Driving for success: Over 200 scholarships delivered in Flagler County Education Foundation's Drive-By and Surprise

Flagler Schools celebrated two nights of special deliveries for Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas graduating seniors.

  • By Brent Woronoff and Rich Carroll
  • | 7:30 p.m. May 9, 2026
  • Palm Coast Observer
  • Schools
  • Share

Cars pulled in out of the driveways of the homes of Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high school seniors on May 6-7 to deliver scholarship money in the Flagler County Education Foundation’s Senior Scholarship Drive-By and Surprise event. 

Flagler Schools representatives, community leaders, service organizations and businesses handed out scholarships, planted yard signs and celebrated with the students and their families.

FPC Fire Leadership Academy student Evan Achins got a real surprise when a fire engine from Flagler County Fire Rescue Station 53 pulled in front of his house on May 6.

Lacy Martin, the organizer of the annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Stair Climb presented Achins with the first 9/11 Memorial Tribute Scholarship along with Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker, Fire Leadership Academy instructor Thomas Cope, Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore, Assistant Superintendent Angela O’Brien and School Board member Lauren Ramirez.

Martin distributed three more 9/11 Memorial Tribute Scholarships on May 7 to Matanzas seniors Jordan Sauer, Roberto Reyes Jr. and James Fields. The scholarships were presented to graduating seniors who are planning to become first responders.

“Hearing each student’s story, their passion and their aspirations in law enforcement and first responding truly filled my heart,” Martin wrote in a social media post.

According to the Flagler County Education Foundation, over 209 scholarships were awarded during the two-day event. A fleet of 20 vehicles and 60 drivers covered over 100 routes across the county. Seventy local organizations, 200 community members and 100 Flagler Schools employees delivered scholarships to help over 150 students begin their college and career paths.

The Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club sponsored the 200-plus yards signs. The Ed Foundation’s Madison Asbill led the event which began at the high schools each night as the drivers received the routes for all of their stops.

The Observer followed a few vehicles around and spoke to some of the scholarship recipients. We asked them about their career plans, their high school experience over the past four years and their advice to incoming freshmen:

ELLA SHEFFIELD, FPC

Ella Sheffield received the Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club’s largest scholarship of $8,000. She will attend the University of Richmond where she plans to major in psychology and minior in history and religious study.

Career plans: “I hope to become a pediatric psychologist one day, so I have many more years of schooling ahead of me, but I hope to start that journey [at] Richmond.”   

High school experience: “I do the IB program, so I’ve been surrounded by many of the same teachers for the past four years. They’ve all been so supportive and incredible. They’re all amazing. I really don’t think I could have done it without them.”

Advice to younger students: “Don’t procrastinate. Take all of the opportunities you can get and just get involved. Don’t be afraid to get involved, because I’d rather be overwhelmed than regret not doing more.”

AVA MULDOON, MATANZAS

Ava Muldoon is set to receive her associate's degree from Daytona State College on May 12. In the fall, she’ll attend the University of Florida where she plans to major in architecture.

Career plans: “After my bachelor’s I’ll probably work a little and then start on getting my master’s so I can become a licensed architect. I am interning at an architecture firm this summer. I chose architecture because I love the balance between the analytical and logical side of it and the creative side. I feel like in my life, I do a lot of both of those things, and it kind of brings all those things together.”

High school experience: “I think Matanzas has had so much to offer to me, and I've taken advantage of so much of it, and that's why I've achieved my goals. If you asked me four years ago, where I'd like to be, I'm kind of standing in that place now, which is so amazing.”

Advice to younger students: “I tell the freshmen to take the risk. If you want to do it, go ahead and do it. Take the risk and it will pay off.”

LILLIAN AMES, FPC

Career plans: Lillian Ames said she will attend Florida State University in its honors program, where she will major in accounting.

High school experience: “At FPC I was part of of the varsity weightlifting and swimming teams, as well as a few clubs like National Honor Society and Future Problem Solvers. Being in the IB program really helped me to excel. And that was a big part of my success.”

Advice to younger students: Don't procrastinate and manage your time wisely.

EVA LUIS, MATANZAS

Eva Luis will attend the University of South Florida to major in biomedical sciences. In her final high school activity, she will be competing in scenario writing at the Future Problem Solvers International Conference next month at Indiana University.

Career plans: “What I want to do when I'm older is to be a nurse practitioner that specializes in aesthetics. They perform non-surgical procedures to enhance cosmetic outlook like Botox and laser and filler.”

High school experience: I was in Future Problem Solvers since eighth grade, so I've been doing this program for quite a while, and the friendships that I fostered within that club kind of guided me through high school. It’s just a bunch of fun doing SGA, National Honor Society with my best friends.”

Advice to younger students: One advice I would give for incoming freshmen would be to start getting your AICE classes or DSC [dual enrollment] and your community service hours a lot earlier, and especially be more involved with a lot of clubs, because it will definitely help when you apply for colleges and scholarships.”

EVAN ACHINS, FPC

Evans Achins received the first 9/11 Memorial Tribute Scholarship. He also received the Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club’s First Responder Scholarship. He is a graduate of FPC’s Fire Leadership Academy.

Career plans: “[These scholarships] will help me with my future in becoming a paramedic. I want to get enrolled in the fire service with Flagler County and hopefully get my paramedic certification.”

High school experience: “My teachers, particularly in the Fire Academy, have been very supportive of me. They've encouraged me to build out my skills and my skill horizons.”

Advice to younger students: “If you don't want to do it, you should still try it, just to see.”

AURORA SIMMONS, MATANZAS

Aurora Simmons will enroll in Daytona State College’s radiology program to become a registered technologist in radiography.

Career plans: “I’m hoping to become an X-ray technician and help people. After my two years at DSC, I may transfer [to complete my bachelor’s degree]. We’ll see.”

High school experience: What made Matanzas so amazing was all the support I got from everyone, from teachers, admin, coaches. I’m really thankful for that. I think if you want support and need it, Matanzas will be a great place for you.”

Advice to younger students: “It goes by really quick, so don't waste it.”

GRAYSON BLANCHARD, FPC

Career plans: Grayson Blanchard plans to major in materials science engineering at the University of Central Florida.

High school experience: Everybody in the FPC IB program is just so supportive and encouraging. Going through that rigorous coursework and all these doings, getting into college, I really would be nowhere where I am now without any of them.”

Advice to younger students: “Even if you think you can't do it, you got to do it anyway.”

AASI BHARUCHA, FPC 

Career plans: Aasi Bharucha will attend the University of Florida and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field. “I just want to make a difference in the community in the future, and this will really help me,” she said after receiving a Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club scholarship.

High school experience: “I did the IB program for four years, and that definitely helped me get into the University of Florida. And I've done multiple clubs. The teachers, they’re absolutely amazing. Everyone really played a big part in this scholarship.”

Advice to younger students: “Just never give up. I've had many feelings of giving up, but I just didn't. So that's how I’m here today.”

To view Observer videos of the event, visit youtube.com/@PalmCoastObserver/shorts

 

×

Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning local news.