NFM High ROTC students receive scholarship funds from the Joe Reda Foundation
Three North Fort Myers High School ROTC participants were awarded scholarship funds by the Joe Reda Foundation, with the support of The Veterans of the Glen — part of the Herons Glen community.
Joe Reda is the founder of the Joe Reda Scholarship Fund, and a member of Veterans of The Glen.
“I have seven children, and I couldn’t afford to send all my kids to college,” he said, citing one of the main reasons he started his own foundation.
A barber originally from Long Island, N.Y., he has raised funds for nearly two years from car shows, donations and more to be able to distribute the scholarship funds.
The three ROTC students, Ryan Huerta, David Pagano and Roodelyne Forvil, are all exceptional students, according to North Fort Myers High School Principal Kimberly Lunger.
The organizational group that choose the recipients includes Reda, John Rehkopf, Gordon Cooke and Roman Kilar. They reviewed applications, and all believe that they chose the best most deserving students at the school.
Their funds also went to the Harry Chapin Food Bank and their own veterans from Herons Glen.
Huerta, joined by mother Elizabeth and father Alberto at the scholarship award ceremony, plans on joining the Air Force. A senior at North Fort Myers High School, he said his ROTC experience was “a different way of lifestyle. Discipline and respect.”
His mother said the scholarship and his future career plans will allow him many opportunities.
“He’ll be able to travel and meet different people,” she said.
Pagano is also a senior at the school. He was joined by his mother, Lori, at the ceremony. He plans on visiting the Citadel this summer and also going into the Air Force.
“I hope to be commissioned as a second lieutenant and have a career in the Air Force,” he said.
Pagano noted how many students need a financial boost in this economy. A Cape Coral resident, he said his choice of going to North Fort Myers High School was a great one.
“It’s an outstanding school. Phenomenal. There is outright respect to students,” he said.
Forvil, also a senior, attended the awards with her twin brother, Roodely “Rod” Forvil, and Marie Forvil and Louis Aritus. She’s been in ROTC two years.
“I plan on going to Edison College for two years, then USF to become an obstetrician,” she said.
Forvil said the scholarship means a lot because of how hard her mother has worked to support her future education, along with her stepfather. ROTC for her has been a great experience.
“The instructors were awesome and I like the environment,” she said.
The scholarship fund is relatively new — started over one year ago. Veterans and the service are near and dear to his heart, Reda said. Many in his community are veterans and he still has family members in the service.
“We wanted to have kids from the ROTC program get the scholarships,” Kilar said. “If they become sergeants, officers — we’d like to be part of that.”