Florida Association of Realtors Enlists Community Leaders to Judge Scholarship Essay Contest

ORLANDO, Fla., April 17, 2008 – What do a number of educators, Realtors, business executives, media representatives, civic organizers and elected officials across Florida have in common? They all can add serving as a district judge for the Florida Association of Realtors’® (FAR) 2007-2008 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors to their resumes of community service.

The topic for this year’s essay contest was “How Does a Realtor Professional Benefit the Community?” which provided students with the chance to research a wide range of real estate disciplines. A total of $106,000 in scholarship funding will be awarded by FAR: The top student winners in each of the Association’s 13 districts receive a $5,000 scholarship prize, second-place district winners each receive a $1,500 award and the third-place winners will claim a $500 scholarship prize. The 13 district-winning essays also go on to compete for three state FAR scholarship awards – each worth an additional $5,000.

Once FAR’s district vice presidents have announced their district winners, a state panel of judges will review the 13 district-winning essays, narrowing the field to the top three state winners. These state scholarship winners may be announced either prior to or as part of FAR’s annual Convention and Trade Expo, set for Sept. 24-28 at the Buena Vista Palace in Lake Buena Vista near Orlando. FAR District Vice Presidents for 2008 are: Jeffrey T. Taylor, District 1; Sandra S. Miller, District 2; Maria S. Wells, District 3; Renate K. Smith, District 4; Spencer E. Haynes, District 5; Alan N.  Riley, District 6; Harry Willett, District 7; Robert “Robby” Turner, District 8; Teresa A. Dyer, District 9; Matt Ruthven, District 10; Dorine Longhini, District 11; Randolph W. “Randy” Martin, District 12; and Thomas H. Sponaugle, District 13.

The men and women who volunteered their time and expertise to participate in FAR’s scholarship program as district judges form a distinguished “Who’s Who” list of community leaders from across the state. They include:

District 1: Foy Maloy, publisher of the News Leader; Stan Batten, broker-owner of Stan Batten Real Estate and the 2007 FAR District 1 vice president; John Kasak, business owner of a State Farm Insurance office in Lake City; and Jeff Taylor, FAR District 1 vice president.

District 2: State Rep. Dorothy Hukill; state Rep. Pat Patterson; Gary Meadows, a retired professor from Stetson University; Melbourne City Councilwoman Joanne Corby; and Todd Hague, president of the West Volusia Association of Realtors.

District 3: Laura Deck Cunningham, marketing services director, The Palm Beach Post; Maureen Burroughs, owner of Syble’s Flowers & Gifts; Aileen M. Pruitt, vice president and executive director, National City’s Community Development Association of Central and Northeast Florida; and Darrell Hofheinz, Real Estate & Home Showcase editor, Palm Beach Daily News.

District 4: Randy Acevedo, Monroe County Superintendent of Schools; Bill Becker, news director, US1 Radio; and Kimberly Kirschner, 2008 chairman of the Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches.

District 5: Maggie Morris, Sellstate Achievers Realty Network in Fort Myers and the 2006 FAR Treasurer; Cynthia Shafer, Lahaina Realty in Fort Myers Beach; Marianne McCauley; Charlie Sobczak, Realtor and author; Brett Brown, Realtor, Miramar Realty Inc.; Karen Hall, Realtor; and Ray Ochester, Realtor.

District 6: Barton Cobb, development director, Pinellas Habitat for Humanity; Manny Funes, president of the East Pasco Association of Realtors; Susana Madden, 2007 FAR District 6 vice president; Peter Altman, regional manager, District Management Services, LLC, former New Port Richey Mayor and former Pasco County Commissioner; Lisa DeSousa, Realtor, Coldwell Banker F.I. Grey; Pat Mulieri, Ed.D, Pasco County Commissioner and retired English professor from Pasco Community College; and Gerald D. Schotts, president of the Florida Gulf Coast Commercial Association of Realtors.

District 7: Roxie Willett, broker/vice president/office manager, Realty World Willett & Associates Inc.; Barbara Hahn, president of the Hernando County Association of Realtors, broker, A-1 Realty & Design; Julie Roithmeier, broker/owner, Century 21 Alliance Realty; and Thomas McMurray, president of the Realtor Association of Citrus County.

District 8: Susan L. Womble, author and National Board Certified teacher at Godby High School, Leon County Schools; Bruce C. Prevatt LMFT, Ph.D., director of the employee assistance program, Florida State University; and Robert C. Turner, FAA designated pilot examiner and president of Eagle Air Corp.

District 9: Wallace Moorehand, agent, State Farm Insurance in Mary Esther; Wendy Kotowske, loan officer, Access Bank & Mortgage in Navarre; Nicole McMurphy, branch manager, LandCastle Title Co. in Navarre; Cindy Frakes, Realtor and member of the Okaloosa County School Board; and Mamie Hixon, head of the English Department, University of West Florida.

District 10: Leigh Harris, Realtor, RE/MAX Realty Lakeland; Jeremy Maready, reporter, The Ledger (Lakeland); and Dr. Anne Kerr, president of Florida Southern College.

District 11: State Rep. Franklin Sands, Democratic Leader of the Florida House of Representatives; Jennifer Gottlieb, member of the Broward County School Board; Larry Rowe, Realtor and the 2006 FAR District 11 vice president; and Dorine Longhini, 2008 FAR District 11 vice president.

District 12: Jim Martin, member of the Orange County School Board; DeDe Schaffner, member of the Seminole County School Board; and David Bennett, CEO, Osceola County Association of Realtors.

District 13: Nancy Detert, former state representative from Venice; Robert J. DeBoer, Esq., board attorney for the Venice Area Board of Realtors, Kanetsky Moore & DeBoer, P.A.; Kim Cool, author, columnist and town editor, Venice Gondolier Sun; Cynthia Logan, MLS president, Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Association of Realtors and a Realtor, Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty Inc.; and Murray Chase, artistic/managing director, Venice Little Theatre.

The Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 125,000 members in 67 boards/associations.