Jacob Garbett
Kay Gutierrez Valerio
Once again, we were able to extend two $10K scholarships at Spoto High School this year based upon everyone’s continued support and generosity bringing us to SEVEN total in three years! Thompson, Brandon, and I were on hand at Spoto High School to present the checks to this year’s winners; Ms. Kay Gutierrez Valerio and Mr. Jacob Garbett. Kay excelled at Spoto achieving a 4.9 weighted GPA and was active in community service and extracurricular activities. She will be attending North Carolina A&T this fall. Jacob was Spoto’s Valedictorian this year attaining a 4.0 unweighted GPA while taking several AP classes. He also was also a three sport letterman while working and achieving over 100+ community service hours, he will be attending The University of North Florida.
Asia Nobles
Jashly Garcia
Once again, we were able to extend two $10K scholarships at Spoto High School this year based upon everyone’s continued support and generosity. Board Member Brandon Furman presented this year awards to Asia Nobles and Jashly Garcia. Asia is Spoto’s first African American Valedictorian achieving the highest weighted GPA in school history. Asia is attending South Florida this fall and is very well-rounded giving back through her church to the Heart Walk, Meals on Wheels, and the Epworth Project. Jashly overcame a severe tractor accident at age nine to excel in academics as a Top Five weighted GPA graduate at Spoto and completed accelerated Literature and Composition classes. Jashly competed in athletics as captain and long distance running in Track and was treasurer of National Honor Society. Jashly also tutored Algebra and served at Feeding Tampa Bay and the Pet Resource Center. Jashly will also attend South Florida in the Fall. Our foundation is proud as we continue to grow, but this year was bittersweet as it was the last senior class that had Becky in freshman Biology.
Amy Lamas
Isaias Martinez
The Becky Walker Scholarship Fund grew this year from giving one $10K winner to two awards at Spoto High School with the 2020 graduating class. Isaias Martinez had duel enrollment at USF and Spoto HS last year and will continue his pre-med studies and USF. Isaias also logged over 300 hours of volunteer work at Shriner’s Hospital. Amy Lamas was this year’s Valedictorian at Spoto HS, winning numerous additional awards including “Volunteer of the Year” for her time at Women Centered for Success and Palm River Community Center. Amy is attending Dartmouth College this Fall. Thank you all for your support to change the lives of these deserving young adults.
Haley Wathey
On May 7, 2019 the Becky Walker Scholarship Foundation awarded the inaugural $10,000 scholarship (spread over four years) to Spoto Senior Haley Wathey. We received fourteen deserving applications and the process of awarding one winner was very difficult, but we are 100 percent confident that Haley—who had Becky as a Freshman and remembered her as a great female role model and mentor—was the right choice. Haley is attending Abraham-Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA (hometown of Beth Mason) where she will be studying and playing soccer. See photo of the Senior Awards night at Spoto High School above.