Justin Silver, a St. Augustine High School senior and aspiring chemist, is the 2015 recipient of the W. Douglas Hartley Scholarship. The announcement was made during a special awards ceremony for St. Augustine High School seniors.
Justin will attend Florida State University this fall, where he’ll pursue a degree in the field of chemistry. The scholarship provides up to four years of state university tuition plus a stipend for books. “Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel towards Mr. and Mrs. Hogan,” Justin said. “It’s people like you who give me the greatest hope for our society. This charitable act has impacted me in more ways than you imagine. It has encouraged me to be more generous and charitable in my life. I will do my best to succeed in college and in the world beyond.”
Justin is a beach lifeguard for the St. Johns County Marine Rescue and was a member of the National Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, Africlub, National French Society and Beta Club. He also was on the swim and soccer teams. Justin was chosen for his hard work ethic, school involvement and positive attitude.
Wayne and Pat Hogan established the W. Douglas Hartley Scholarship 14 years ago to honor the memory of Mr. W. Douglas Hartley, St. Johns County’s long-term superintendent to help deserving students continue their education in college. Mr. Hartley set the stage for St. Johns County’s position as a top school district in the state, including bringing it into the modern era during integration in the 1960’s. Wayne Hogan is an alumnus of St. Augustine High School and attended while Hartley was superintendent.
The W. Douglas Hartley Scholarship is awarded each year to a St. Augustine High School senior who excels academically, demonstrates financial need and does not smoke or use tobacco products. To date, it has helped 80 St. Johns County public school graduates attend college.