Two seniors at Sarasota Military Academy, cadets Juliana Rendle and Noah Fischer, were awarded scholarships during the recent Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association annual spring cookout on March 5, 2020. Rendle and Fischer are the first cadets from Sarasota Military Academy to apply for and receive the SSA scholarships.
The cadets are members of the Academy’s Ducks Unlimited school chapter, which partners with the Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association to promote conservation efforts and enable cadets to participate in outdoor activities.
“Every year, the Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association is proud to raise money for our junior members, and for many years we have been giving out five $1,000 scholarships to students in our community,” said Dale Ream, Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association Board Member. “Two years ago, we were excited to help Sarasota Military Academy staff and cadets rebuild their conservation club; it’s incredibly important to help the next generation realize the importance of going outside, having fun and making a difference, and this partnership is a great way to do that very thing.”
Founded two years ago at Sarasota Military Academy, the revamped Ducks Unlimited club was spearheaded by cadets Rendle and Fischer and facilitated by recently-retired CSM (Ret) Mike Collis and SMA-SFC Elke Olree as the high school instructors, and SMA-CPT Jackie Sharkey-Trecartin as the SMA Prep middle school advisor. The team worked with Dale Ream, Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association board member, to organize and relaunch the club.
Currently, there are 120 cadets involved in the SMA Ducks Unlimited club; 45 cadets in the high school club and 75 cadets in the prep middle school club. While the clubs are on separate campuses of the Academy, the cadets and staff work together during camping trips, hunter safety courses and a variety of other activities and conservation efforts.
The cadets received $1,000 scholarships each; cadets Rendle and Fischer of Sarasota Military Academy, and three students from Venice High School.
Cadets involved in the SMA Ducks Unlimited club are responsible for conducting and hosting meetings, becoming involved in various aspects of conservation efforts, tracking club activities and planning and coordinating four main areas of the club including the duck box construction crew, wetland conservation, wildlife management and wildlife migration and mapping.
Members are given the opportunity to work with the SSA to earn hunter safety certifications and participate in hunting and fishing trips. The SMA chapter recently participated in a “campout” led by Dale & Lisa Ream and SSA members; cadets were able to camp at a local ranch and additional activities are planned as the club continues to grow.
To learn more about the Sarasota Military Academy Ducks Unlimited chapter, visit https://www.sarasotamilitaryacademy.org/smaprep/sma-prep-clubs-activities/ducks-unlimited. To learn more about the Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association, contact Dale Ream at 941.915.5811.
About Sarasota Military Academy
Founded in 2002, Sarasota Military Academy (SMA) is a public charter school, college preparatory academy and an accredited IB Diploma and Middle Years Programme (MYP) School with two campuses located in Sarasota, Florida. Combining extraordinary academics with the highest military principles of camaraderie, focus, leadership, integrity, compassion, poise, honor and respect, SMA’s mission is to graduate young men and women who will confidently define their personal and unique goals for success in a multi-cultural and globalized world. Sarasota Military Academy High School is located at 801 N. Orange Avenue and Sarasota Military Academy Prep Middle School is located at 3101 Bethel Lane. To learn more about SMA, visit http://www.sarasotamilitaryacademy.org/.
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