Palm Aire Women's Club provides $13,000 in scholarships

Living in Mississippi, LaShawn'te Lee admits she gave up on higher education.

She tried a couple of times after graduating from Bullock County High in Union Springs, Alabama, to take college courses, and other life choices pulled her away.

Years later, though, after a move to Bradenton, she earned an associates degree at the age of 32.

Now as a single mother of four children, she is attending State College of Florida with the hope of earning a bachelor's degree in early childhood education with the goal of eventually earning a master's degree so she can "teach the (early childhood education) teachers."

"I know I have big dreams," Lee told the Palm Aire Women's Club members who had gathered April 14 for their annual Scholarship Luncheon at Palm Aire Country Club. "But as they say, 'Dream big or go home,' and I refuse to go home."

Lee, who current works for Head Start in Sarasota County along with being a full-time student, was one of four State College of Florida students to receive a $3,000 scholarship ($1,500 for each of two school years). The Palm Aire Women's Club also presented two Manatee Technical College students with $500 scholarships.

Photo by Jay Heater

"This is phenomenal, what they are doing," Lee said of the Palm Aire Women's Club members. "I am a single parent. I have gone through a failed marriage, but finally, I am here today. This scholarship is going to make my life easier."

The scholarship money actually is presented by the club to the State College of Florida Foundation which gives the funds to students selection by the Palm Aire Women's Club screening committee.

"You can rest assured this is money well spent," said Chris Romine, who is a senior vice president at Northern Trust and the foundation board chair on the SCF Foundation. "These are the people who are coming back into our community and they are taking care of our children."

Romine attended Manatee Junior College which eventually became State College of Florida. He eventually graduated from Florida Atlantic and went on to his banking career.

"I was the first person in my family to attend college," Romine said. "I credit my start to SCF."

Romine said the Palm Aire Women's Club has presented 67 students with $167,300 in scholarship funds from 2004 through 2023.

"That is tremendous," he said. "This is life-changing for a lot of people."

He said a lot of those people were like Lee, raising families and trying to attend school as well. 

Peg Buck heads the eight-member scholarship committee for the Palm Aire Women's Club. She retired from SCF nine years ago.

"One of the main reasons I joined the Palm Aire Women's Club was because of the scholarships," Buck said. "It is one of the very important things that we do."

Buck addressed those at the luncheon, saying the scholarships would not be possible without their support of the program. The club raises money through fundraisers held throughout the year.

She said the club began presenting scholarships in 1985.

Three of the SCF students (Lyndsey Carter, David Pard and Sylvia Pardome) who received scholarships could not attend the luncheon. MTC students Emma Ramirez, who is studying to be a dental assistant, and Krystal Camacho, who takes nursing classes, were present to receive their $500 scholarships.

Camacho said the scholarship effort by the Palm Aire Women's Club, which has 114 members, was inspiring to her.

Lee had a message for those who are struggling in college.

"Don't give up," she said. "Stay the course and try to enjoy the journey.

"I failed going through college at first. I gave up. But then I decided that I need a better education."

She said the scholarship will help her achieve that goal.

Besides awarding the scholarships, the Palm Aire Women's Club also announced its new officers: President Peg McKinley, Vice President Ann King, Recording Secretary Nancy Curley, Corresponding Secretary Linda Greene and Treasurer Susan Romine.