FUTURES Awards scholarships to Tomorrow’s Leaders

FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools awarded fourteen scholarships totaling $6,000 to high school seniors from its 2024-25 Tomorrow’s Leaders Program.  This is the 38th year for this program which develops young leaders for our community.

This year’s scholarships were made possible by sponsorships from Dr. Roosevelt D. Harris and the Daytona Heart Group. Dr. Harris presented the scholarships awards during the FUTURES Tomorrow’s Leaders Graduation in April 2026. The following students were selected:

• Sierra Hampton, Atlantic High – Dr. Roosevelt D. Harris Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship
• Eli Harper, DeLand High – Stephanie C. Parks Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Timothy Dobyns, DeLand High - Dr. Roosevelt D. Harris Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship
• Wyatt Blair, DeLand High – Dr. Roosevelt D. Harris Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Jayla Long, Mainland High – Elizabeth Falero Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Kyani Garnett, Mainland High – Jim Neill Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Lea Farhat, Mainland High – Rhonda Beatty Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Lucy Kimble, Seabreeze High – Amy Reynolds Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Santino Cevallos, Seabreeze High – Daytona Heart Group Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Amira Hamzaeva, Spruce Creek High – Bert & Julie Reames Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship
• Calise Moore, Spruce Creek High – Shimene Shepard Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Phoenix Malloch, Spruce Creek High – Daytona Heart Group Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Sadie King, Spruce Creek High – Dr. Roosevelt D. Harris Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship
• Julianna Santana, University High – Elizabeth Spurlin Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship

As juniors last year, these Tomorrow’s Leaders attended five day-long seminars facilitated by FUTURES board members, business leaders and governmental leaders.  The seminars were designed to familiarize the students with different aspects and services in Volusia County and to develop leadership skills. They were challenged to expand their awareness of the interrelationships and complexities of our community.

          Founded in 1985, FUTURES is a nonprofit, direct support organization for Volusia County Schools. Its mission is to engage business, civic, and district leaders to promote and achieve educational excellence for Volusia County Public Schools. FUTURES’s 30-member board of directors consists of area leaders who direct and raise funds to facilitate a variety of programs in the school district, including Tomorrow’s Leaders. For more information about FUTURES Foundation, please contact Shimene Shepard, Executive Director, at (386) 255-6475, extension 50730, or futuresfoundation@volusia.k12.fl.us.

Pictured, left to right, are: Sadie King, Lea Farhat, FUTURES Foundation Assistant Director Stephanie C. Parks, Santino Cevallos, Dr. Roosevelt D. Harris, Kyani Garnett, Wyatt Blair, Timothy Dobyns and Sierra Hampton