Originally posted: http://www.news-press.com/article/20120425/NEWS0101/120425014/1002/RSS01
High school seniors Ashley Gosling and Tyler Silcock both have plans to study medicine in college. Today, they each received $1,000 to put towards those studies.
Gosling, who attends Ida Baker High School, and Silcock, a student at Mariner, each received the $1,000 scholarships at Cape Coral Police Department’s “Do the Right Thing” Scholarship Luncheon at Outback Steakhouse.
Gosling wants to become an anesthesiologist and is enrolled at the University of South Florida. She is valedictorian of her senior class with a weighted grade-point average of 5.6.
“I have always wanted to be in the medical field,” she said. “My school has a medical academy and I was able to see what goes on in the operating room.”
She said she is most proud of becoming school valedictorian and also receiving her associates degree in general studies from Edison as part of the Lee school system’s dual enrollment program.
Silcock will visit a friend in Alaska for two months after graduation, but is enrolled at Edison State College for the fall semester. He is interested in physical therapy. As far as high school, “I am proud of all the friends I made and how I have matured.”
Gosling and Silcock were chosen from approximately 18 candidates, who applied through their schools or as nominees through the police department’s “Do the Right Thing” program, which honors students for life-saving and goodwill achievements. This was the 15th year for the program.
We are such a city because of students like you,” former city council member Dolores Bertolini, a 27-year resident of the city, told the winners and a group of about 50 people, including interim city manager Steve Pohlman, police chief Jay Murphy, deputy chief Bart Connelly and council members Rana Erbrick, Marty McClain, Kevin McGrail, Derrick Donnell and Lenny Nesta. “To see how the program has grown makes my heart swell and I am proud of the students and their accomplishments.”
Murphy, who recognized former police chief Arnold Gibbs for starting the program in Cape Coral, said it “continues to flourish.”