2009 Scolarship Winners

Four Putnam County senior high school students received $500.00 scholarships each from the Azalea City Cruisers, hot rod club. The club gives a scholarship to a senior at each high school in the county and this year the club raised enough money to give an additional scholarship to the best of all the applicants who did not win the scholarship at their school.

The school winners were Kabreeka Curry at Palatka High School, Shane Jacob at Crescent City High School and Trevor Gilbert at Interlachen High School. The additional winner from Crescent City High School was Elia Agreda. The Azalea City Cruisers award the scholarships to student who will be attending a post secondary vocational school or trade school. These students plan on a career that requires education past a high school diploma, but not necessarily require a college degree.  Students must have better than a “C” average and complete an essay about their future plans and career choice.  Kabreeka Curry plans to be a Licensed Practical Nurse, Shane Jacob plans to be an EMT/fireman/paramedic, Trevor Gilbert plans to be a refrigerator and air conditioning repairman, and Elia Agreda plans to be a dental assistant and hygienist.

The Azalea City Cruisers scholarship committee, which consists of Larry Coon, Mike Apple, Charlie Wellborn, and Mike Walker, presented the scholarships at each high school’s senior awards ceremony on May 19, 21 and 27. This is the third year these scholarships have been awarded.  The club hopes to raise even more money, so that in the coming year, they can increase the number of scholarships to two for each high school in Putnam County.

The Azalea City Cruisers is more than just a club that promotes the preservation of the American hot rod; they are also a charitable organization. They raise money for cancer research, needy cancer patients, and the Lee Conlee House for battered and abused women. Money is raised through car shows and cruise-ins.

The Azalea City Cruisers also collect teddy bears and stuffed animals for sheriff deputies to give to children who they f ind in difficult situations. Last year they collected over 650 bears. The club will be at McDonalds in Palatka on Saturday, May 30 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm collecting bears at their cruise-in. Last year the deputies used up the bears by Christmas so the Cruisers are hoping to collect even more bears this year. .