Farmer Scholars Past and Present Gather for Celebratory Dinner

Four recipients of Florida Tech’s most prestigious financial award, the Farmer Scholarship, spent a memorable recent evening with Jeanne Farmer celebrating the program that has meant so much to so many.

Phillip and Jeanne Farmer established the Farmer Scholars Program in 2005, and the first Farmer Scholar was named in 2009. That was Andrew Hernandez, and he was among the guests at the celebratory dinner hosted by Jeanne Farmer and her son, Jeff.

Hernandez thanked the Farmers for their continued friendship and the impact that the scholarship made on his success both in school and beyond.

Jeff Farmer stood and congratulated the students on their character, ambition and hard work. He went on to say that his family is blessed to have been able to provide such a scholarship.

Jeanne Farmer spent time with each of the scholars, talking with them, laughing and sharing in the joy of the evening.

In addition to the Farmers and Hernandez, other guests were Brian and Lisa Ehrlich, Gary and Kerry Grant, Shelley Johnson and Farmer Scholars Madison Rooth, Emily Simpson and Andy Traficante, and Traficante’s mother, Laurie Frankel.

Guests enjoyed a four-course dinner from Florida Tech Catering and prepared by Florida Tech’s Chef Jon Skoviera. A pianist played background music on the Farmer’s grand piano.

The students, dressed in their best business casual attire, were very thankful to Mrs. Farmer for the scholarships. Rooth said as she thanked Mrs. Farmer that this “is the best scholarship in the world.” Simpson said her family became “very emotional” when they learned that she was selected for the Farmer Scholarship. 

Frankel expressed her sincere appreciation of the scholarship and how proud she was that her son was selected.

The Farmer Scholars program provides a full, four-year scholarship awarded annually to a Florida resident and high school graduate who is among the top 5 percent of his or her class and demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and outstanding personal character.