Busciglio Smiles is pleased to announce three winners of a $500 scholarship in its third annual essay contest.
Area high school seniors submitted more than 70 essays on the topic, “Athletics versus Academics: Can Student Athletes Really Have It All?”
Dr. Derek Busciglio, who serves on the medical team for the University of South Florida, and his sister, Dr. Dana Busciglio appreciate the commitment required of student athletes to both education and sports.
“They really can have it all,” said Dr. Derek, “but the balance between the two requires wisdom, dedication and sacrifice. We’ll be expecting to hear of great things from this year’s winners.”
Dr. Dana added, “We believe in showing our support for solid effort in a tangible way and the essay contest seems a fair method to honor one student for each of our three offices every year.”
Congratulations go out to Taylor Adams of Plant City High School, Kendall Hayes of Bloomingdale and Lars Benner of Newsome.
Adams, a National Merit Finalist who ranked seventh in her class at PCHS, will attend Auburn University as an Elite Scholar to study biosystems engineering. She believes: “Education and athletics go hand in hand. It’s hard for me to exercise my mind if I’m not exercising my body as well…These are two key elements in leading a happy, healthy and fulfilling life.”
Hayes will study business administration at Southeastern University. In addition to successes in academics and athletics at Bloomingdale, she sang with the Advanced Ladies Choir and Concert Choir. While accomplishing Principal’s Honor Roll status all four years, the Student Government executive board member served as captain of the cross-country team and competed in track and field. Hayes offered, “Since the essay involved the two things I’m passionate about, I am very grateful for this scholarship. It was a relief to know I’d have more help with college expenses. Thank you, Busciglio Smiles.”
Benner, the MVP on Newsome’s track team, competed as a 2013 All-State Selection in the 3200m and maintained an unweighted 4.0 GPA. At the University of Tampa he will pursue a chemistry degree. Benner knows firsthand that “becoming highly successful at a sport requires a determined, constant work ethic.” Additionally, he wrote: “If we remember the important lessons that being a student athlete provided, how extra, individual work correlated to success, then the sports we played were significant in teaching lessons that will guide us to success for the rest of our lives.”
And the Busciglio Smiles team couldn’t agree more.
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