissioner; Lisa DeSousa, Realtor, Coldwell Banker F.I.
Grey; Pat Mulieri, Ed.D, Pasco County Commissioner and retired English
professor from Pasco Community College; and Gerald D. Schotts, president of
the Florida Gulf Coast Commercial Association of Realtors.
District 7: Roxie Willett, broker/vice president/office manager, Realty
World Willett & Associates Inc.; Barbara Hahn, president of the Hernando
County Association of Realtors, broker, A-1 Realty & Design; Julie Roithmeier,
broker/owner, Century 21 Alliance Realty; and Thomas McMurray, president of
the Realtor Association of Citrus County.
District 8: Susan L. Womble, author and National Board Certified teacher
at Godby High School, Leon County Schools; Bruce C. Prevatt LMFT, Ph.D.,
director of the employee assistance program, Florida State University; and
Robert C. Turner, FAA designated pilot examiner and president of Eagle Air
Corp.
District 9: Wallace Moorehand, agent, State Farm Insurance in Mary Esther;
Wendy Kotowske, loan officer, Access Bank & Mortgage in Navarre; Nicole
McMurphy, branch manager, LandCastle Title Co. in Navarre; Cindy Frakes,
Realtor and member of the Okaloosa County School Board; and Mamie Hixon, head
of the English Department, University of West Florida.
District 10: Leigh Harris, Realtor, RE/MAX Realty Lakeland; Jeremy
Maready, reporter, The Ledger (Lakeland); and Dr. Anne Kerr, president of
Florida Southern College.
District 11: State Rep. Franklin Sands, Democratic Leader of the Florida
House of Representatives; Jennifer Gottlieb, member of the Broward County
School Board; Larry Rowe, Realtor and the 2006 FAR District 11 vice president;
and Dorine Longhini, 2008 FAR District 11 vice president.
District 12: Jim Martin, member of the Orange County School Board; DeDe
Schaffner, member of the Seminole County School Board; and David Bennett, CEO,
Osceola County Association of Realtors.
District 13: Nancy Detert, former state representative from Venice; Robert
J. DeBoer, Esq., board attorney for the Venice Area Board of Realtors,
Kanetsky Moore & DeBoer, P.A.; Kim Cool, author, columnist and town editor,
Venice Gondolier Sun; Cynthia Logan, MLS president, Punta Gorda-Port
Charlotte-North Port Association of Realtors and a Realtor, Coldwell Banker
Sunstar Realty Inc.; and Murray Chase, artistic/managing director, Venice
Little Theatre.
The Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the voice for real estate in
Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and
legislative representation to its 125,000 members in 67 boards/associations.
SOURCE Florida Association of Realtors(R)

Marla Martin, Communications Manager, or Jeff Zipper, Vice President of
Communications, of FAR, +1-407-438-1400, ext. 2326 or 2314