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2018 Richardson Scholar Awards
Sarah Mazza
This dual enrolled Vero Beach High School graduate completed 6 AP courses and is graduating in the Top 5% of of her class with a 4.5 GPA. Once told by a middle school teacher that she would never make it to college due to her struggles with math, this driven young individual received straight As for the last four years in an honors/AP curriculum and even became a math tutor.
Her AP Language and Composition Teacher described her as a “selfless individual" who is "always striving to better the world around her. “She demonstrated an openness to and empathy for the opinions, feelings, and perspectives of others, along with shrew powers of observation; these are all qualities that make her an outstanding student and person.”
Making the varsity lacrosse team as a freshman was an incredible accomplishment and instrumental in her learning how to challenge others around her to become better. While sidelined with an injury for the past year's entire season, she learned how to lead with an infectious attitude of commitment at every practice by helping to coach her replacements and cheering on her teammates.
Overcoming adversity again, this passionate and remarkable young lady will be playing Division I lacrosse for Boston University. Her goal is to study and eventually practice sports medicine using a progressive and holistic approach.
Cassidy Thimmer
This Sebastian River High School student is graduating with an IB Diploma and a GPA of 4.53. A “forever learner,” she plans to “pursue higher education through optimism and perseverance.” Explains an IB instructor, “She has distinguished herself as one of my top analysis students with a razor sharp intellect and strong written and oral communication skills. She thinks critically and crafts arguments effectively, demonstrating an unbridled academic potential.”
As Co-President of “It’s in the Bag,” a student-run service organization that collects and distributes 400 bags of food each week for needy, local students, she is grateful to the volunteering experience for making a lasting impact on her outlook. She states, “Giving time to pack food means that one less child goes home uncertain of their next meal and one less child feels unwanted.”
A Mu Alpha Theta Math Competition team member, she also found time to begin a community impact program. She started a non-profit lacrosse clinic for younger girls to teach basic skills and to promote a sense of unity. From writing the newsletter, procuring the necessary release forms and obtaining the equipment, this young driven woman found that she was able to instill a great sense of confidence in middle school aged girls.
This fall she will enter the University of South Florida whre she will major in Architecture.
Jose Torrellas
This Sebastian River IB student earned a 4.0 unweighted GPA, an AP Scholar with Distinction standing, the Shark Award and Superior Ratings at District and State Solo and Ensemble Competitions for the past three years and has been an integral member and leader in the Band and the Brass Choir. Remarkably, he still found time to play varsity lacrosse and be an active member of the Interact Club and National Honor Society.
His academic and extracurricular achievements are indeed noteworthy, but two characteristics truly set him apart: humility and Kindness. In describing leadership, he wrote, "Your intentions as a leader must also be selfless, as you must put others before yourself. I believe that there should be less of a focus on what the leader has specifically done and more on the achievements as a collective group." He has a true passion for giving back and spent countless hours tutoring middle school music students.
Says a former teacher, "His outstanding moral character is well-paired with his high standard for academic and musical excellence. Every once in a while we come across students who really do stand in a league of their own. This student does stand out this way. He makes each individual he encounters know they are important to him."
This fall he will attend the University of Central Florida where he will study Biomedical Sciences.
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