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Winners of the 2019 L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series Scholarship Announced

Two Daytona State College students awarded $1,000 scholarships

Pictured L-R: L. Gale Lemerand, Holly-Noel Monroe, Hilton Smith, and DSC President Dr. Tom LoBassoDAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (Oct. 30, 2019) – As part of the L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series, two Daytona State College students were awarded $1,000 scholarships to assist in the pursuit of their dreams to open their own businesses. Holly-Noel Monroe of Deltona, Florida is the scholarship winner for DSC college-credit students, and Hilton Smith, also from Deltona, is the winner for DSC Adult Education. Scholarship recipients are selected based on professors' recommendations and class performance.

Monroe is studying Environmental Science and Technology at Daytona State and is pursuing her childhood dream of opening an educational petting zoo. Once the zoo is open, her long-term goals include bringing in more animals, adding food trucks, hosting events, hiring photographers, and adding an educational garden.

While volunteering at Willow Pond Farm, Monroe discovered her passion for animals, while feeling her happiest and most confident. She now hopes to inspire others to do something they truly love, no matter how "wild and out of the park" it may seem, and she wants her petting zoo to help provide the spark they need.

Smith has already overcome a number of challenges in his life. After earning his GED through the DSC Adult Education program, he is now in his third semester at the Deltona Campus, and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He plans on becoming a nurse upon graduation and eventually starting his own home-care business.

Smith also works with numerous members of the homeless community and the elderly, caring for them physically and emotionally. He started a creative writing club, and enjoys volunteering and giving back to the community wherever he is needed.

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Pictured L-R: L. Gale Lemerand, Holly-Noel Monroe, Hilton Smith, and DSC President Dr. Tom LoBasso. Photo by Aldrin Capulong courtesy of Daytona State College.