Sean McDonald

It was the last luncheon of the season. The General Women’s Club of Lehigh Acres holds its gala luncheon where they give away money to deserving people heading for college or else already in college. They don’t meet any more until next fall and many of the members have left this week for up north.

But at their final luncheon of the season, they honored a young man, a senior high school student, who wants to major in dance and minor in business, and four young women who are single moms who are making an attempt to return to college to get degrees so they can earn more money for their family.

Sean M. McDonald, a senior at Lehigh Senior High School For the Arts received a $1,000 scholarship. He has been very active in dance and drama events while in school. He has only been studying dance for the past two years and has performed at the Barbara B. Mann Theatre, the Broadway Palm, the Alliance for the Arts and at both Lehigh Senior High School Center for the Arts, of which he is a student, and at Cypress Lake School.

His is the first class to graduate from Lehigh Senior High since it was awarded the school for the arts status. His mom, Ro McDonald, who accompanied him to the luncheon looked on with pride as he accepted his check and thanked the 40 or more women who were present.

He said he plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Single-mom scholarships: These three single moms, from left, Robin Gonzalez, Reshaunna McKnight, and Erica Torres all received scholarship money to attend local colleges. Photo by Mel Toadvine

In the past, the club has given money only to college-bound senior high school students. But this year they gave $500 scholarships to single moms with children and who are going to college so they can get better jobs.

Those young women were Mairim Aguayo, who is headed for Edison State College, who was not present at the luncheon; Robin Gonzalez, who plans to attend Southwest Florida College; Reshauna McKnight, who also plans to attend Southwest Florida College; and Erica Torres, Hodges University.

Each of the three women thanked the members of the club, saying how hard it was to go to school and raise their children.

Some had tears in their eyes as they accepted the scholarship help.

The club also handed out checks to local organizations in Lehigh that are making a difference in the community. They included:

Women’s Club hands out checks: The Lehigh Acres General Women’s Club handed out check to local organizations during the annual luncheon last week. Shown here making the presentation is Lynn Beck, the club’s treasurer. From left to right are Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services, Israel Lozano on behalf of Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, and Karen Makowski, a co-chairman to raise money for the proposed Hope Hospice House in Lehigh. Each received a $200 check. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Habitat for Humanity, Our Daily Bread food kitchen at Christ United Methodist church, Lehigh Community Services and Hope Hospice. Accepting for Or Daily Bread was Israel Lozano; for Lehigh Community Services, Rae Nicely; and for Hope Hospice, Karen Makowski.

New officers and directors were also installed. They included: Loretta Milligan, president; first vice president, Doris Walinski, second vice president, Lynn Beck, secretary, Pat Green and treasurer, Joan Sozzi. The Board of directors included Linda Saul, Patty Long, Reba Money, Marie Betts, Maxine Cerasimo.

The club will not meet again until the fall.

New officers: These are the new officers of the General Women’s Club of Lehigh Acres. They are Loretta Milligan, president; first vice president, Doris Walinski, second vice president, Lynn Beck, secretary, Pat Green and treasurer, Joan Sozzi. Photo by Mel Toadvine