March 2017 Newsletter

Scholar Athletes Then, and Now

Meldon Law has been sponsoring the Scholar-Athlete program throughout North Central Florida for 20 years. Each week on Wednesday during prime time news, WCJB TV20 announces our high school senior Scholar Athlete of the Week. TV20 does a great job of sending out one of their reporters, currently Elgin Rucker, to interview our scholar athlete and their coach at their high school. It creates excitement and recognition for the scholar athlete and their family, as well as the high school they attend. My son, Carey, now a partner in the Meldon Law, was a Scholar Athlete back in 1996 when he led the Gainesville Purple Hurricanes to a State Title in Tennis. Back then there was no scholarship awarded or trophy given in recognition of the winner’s achievements. That is the genesis of how the Meldon Law got involved in giving back to the community by formally establishing the program. Every year we have a big banquet, currently about 200 people at the Hilton Hotel in Gainesville, and honor each weekly winner and present their trophy and scholarship. At the end of the banquet we announce the Meldon Law/TV20 male and female Scholar Athlete of the Year and present an additional $1,000 scholarship and a beautiful glass trophy. The event is covered extensively by TV20 with interviews of the winners presented on the evening and morning news.