Chris Jones: Greene Publishing, Inc.
Six students from Madison have been awarded college scholarships from a program initiated by the Florida Farm Bureau. Funding for the scholarships has been derived from a 1998 tobacco settlement between state attorneys general and five major tobacco companies concerning the marketing of tobacco products. Thanks to Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a small portion of the remaining settlement money available for Florida has been earmarked for the program.
Current Florida flue-cured tobacco growers, former flue-cured tobacco growers and descendants of flue-cured tobacco growers are eligible to apply. Applicants are evaluated for classroom achievement, leadership skills and potential career success. The Tobacco Scholarship Program provides individual awards of up to $2,000.
This year's recipients are Allison Cone, Jacob Moore, Savannah Salter, Summer Andrews, Emma Witmer and Christiana Reams.
Allison Cone is the daughter of Jeffery and Alicia Cone. She is in her second year of Pharmacy School at the University of Florida (UF). She was very active in 4-H when living in Madison, and she has a desire to help people. One of her goals is to visit all of the U.S. National Parks.
Jacob Moore is the son of Theron and Beth Moore. He graduated from Madison County High School (MCHS) in 2015, North Florida Community College (NFCC) in 2017, and just started his first year at Florida State University (FSU), where he is working toward a degree in Electrical Engineering. He would like to live in North Carolina one day to enjoy the mountains.
Savanna Salter is the daughter of Donnie and Micki Salter. She graduated from MCHS in 2017 and is about to start her first semester at the University of Florida, working toward an Agri-Business degree. She showed livestock with FAA for nine years. She loves saltwater fishing and particularly likes fishing out of Horseshoe Beach, Fl.
Summer Andrews is the daughter of Nellie Blair and Kevin Andrews. She graduated Cum Laude from Suwannee County High School in 2016. She was a member of the National Honors Society and Beta Club. She currently attends NFCC. She plans to move to California soon after marrying her fiance, Wyatt Bilodeau, who is in the Marines and stationed in San Diego.
Emma Witmer is the daughter of Buddy Witmer and Georgia Reams. She graduated from Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) in 2016. She is a sophomore at UF pursuing a journalism degree. Her ultimate goal is to live in New York City, telling stories through the magazine medium, in either a writing or editing capacity. She currently writes for the student-run Independent Alligator's entertainment tab, dubbed The Avenue.
Christiana Reams is the daughter of Joe and Kim Reams. She graduated from ACA in 2014 and will earn an Associates of Arts degree from NFCC this December. She plans to enroll in NFCC's registered nursing program, and eventually pursue a Bachelor of Science and Nursing degree (BSN). She loves to fish, especially for monster redfish where the Ecofina River empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
“Tobacco production has a proud history in our state, and we are using these settlement funds to give back to our communities,” Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick said. “We are delighted to offer scholarship support to qualified young people. We look for their future contributions to our state’s economy and its quality of life.”