Calusa Garden Club Awards 2025 Scholarships

Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island is pleased to announce that four graduating seniors from Marco Island Academy were chosen to receive the Club’s college scholarships for 2025: Lily Tessarzik, Helen Totten, Michelle Acosta, and Ginger Roloff. The criteria for the Calusa Garden Club scholarship includes living on or graduating from a high school on Marco Island, a demonstrated interest in the environment, horticulture or gardening, and plans to pursue a degree related to biological science, the environment, or conservation, including studies not only in the pure sciences but also in such areas as city planning, environmental law, marine biology and landscape design. 

Lily Tessarzik and Helen Totten received $1,000 scholarships. Tessarzik will attend Florida State University as an education major, and Totten has planned to attend the University of Florida to pursue a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Ginger Roloff and Michelle Acosta received $2,000 scholarships. Ginger Roloff plans to attend the University of Maine, where she will enroll in the School of Forestry. Roloff plans to pursue a career in parks and recreation management or outdoor education. Michelle Acosta will attend the University of Florida and major in plant science. Acosta plans to pursue the study of agriculture and plant sciences and will work to improve agriculture practices worldwide. 

Calusa Garden Club Scholarship Committee Chairman Marianne Foley, Scholarship Committee member Kathy McNabb, and club President Linda Colombo presented the four scholarship awards at Marco Island Academy’s Awards night.