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2021 Richardson Scholar Awards
Jack Kincus
He has a great passion for the environment – enjoying it and protecting it. He is an avid outdoorsman who makes time to fish daily. He also shares his love of nature with younger students as a summer waterfront and fishing camp counselor. His time in and near the water has given him an appreciation of the resource and has shown him its value and vulnerability.
Jack learned about water quality through participation on his school’s state-runner-up Envirothon team, as an appointed ambassador for the Earth Echo Water Challenge, and by researching environmental policy. Jack tests the water in our Indian River Lagoon and records the data to an international database, providing valuable information to scientists.
Additionally, this vice president of his senior class enjoys playing basketball, golf, and lacrosse – and the electric and acoustic guitar – all while maintaining a job. This is all in addition to excelling in the classroom. Jack is a reflective, inquisitive, and disciplined student with a quick mind who places his studies above all helping him earn a 4.52 weighted GPA as an Advanced Placement and honors student.
It’s no surprise that Jack was previously honored with an award for demonstrating a passion for helping others, a love for athletics, and a high ethical standard. He always has a positive, determined, unselfish attitude. He always does the right thing.
After he attends Middlebury College, Jack will devote his whole life to doing the right thing by helping save the environment and inspiring others to join him. He feels that calling to lead us to protect our natural resources as an attorney or policymaker focusing on environmental issues. Jack is determined to make a positive change in our environment and society.
Josh Navarro
“To lead by serving” is a statement that best describes Josh. This student is aware of others’ needs before they are, whether at school, in community activities, or as a devoted brother. He is constantly helping and knows he is making a difference when he inspires others to achieve.
Joshua Navarro found a community and success with the Vero Beach Rowing Club of which he is the current high school team co-captain. He was named Team MVP for his athletic ability but more so for his dependability, commitment, and courage to lead. Even during and after recovering from an injury, it was Josh’s level of effort that set the standard for his younger teammates. As the stroke oar, his team worked as one to propel their boat across the finish line at the Florida State Championship Regatta. Through his participation in the “Learn to Row” outreach program, Josh found that teaching others to row is just as rewarding as the sport itself. He has also made an impact in our community as a camp counselor, a science intern with the Environmental Learning Center, and a mentor of his youth group.
This National Merit Semi-Finalist has demonstrated responsibility and insight when it comes to his academic needs and skills, so it’s no surprise Josh maintained a weighted 4.3 GPA while taking Honors and Advanced Placement classes. His school counselor stated that Josh “digs deeper and is always searching for connections between very diverse topics. He is driven, not by a desire for success, but for understanding.”
Josh will attend Florida Institute of Technology. During his time there, he will study ocean engineering and no doubt continue to help, inspire, and lead others to be their best.
Joseph Twomey
He is a respectful, caring leader who inspires large and small groups of people in great ways. His actions are filled with honesty and integrity, and he never shies away from a new challenge.
These traits have allowed Joseph Twomey to find success as the captain of his high school swim, maintaining rapport with his team members and offering guidance and support. This led to his position of Area 6 Representative with Florida Swimming in which he represented swimmers on USA swimming affiliated teams for all Treasure Coast counties in Florida Swimming’s House of Delegates. Joey expertly represented his peers, guided them through COVID-regulations that changed the outcome of the 2020 season, and inspired them to run for a position with Florida Swimming.
Joey is currently participating in the Teens Listen Oral History Project in which local students are recording the profound histories of residents of our county. Joey interviewed Dr. Eddy Hudson, former Gifford High School principal, to learn his experiences during the desegregation efforts of 1969 in Indian River County. Joey is helping save our oral history from slowly being lost to the inevitable march of time.
Joey also swims on a club team, is a swimming instructor and coach, plays water polo, participated in Naval JROTC, and is a member of the Excel Exchange Club and Future Business Leaders of America.
As a critical thinker and problem solver with a keen aptitude for even the most difficult of topics, Joey has excelled in the classroom as an International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement student. He earned a weighted 4.71 GPA and is ranked first in his class.
Joey will study finance at Bentley University with the goal of pursuing a career in investment banking.
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