Anna Maria Island Awards $9,500 to 14 Local Students

Fourteen students walked away with scholarship awards totaling $9,500 from the Anna Maria Island Privateers this month, celebrating both academic achievement and community spirit. The ceremony at the Center of Anna Maria Island on June 6 marked another year of the organization investing in local young people.

The scholarship recipients include Tanner Evans, Ann Schultz, Aiden Gitt, Olivia Worley, Gabriella Gilbert, Cooper Richardson, Zachary Woodside, Fiona McCarthy, Eliza Lander, Reyna Matzke, Abigail Vreman, Ella Evans, Jack Love, and Jacob Burdette. Each student received funding to help pursue their educational goals beyond high school.

Among the awards, Tanner Evans received the $1,000 Big John Swagger Scholarship, named after a longtime Privateer who raised thousands of dollars for the scholarship fund during his years of service. Cindy Shealy-Swager presented the award in honor of her late family member's legacy of supporting island youth.

Junior Ella Evans received the $1,000 Bobby Boyd Scholarship from Alwana Boyd, who created the award to honor her late husband. Bobby Boyd was remembered at the ceremony for his dedicated service to both the Privateers organization and the broader Anna Maria Island community.

The Ripple Effect

The Privateers' scholarship program shows how one community organization can create lasting change for generations. By honoring past members through named scholarships, the group keeps the spirit of service alive while giving students real financial support for their futures.

These awards represent more than money. They connect young people to the stories of community leaders who came before them, showing that investing in others creates a legacy that outlasts any single lifetime.

The $9,500 in total scholarships demonstrates what a committed island community can accomplish when neighbors come together with a shared purpose. Each dollar raised represents hours of fundraising, volunteer work, and genuine care for the next generation.

Fourteen students now carry forward not just financial assistance, but the knowledge that their community believes in them.