BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Keystone Heights High School senior Jaden Park is the recipient of this year’s Betty Warren Memorial Scholarship, which is presented annually by the Col. Samuel Elbert Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Col. Samuel Elbert Regent Anne Smoak and Chapter Treasurer Virginia Walkup presented a $1,500 check to Park during the May 6 chapter meeting at Keystone Beach Historic Pavilion.
Park has a weighted 4.4 GPA and has already earned his AA degree through dual enrollment at Santa Fe College.
“I only have three to four classes left at Santa Fe before transferring over to UF to continue my degree in Animal Sciences,” Park said. “I want to eventually become a large-animal vet.”
Despite his focus on academics, Park made time for extracurricular activities. He was involved in FFA and participated in the sports of cross country, soccer and track and field.
Walkup said Park’s qualifications for receiving the scholarship were “outstanding.”
“You are indeed a well-rounded young man as you are involved in church, sports and clubs, while maintaining a high GPA,” Walkup said.
Karen Lake, advising specialist at the Santa Fe College Watson Center, said, “Jaden is a wonderful example of the kinds of students we have the pleasure of working with at the center.”
Lake said because of dual enrollment, Park took college courses for free that would’ve normally cost $6,726 in tuition alone. He also avoided the extra cost that comes with books and materials.
“That’s his first two years, but Jaden’s got many years to go,” Lake said.
That’s why scholarships like the Betty Warren Memorial Scholarship are so important.
“I appreciate what you guys are doing because you’re helping him get to his dream,” Lake said.
The scholarship is named after Betty Eileen Dye Warren, a longtime resident of Starke who was active in First Baptist Church of Starke, the hospital auxiliary and the Col. Samuel Elbert Chapter, NSDAR. She passed away in 2003.
Warren was born in 1924 to Cyril and Rena Warren. She lived in West Virginia with her parents and five sisters. She attended West Virginia University for a short time before leaving to join the wartime workforce with the FBI in Washington, D.C.
“She never had an opportunity to return to school,” Walkup said, “but her love of books was a constant reminder that she cherished life-long learning.”
Warren and her husband, Joseph, moved to Starke, where they started their own family. Warren’s son Jeff is a donor to the scholarship fund, as is Lynda Warren Perez, who was married to Warren’s son John, who’s now deceased.
“This scholarship is a fitting example of Betty’s life,” Walkup said. She told Park, “She would be honored to know that in her memory, she will be helping a deserving student like achieve his dream of a degree.”
The scholarship is presented to students who are working toward a medical-related degree or a degree in either Education or American History.
