Calusa Garden Club Announces 2024 Scholarship Awards

Four high school graduates who reside on Marco Island or attend high school on Marco Island have received Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island’s college scholarships for 2024. Emily Reisinger and Katelin Reisinger received awards of $2,000 each, and Gordon Davis and Hudson Dixon received awards of $1,000 each. The scholarship awards were given to the Marco Island Academy students at the Academy’s May 22 Awards Ceremony and to Hudson Dixon in a ceremony at Leigh Plummer Park on May 23.

High school students who apply for the Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island scholarships must plan to study horticulture, landscape design, city planning, environmental science, or another field related to agriculture, horticulture, or the conservation of our natural resources. The students who have contributed to conservation or environmental protection or horticultural endeavors during their high school years are favored.

Emily and Katelin Reisinger, graduates of Marco Island Academy, participated in the Calusa Garden Club Junior Gardeners program at Tommie Barfield Elementary School when they were younger students. In high school, they were members of ECO, an environmental conservation organization. Katelin Reisinger plans to major in marine biology at the University of South Florida. Emily Reisinger plans to plans to major in civil or environmental engineering at Florida State University. 

Gordon Davis, also a graduate of Marco Island Academy, has been accepted at the University of Georgia. At the university, Gordon plans to major in microbiology. Protection of the environment and our natural South Florida environment is one of Gordon’s interests, as shown in his volunteer work at Otter Mound, in the shorebird stewardship program, and in taking an internship with Collier County Solid and Hazardous Waste Management. 

Hudson Dixon met high school graduation requirements through home schooling while also earning an additional associate degree from Liberty University. Hudson plans to attend law school after graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in business administration. His career interests include environmental law and real estate law. Hudson’s family maintains a vegetable garden, and working in the garden taught him about growing our food supply.

Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island is a Section 501(c)3 organization and is a member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. Membership is open to persons interested in horticulture, floral design and environmental matters residing 5 months or more in Collier County. 

Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island meets the second Monday of each month, October through April, at Rose Hall at the Marco Island Branch Library. If you are interested in membership, please contact the Garden Club at calusagardenclubcommunication@gmail.com. For updates and information, please visit the Garden Club’s website, calusa.org, or visit the Club’s Facebook page, Calusa Garden Club.