High School Students Awarded Scholarships from Broward League of Cities

To date, the Broward League of Cities Scholarship Program has awarded approximately $54,000 to exemplary students residing in cities across Broward who have showcased strong leadership, communication, and judgment skills throughout their high school careers.

▸ To learn more about the Broward League of Cities visit browardleague.org.

ABOUT THE BROWARD LEAGUE OF CITIES:

On April 20, 2023, the Broward League of Cities (BLOC) awarded four $1,000 scholarships to Broward County high school seniors who will pursue college studies with an emphasis on municipal government. For the past 11 years, the scholarship program has provided financial assistance to future municipal leaders in Broward County.

“This year’s scholarship recipients have shown their eagerness to embrace a higher level of civic education and be a part of their community’s success,” said Bob Mayersohn, President of the Broward League of Cities. “The League is honored to support these future changemakers as they begin their college careers.”

The following students were awarded scholarships:

• Taylor Aks – Currently attending Florida Atlantic University High School with a GPA of 4.00, Taylor is a Parkland resident. She has completed over 816 community service hours and plans to pursue a business management degree and attend law school to help represent communities.

• Jorge Altuna – Currently attending Cypress Bay High School with a GPA of 4.1, Jorge is a Weston resident. He has completed over 385 community service hours and plans to major in political science and public policy with the goal of encouraging positive change in his community.

• Sophia Safrin – A resident of Cooper City, Sophia currently attends Cooper City High School with a GPA of 3.93. She has completed over 377 community service hours and plans to major in international affairs and pursue a career as a foreign service officer.

• Gianna Villella – A resident of Hollywood, Gianna currently attends ChaminadeMadonna College Preparatory School with a GPA of 4.59. She has completed over 343 community service hours and plans to pursue a career in engineering.

Chartered in 1957, the Broward League of Cities is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and resolving issues facing Broward County’s 31 cities and municipalities. A member of the Florida League of Cities, which serves to unify local governments throughout the state of Florida, the organization’s membership is made up of elected officials from municipal governments and area businesses. The organization is committed to increasing awareness and providing resolution to issues that affect day-to-day operations of local government, including legislation at the county, state and federal levels.

The country’s fastest-growing sport is making a big splash in Coral Springs. Pickleball, a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has more than 35 million players across the country. It is played on a court that is roughly the same size as a doubles badminton court, with a low net spanning the width of the court.

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington state, and his friend Bill Bell. They created the game as a way to entertain their families during a summer vacation. It is a fun and accessible sport that can be played by people of all ages and skill levels. Pickleball has simple rules and a smaller court than other racquet sports, which makes it easy for beginners to pick up and play. You don't need a lot of experience or skill to start playing.

Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles, and the objective is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent's court, with the goal of scoring points. The serving team must serve the ball diagonally across the court, and the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it.

Coral Springs is currently building 10 courts at Riverside Park, including a “stadium” court with seating for up to 60 spectators. When construction is complete, the city will have 26 public courts across Coral Springs’ parks. In addition to the Riverside Park courts, there are eight at Cypress Park, four at Coral Springs Tennis Center, and, four at Coral Springs Middle School.

In addition to the new public courts, many communities are adding Pickleball courts to their amenities or replacing some tennis courts with Pickleball courts. The City of Parkland’s Terramar Park includes four Pickleball courts.

In addition to the compelling recreational aspect of the sport, several emerging professional leagues have recently launched. Several notable athletes have invested in Pickleball teams, including Lebron James, Tom Brady, and Kevin Durant.