Three receive scholarships from North Fort Myers Civic Association

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

The North Fort Myers Civic Association has made going to college a little bit easier for three North Fort Myers residents.

The organization handed out three $1,000 Mark Lipton Scholarships (named after the late director of the civic association who died in 2018) on June 13 at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center, something they have done the past several years

The recipients had to live in North Fort Myers to receive the award, but could attend a high school outside the area

This year’s winners were Cosette Lipscomb, Madilyn Jacoby and Britton Deleacaes for their excellence in the classroom and giving back to the community

Lipscomb, a graduate of Cape Coral High School, was very involved in school clubs, class treasurer and a member of the National Honor Society She also scuba dives, volunteered more than 100 hours at the Harry Chapin Food Bank and is working toward a black belt in Taekwondo

She will attend Florida International University where she will major in marine biology She was asked by Debra Ballard, who heads the scholarship committee, to bring clean water back to Southwest Florida

“I’m very excited I think what the group does is great for the community and this scholarship will help me in my education,” said Lipscomb, who has received a few other scholarships

Jacoby, a graduate of Mariner High School, took five AP classes such as calculus and engineering and design She also did an internship at Avalon Engineering and took every engineering course offered at the school She joined clubs like Mu Alpha Beta, Technology Student Association

Jacoby will attend Georgia Tech in the fall and major in civil engineering She was very excited to earn the award because it will allow her to come home and bring the area into the future

“This is going to help me pay for college, learn and then come back and help my community,” said Jacoby, who also has received other scholarships “Every little bit helps ”

Deleacaes, who did not attend the event, graduated from North Fort Myers High School, and would like to start a career as a marine mammal care specialist this summer. She will attend the University of South Florida and major in marine biology and minor in psychology

Deleacaes was a member of the color guard and her coach called her a role model and that she was a passionate and natural performer and driven to excellence

Ballard implored the recipients to return home after college, as their community needs them

“This is our future We have to nurture them, keep them and bring them back here to Lee County,” Ballard said “We don’t want you to attend college and disappear ”

Three Cape Coral teens are facing charges after being accused of beating and robbing a person in a city park Cape Coral Police Department officials arrested Zachariah Goswick, 17; Noah McClanahan, 16; and Zachariah Allen Alcorn 16, at their homes last Thursday under “probable cause established” for robbery, felony battery and obstructing justice

Police said they received a call t h a t s o m e o n e n e e d e d m e d i c a l a t t e n t i o n a f t e r a l l e g e d l y b e i n g “jumped” at Cultural Park When officers arrived, they met with the v i c t i m w h o s t a t e d t h a t t h r e e teenagers “took turns beating the victim, causing significant injurie after an unprovoked attack ”

Police said the victim stated t took their phone and credit cards fleeing

Detectives from the CCPD's Violent Crimes Unit spoke to the victim, who was transported to a local hospital Police said the victim was able to track their stolen cell phone to a nearby location where one of the teenagers lived, as the cell phone was thrown away in a neighbor's trashcan Officials said detectives were able to locate one of the suspects that lived in the area, and confirmed accounts of them being at the park earlier Detectives were also able to find the other two teens involved, and upon questioning, “all reported being involved in the altercation ”

“The investigation revealed that the victim was sitting in a pavilion at the park, and Mr Goswick, Mr McClanahan, and Mr Alcorn attacked the victim in an a l l e g e d a m b u s h - s t y l e a t t a c k a n d s t o l e t h e v i c t i m ' s belongings, including the victim's cellphone, so they unable to call for help,” stated a CCPD release

All three were taken to Lee County Jail

The families of the youths could not be reached for comment

Cape Coral Police had not released the arrest reports as of press time and, as the youths are juveniles, related court documents also were not available