Florida Association of Realtors(R) Announces District Scholarship Winners

ORLANDO, Fla., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirteen talented seniors from public
and private high schools across the state each have been awarded a $1,000
scholarship as district winners of the Florida Association of Realtors(R)
(FAR) 2008-2009 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors.

The scholarship program helps deserving young people achieve their goals in
college, and all seniors are eligible except for immediate family members of a
Realtor, of a person with a real estate license or of a Realtor association's
staff. The top winning essays from FAR's 13 districts across Florida now
compete to win one of three $5,000 state-level FAR scholarships. Scholarships
from FAR this year total $28,000.

First place winners of FAR's $1,000 scholarship

District 1 Natalia Romanillos Alvarez of Jacksonville, Stanton
College Preparatory School
District 2 Leslie Ann Nery of Palm Bay, West Shore Junior/Senior
High School
District 3 Alexander Wierzbicki of West Palm Beach, Dreyfoos School
of the Arts
District 4 Laura Alexandra Sorondo of Miami, School for Advanced
Studies
District 5 Michael Axline of Naples, Naples High School
District 6 Jordan Alyssa Andreu of Plant City, Durant Senior High
School
District 7 Laura Herbert of Ocala, Vanguard High School
District 8 Kate Bollone of Tallahassee, Lincoln High School
District 9 Minnie Cora Merritt of Crestview, Crestview Senior High
School
District 10 Philip S. Leggett of Lakeland, Auburndale Senior High
School
District 11 Jamie Cohn of Coral Springs, Coral Springs Charter School
District 12 Samantha Adessa of Casselberry, Lake Howell High School
District 13 Alise Vick of Bradenton, Bayshore High School

"Helping young people continue their education and fulfill their dreams for
the future is an investment in our community," says 2009 FAR President Cynthia
Shelton, CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member). "Florida Realtors take
great pride in our scholarship program, knowing that we are encouraging these
students to achieve their college goals and giving them a boost on their path
to success."

A number of community leaders, media representatives, educators, business
executives and Realtors from across the state volunteered their time and
expertise to serve as judges for the district-level essay competition. The
first-place district-winning essays -- written on the topic, "How Does a
Realtor Professional Benefit the Community?" -- will be reviewed by a state
panel of judges, who will select the top three state winners. State
scholarship winners may be announced either prior to, or as part of, FAR's
2009 Convention & Trade Expo held Aug. 18-23 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
in Orlando.

The Florida Association of Realtors, the voice for real estate in Florida,
provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative
representation to its 115,000 members in 67 local boards/associations.

SOURCE Florida Association of Realtors

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