American Legion holds award ceremony

West Orange Times & Observer
News

The American Legion Post 63 recently held an awards ceremony to recognize students, first responders and a local teacher. The awards were as follows:

• Scholarships ($1,000 when accepted to college) — Oliva Schwabe, Florida Virtual School; Anne Townsend, Windermere Prep

• Boys State (students will attend June 19 through 26 in Tallahassee) — Aiden Earl, Foundation Academy; Andrew Vo, West Orange High School; Gabriel Morales, Foundation Academy; Garrett Scapanski, Apopka High; Jackson Hall, Apopka High; James Holton, West Orange High; Lorenzzo Giani, Windermere Prep

• JROTC Cadet of the Year (which includes a $250 prize) — Cadet Major Meghan Grindle, Windermere High AJROTC

• Teacher of the Year ($250) — Christie Walker-Thompson, Foundation Academy

• Firefighter of the Year ($250) — firefighter/paramedic Christian Delgado, Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department

• EMT/Paramedic of the Year ($250) — firefighter/paramedic Brandon Minnick, Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department

• Law Enforcement of the Year ($250) — Detective Rachel San Filippo, Winter Garden Police Department

• Challenge 22/Americanism Award — Windermere High MCJROTC ($750), CSM Daigle; Loan Sailor Navy Sea Cadets ($500), CPO Schwabe; West Orange HS AFJROTC ($250), cadets Vo and Holton

author

Amy Quesinberry

Community Editor Amy Quesinberry was born at the old West Orange Memorial Hospital and raised in Winter Garden. Aside from earning her journalism degree from the University of Georgia, she hasn’t strayed too far from her hometown and her three-mile bubble. She grew up reading The Winter Garden Times and knew in the eighth grade she wanted to write for her community newspaper. She has been part of the writing and editing team since 1990.