Three Lee County JROTC students awarded $2,000 Cape Coral MOAA scholarships
Three outstanding Lee County high school JROTC cadets have been awarded $2,000 scholarships from the Cape Coral Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America in recognition of their leadership, academic excellence and commitment to service.
Mariner High School Cadet Elyssa Vazquez was honored for an exceptional record of leadership and achievement during her four years in JROTC. As battalion commander, she leads more than 350 cadets in one of the nation’s largest JROTC programs. Vazquez has maintained a 5.09 weighted GPA, earned four consecutive years on the Superintendent’s List and received the JROTC Highest GPA award all four years.
Vazquez also distinguished herself nationally in marksmanship competition. As team commander and captain, she helped lead Mariner to eight Florida state championships and six national championships. Individually, she ranked as the No. 3 precision air rifle shooter in the United States as a sophomore and earned the Civilian Marksmanship Program Gold Junior Distinguished Badge. She plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and pursue a commission as an Army aviation officer through ROTC.
Riverdale High School Cadet Ezekiel Florian earned the scholarship after building an impressive record as battalion command sergeant major. Florian, a four-year JROTC member, helped oversee the training and readiness of a battalion of more than 330 cadets while maintaining a 5.06 weighted GPA. He also served as captain of the school’s JROTC Leadership Bowl Team, which placed second at the district level.
Florian was recognized for both leadership and service. He completed more than 82 hours of community service, helped increase participation in after-school JROTC activities and received the West Point Society of Naples and Southwest Florida Award for Leadership Excellence. Following graduation, he plans to attend Florida State University, participate in ROTC and eventually establish a nonprofit organization focused on serving homeless individuals and families.
Island Coast High School Cadet Drazen Fortunic was selected for the scholarship after excelling academically, in leadership and through extensive extracurricular involvement. Fortunic, who serves as president of the cadet board, maintained a 4.9 weighted GPA while also working more than 30 hours per week. He earned honors including the American Legion Academic & Leadership Award and the Scottish Rite Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
Among his accomplishments, Fortunic founded the Science Olympiad Club at Island Coast High School, graduated from the National Flight Academy and contributed to a State Raider Challenge Overall Championship team. He plans to study nuclear engineering, enlist in the Navy Reserves and ultimately earn a commission through Naval ROTC.
The scholarships were presented April 30 during the Major General James Dozier JROTC Awards Ceremony at South Fort Myers High School by Cape Coral MOAA Chapter President Gary Nolan and Board Member-at-Large Bill Deile.