Why names are important

WHICKER I have always believed that names are important. Names can really tell you about a person and they have a great way of fitting some people just perfectly. As an example, what sort of personality comes to mind when you think of the name Dave? How about Crystal? Now think about a Tony. How about names like Ralph, Marvin, Edith, or Marge?

Besides thinking of someone you might know or of a famous actor or fictional character, think about the personality behind the name. Chances are good that you will eventually identify similar character traits between people who have the same first name. I'll try to be objective while using myself as an example. Dans, you see, tend to be pretty easy going, strong-willed, and loyal. Other Dans that I have met have struck me this way, and I can see similar character traits between them and myself.

Now, we could have fun with this, but what I am really trying to do is to shed some light on the importance of names. Just last week, I was designing a program for the Community Foundation's annual scholarship awards reception and I spent many hours poring over lists of students' names and trying to get them all to fit into the 10-page program. These are exceptional students, many of whom have managed to maintain high GPAs while serving their communities in various capacities and even working full and part-time jobs. They are awesome and inspiring young ladies and young men and their names deserved to be the highlight of the program and of the event. Who they are is important. What they have done is important. And what they will do next with their lives is especially important.

Therefore, please allow me to present the Southwest Florida Community Foundation's 2009 Scholarship Award Recipients: Adobola Adigun, Desiree Akande, Courtney Anderson, Caroline Barclift, Katherine Blackford, Andres Boral, Cheyenne Brown, Shelbi Brown, Raheem Bush, Chanelle Campbell, Shannon Chambers, Nancy Cheri, Alina Ciornii, Vincent Conrod, James Cottrill, Lisandra Cuellar, Jasmin Davis, Sharetha Davis, Amanda DeCastro, Emnilda Delacruz, Michael DeSarno, Jacob Effing, Mariah Fernandez, Cheryl Finkbeiner, Clifton Flemming, Cinthya Gaxiola, Shane Geffe, Charity Ann Godfrey, Camden Gordon, Kristyn Greco, Jasmine Green, Kobe Groce, Meredith Gunder, Benjamin Hernandez, Asha Inniss, Haely Jardas, Marie Kennedy, Su Kim, Lecresha King, Maria Kolba, Emily LaBarbera, Leonard Leon, Lisa Lizzio, Elizabeth

Maik, Magdalena Major, Alexis Marion, Araceli Martinez, Vanessa McNair, Andy Middleton, Deyaneira Mitchell, Melanie Mitta, Cammesha Moody, Lanny Moore III, Nicole Murphy, Neel Natarajan, Christopher Norwood,

Stephen Osinski,

Luis Ospina, Daniel Parent, Max Pegues, Alissa Anne Perri, Jane Pierce, Bruna Pierre, Cindy Pohner, Juan Carlos Quijada, Kyle Ramey, Mariana Ramirez, Judith Rohde, Kayla Serrata, Cadrick Smith, James Sparkman Jr., Renu Tajhar, Christina Theogene, Signe Thomas, Juanasendy Vargas, Joseph Villadolid, Brittania Warren, Dorinda Washington, Alasdair Waterhouse, Cayla White, Erika Williams, Eugenia Williams-Ferrell, Monica Wilson, Alana Yallof, Caitlin Yell, Jonise Yves, John Zachariah and Gregory Zimmerly.

More than two hundred people attended the June 2 event, offering many accolades, proud smiles, words of wisdom, and something else that is often lacking these days — hope and vision. Did you read through the names? You may not know them, but their names are important. Congratulations again, students.

The Southwest Florida Community Foundation has been supporting the communities of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades and Hendry through endowed funds for 33 years and during that time has provided more than $39.5 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves. For more information, please call 274-5900, or visit our Web site at www. floridacommunity.com.