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For three recent Florida high school graduates now starting college classes, their freshmen year may be a little easier thanks to the $5,000 state scholarship awards each received from Florida Realtors(R). The students’ winning essays were written on the topic “How Does a Real Estate Professional Benefit the Community?”

The state winners are Natalia Alvarez of Jacksonville, a 2009 graduate of Stanton College Preparatory School; Jordan Andreu of Plant City, a 2009 graduate of Durant Senior High School; and Lauren Sorondo of Miami, a 2009 graduate of the School for Advanced Studies.

These students each previously received a $1,000 scholarship for their district-winning essays in the Florida Association of Realtors(R)’ 2008-2009 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors, giving each state winner a total of $6,000 to help with their college expenses. There were 13 district winners — for a total of $28,000 in scholarship funding given to Florida students this year from Florida Realtors. Alvarez won the District 1 scholarship award; Sorondo received the District 4 scholarship award; and Andreu won the District 6 scholarship award.

2009 President Cynthia Shelton announced the scholarship winners during Florida Realtors’ 93rd annual Convention & Trade Expo, held at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla.

The state scholarship winners all have big plans for their future. Andreu and Sorondo are both enrolled in the Honors College at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Andreu is an English major, while Sorondo plans to major in English or Linguistics, plus earn a double minor in Italian and music performance. Alvarez is attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., where she is studying pre-med with plans to major in neuroscience.

Business executives, educators, Realtors, community leaders and the media throughout Florida volunteered their time and expertise to serve as judges for the district- and state-level essay competition. More than 400 high school seniors from across the state sent entries for this year’s essay contest — the ninth year for the program.