Scholarships

The Kiwanis Club of Niceville Valparaiso has presented five scholarships recognizing outstanding 2025 high school graduates for the impact of their demonstrated commitment to serving others. The awards totaling $11,000 were made to Sophie Broutin and Meridian Sobel (Niceville High School), Skyler Dill-Langley and Austin Sanders (Rocky Bayou Christian School), and Zoe Robinson (Collegiate High School). The awards will be applied to the cost of degree or certificate programs as chosen by the winners.

In addition, The Kiwanis Club of Niceville Valparaiso sponsors two endowed fellowships at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) in honor of two former members. One is for the Bill Hodge Memorial and the other is for Walker Spence. These endowments provide scholarship awards each year to NWFSC students in perpetuity.

Five 2024 graduates from Niceville and Collegiate High Schools and Rocky Bayou Christian School will share a total of $11,000 to further their educations.

The winners were selected from fourteen applicants based upon:

(1) demonstrated unselfish service to others
(2) overall high school achievement

The students selected, their school, and the school they will attend are are:

• Meya Martin, Niceville High School (Rollins College)
• Liliana Tambone, Niceville High School (University of Florida)
• Brianna Steele, Niceville High School (Florida State University)
• Lindsay Onuffer, Rocky Bayou Christian School (University of West Florida)
• Kelsey Gabrysz, Collegiate High School (Florida State University)

Note: The award to Meya Martin was in special recognition of her exemplary service to the Kiwanis family’s Key Clubs in Niceville and Northwest Florida. The award to Brianna Steele was dedicated by Kiwanis and the family of Joseph Fiorello to his memory in recognition of her achievements and aspirations in the field of choral music performance and education.