ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- For three recent Florida high school graduates now starting college classes, their freshmen year may be a little easier thanks to the $5,000 state scholarship awards each received from Florida Realtors®. The students' winning essays were written on the topic "How Does a Realtor Professional Benefit the Community?"

The state winners are Dominic DeLucchi of Pensacola, a 2010 graduate of Escambia High School; Kelly Haskins of Lakeland, a 2010 graduate of George Jenkins High School; and Jordan Bender of Lake Mary, a 2010 graduate of Seminole High School.

These students each previously received a $1,000 scholarship for their district-winning essays in Florida Realtors®' 2009-2010 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors, giving each state winner a total of $6,000 to help with their college expenses. There were 13 district winners – for a total of $28,000 in scholarship funding given to Florida students this year from Florida Realtors. DeLucchi won the District 9 scholarship award; Haskins received the District 10 scholarship award; and Bender won the District 12 scholarship award.

2010 Florida Realtors President Wendell Davis announced the scholarship winners during the state association's recent 94th annual Convention & Trade Expo, held at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla.

The state scholarship winners are excited about college and look forward to achieving their educational goals. Haskins and Bender are both enrolled at the University of Florida in Gainesville. While Bender plans to major in public relations, Haskins has not yet decided on her career path. DeLucchi is attending Pensacola State College, where he is preparing for a career as a nurse, specializing in helping patients with muscular dystrophy.

Business executives, educators, Realtors, community leaders and the media throughout Florida volunteered their time and expertise to serve as judges for the district- and state-level scholarship essay competition. Almost 500 high school seniors from across the state sent entries for this year's essay contest – the 10th year for the program.

To read the students' winning essays, go to Florida Realtors' website at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/ScholarshipAwards/index.cfm

Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 115,000 members in 67 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.

SOURCE Florida Realtors

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