The 2024 STRIVE Awards Celebrate Resilient, Remarkable Students

April 22, 2024 – Sarasota

At eight high schools across Sarasota County, 40 seniors and 39 juniors were recognized on Thursday, April 18, during the 26th annual STRIVE Awards Celebration.  

The STRIVE Awards represent the vision of H. Jack Hunkele, a philanthropist who believed in the value of recognizing and supporting students whose resilience and grit help them overcome significant challenges to succeed.  

Today, the STRIVE Awards honor students at Booker High School, North Port High School, Pine View School, Riverview High School, Sarasota High School, Sarasota Military Academy, Suncoast Polytechnical High School, and Venice High School. School counselors, teachers, and principals nominate students for this recognition. 

A list of the 2024 STRIVE Award recipients can be found on the Education Foundation’s website: edfoundationsrq.org/strive-awards 

Celebration events were held at each school, with parents, teachers, administrators, friends, and community members in attendance to recognize the remarkable journeys of these students.  

Each senior STRIVE Award recipient received a cash gift of $1,000 to pay for items that many scholarships do not cover. One SUPER STRIVER, a senior from each high school, received a gift of $2,500. Junior STRIVE Award recipients received $100 gifts as well as $50 stipends to cover expenses such as ACT/SAT test registration fees and college visits. Juniors were also invited to join the Education Foundation’s mentoring program.  

In addition to providing these gifts, the Education Foundation highlighted the stories of STRIVE Award recipients to promote the power of resiliency, grit, and courage. One senior STRIVE Award recipient from each high school was profiled by the Education Foundation, and these profiles were published on Sundays in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.  

“It is such an honor for the Education Foundation to shine a spotlight on these remarkable young people,” said Jennifer Vigne, president and CEO of the Education Foundation. “STRIVE Award recipients embody the power of resilience and the importance of persistence in the face of setbacks. 

“These students provide hope and inspiration to their peers, their teachers, and indeed the entire community.” 

The 2024 STRIVE Awards were made possible through the generous support of the H. Jack Hunkele Charitable Foundation, the Harold & Jacqueline Bladel Charitable Trust, Florida Blue, the Bruce J. Heim Foundation, the McSweeney Family Foundation Inc., and Suncoast Credit Union.