Local Scholars Are Honored in Port Charlotte, FL Get a glimpse inside a Pop Warner League Scholastic Banquet...
by Jazmyn C. Boulware-Wilburn
February 28, 2004
Tonight a hundred plus Pop Warner Little Scholars attended a banquet on their behalf to congratulate and celebrate their continued excellence in education and community service efforts in Pop Warner Peace River Conference.
I was lucky enough to be invited, as I have found that I am one of the many Peace River Little Scholar honoree's in attendance this evening. I have to agree it's a great feeling.
I ask around and find out what the parents are feeling, thinking and overall...Are they starving like I am? Really though, I find that the parent involvement and support is much larger than I had originally anticipated. I see a dad grinning from "ear-to-ear," so proud of his son's accomplishments to date. A mom "primping" her daughters hair and clothes. Am I at the Oscars? Wait, that's next week...but what I am witnessing is as nearly same as the Oscars, yet more important as this is a recognition of a Academic Excellence!
As I take a seat in the large banquet area we are joined by parents Tony and Rhonda Gustitos with their daughter Danielle, a Junior Midget Little Scholar from North Port, Florida. This is Danielle's first year of participation with Pop Warner and of course she is here tonight as she was selected as a representative of the many in honor tonight. Sitting anxiously to hear her name called, her parents beam with pride. Danielle receives a certificate, as well as, a medal to congratulate her continued success in education and participation in Pop Warner.
Over 360,000 participants nationwide are involved in the Pop Warner Little Scholar program yearly. The nation represents 8 regions. Nearly 45,000 young people in the Pop Warner program nationwide met the requirements of the program this year. Approx. 229 students made it to the first round team and 3,800 made it to the 2nd round team. For the past 5 years Peace River has had the top winners of the National Scholarships in attendance for the country. Now that is something to be proud of!
It's a FACT...Knowledge is the future and these kids are the future. We could have the next President of the United States in the room. The next Best Actress Oscar winner. Future businessmen and women...bottom line, I am witnessing the kids of today as the adults of the future.
I ask around and see what is it that enables these kids to get such incredible grades. Is it long hours of studying? Is it easy? Does Mom and/or Dad help? I am finding all kinds of answers. Believe it or not I even got the answer of "bribery," but truth be known in this case...IT WORKED! That $25 bucks for each "A" cashed in on her trip to the mall!
I am approached by April Minikwu from Clewiston, FL. She to is also here tonight to be recognized for her academic achievements. She thinks I am the celebrity tonight, when in fact there are many celebrities in the room including her, as she again in my eyes represents the future.
Peace River was fortunate enough to have received multiple donations to pass on to four students tonight. These college scholarship recipients included the following winners:
$750.00 - Brittany Warner (Cape Junior Dolphins, FL)
$1000.00 - Nicholas Alexandrou (Charlotte Warriors, FL)
The final $1000.00 scholarship was in memory of Kyle Barna, a 14 year old resident of Englewood, FL who tragically lost his life in November 2003. Kyle was a football player for Pop Warner, #95 for the Englewood Cats. His parents were in attendance to present the final scholarship in memorandum of Kyle to Nicholas Alexandrou.
Also awarded this evening was a Florida House of Representative Tribute to Jazmyn Cherie Boulware-Wilburn presented by Speaker pro tempore Florida House of Representatives Lindsay M. Harrington. Yes, that's me. I am 13 years old (soon to be 14 yrs old) and I have already graduated High School and completed my first year of college. I am involved in many animal rights organizations, as well as, many non-profit agencies in my attempt to make a difference in this world. I am living proof that anything in this world is possible with hard work. I encourage anyone participating in Pop Warner, reading this article, or alike to trust me....Hard work pays off!! So never give up and get involved! To make a difference you have to jump right in! Take my lead or start your own. Trust me it is worth every ounce of energy, and the payoff of kindness, continued education, and more is PRICELESS.
All and all, I can tell you that some of the brightest kids were in attendance tonight. Some will continue on to the Regional level on April 3, 2004 in Orlando, FL as well as the National level on May 29, 2004 at DisneyWorld. I personally wish them, as well as, everyone involved in Pop Warner great success in the future.
This is Jazmyn Cherie Boulware-Wilburn with your look at Peace River Pop Warner Scholastic banquet . Success and good fortune to all involved is my wish to you!
Tonight a hundred plus Pop Warner Little Scholars attended a banquet on their behalf to congratulate and celebrate their continued excellence in education and community service efforts in Pop Warner Peace River Conference. 
Peace River was fortunate enough to have received multiple donations to pass on to four students tonight. These college scholarship recipients included the following winners: