$13,000 in scholarships awarded

SAINT AUGUSTINE – The Pilot Club of St. Augustine, joined by Hester’s Abbey Floor Covering Scholarships, announces awarding of $13,000 in scholarships presented to graduating seniors in St. Johns County.

Two scholarships of $5,000 each were awarded by Scott and Elizabeth Kophamer of Hester’s through the Pilot Club, to Lauren Sonnier and Michael Guyot.  Sonnier, a 2020 graduate of Creekside High School, plans to attend the University of Central Florida and major in biological engineering or a similar field.

Guyot, who graduated this year from Bartram Trails High School, plans to major in biomedical engineering at the University of Florida.

In addition to the $10,000 donated by the Kophamers, a $1,000 amount is donated to the Pilot Club to be used as its discretion. This year that amount was divided between two recipients chosen to receive the Donnie Heymen Scholarship awards.

Seth Bratcher, a member of the Class of 2020 at Pedro Menendez High School, received $1,500, including $1,000 from the Heymen scholarship fund; and Corey Banks, also a member of the Class of 2020 at Pedro Menendez, received $1,000, including $500 from the Heymen fund. Bratcher plans to major in architecture at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y. He has also been recruited to play on Pratt’s basketball team.

Banks, who plans to attend First Coast Technical College, is enrolled in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning/refrigeration program.

Recipients of $500 scholarships awarded by the Pilot Club to women re-entering the workforce, are Kathryn Carter and Michelle Dufresne. Dufresne is enrolled in the nursing and allied health field with radiologic technology as her major; and Carter is seeking a bachelor’s degree in organizational management – supervision and management.

Due to the Corona 19 virus the Pilot Club was unable to recognize the year’s recipients at the annual scholarship dinner.

Funds provided by the Pilot Club come from a variety of fundraising activities. For the Donnie Heymen Scholarship money is raised through the sale of cabbage each year during the sale of caladiums and through donations. Donations to the club and to the Heymen scholarship fund are welcomed. Make checks payable to The Pilot Club of St. Augustine and note if the donation is for the Heymen fund or for general club community services projects. Mail checks to the Pilot Club, P.O. Box 3761, St. Augustine, Fl. 32085.