Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • September 2016 | Page 28

COLT ATWELL: SCHOLARSHIP WINNER SPOTLIGHT
DISTINGUISHED RECIPIENT—HIGH SCHOOL

NUCA OF FLORIDA
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Colt Sterling Atwell is
a recent high-school
honors graduate, earning a
cumulative 4.46 GPA from
Trinity Christian Academy
in Jacksonville, Florida,
while being dual-enrolled
at Florida State College
at Jacksonville. Colt is
the son of Lauren Atwell,
Vice President, PetticoatSchmitt Civil Contractors,
Inc., and Melanie Atwell,
and is one of this year’s
two distinguished high
school recipients of the
Andrew Scott Johnson
Memorial Scholarship
Foundation’s $7500
scholarship.
In the fall, Colt will enroll as
a freshman at the Florida
Institute of Technology
with plans of majoring in
Aerospace Engineering
and a goal of working for a
company that specializes
in aerospace technologies.
In addition to earning
45 college credits
thru the dual-enrolled
program, Colt’s academic
accomplishments include
National Honor Society,
Dean’s List for A/B Honor
Roll grades 9-11 and
Principals’ List for “All
A” Honor Roll grade 12;
President’s Education
Awards Program,
Outstanding Academic
Excellence, grades 9 and

DITCHMEN • SEPTEMBER 2016

12; American Citizenship
Award, grades 10, 11
and 12; National Physical
Fitness Award and
Outstanding PE Student,
grade 9; and Perfect
Attendance Award, grade
11. A history buff, Colt
earned awards for Highest
Average US History,
Highest Average in the
History of the Vietnam War
and Highest Average in
Holocaust Studies.
Teachers describe Colt
as an excellent student
who is a leader, highly
self-motivated, driven,
focused, determined,
curious, a hard-worker,
conscientious, reflective,
thoughtful, mature,
possessing strong moral
and ethical character, a
great sense of humor and
a self-less willingness
to serve wherever he
is needed. He is known
to maintain a positive
attitude even when facing
adversity.
Colt’s extracurricular
activities include
manning a booth at
Safari Club International
Friend & Family Day to
coach children in the
responsible firearm usage
and ownership; Trinity
Christian Academy Rifle
Club, training students in
responsibilities and skills

related to firearms; 4-H
Shooting Club; Science
Club; Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University
Summer Program;
Competition Shooting
Team, including Captain of
the Team senior year. Colt
earned his Varsity Letter in
Three Position Air Rifle and
won several Winchester/
National Rifle Association
awards including
Distinguished Expert,
Sharpshooter, Marksman
1-Class, Pro-Marksman,
and Marksman.
Colt dedicated more
than 130 hours as an
office aide at Trinity
Christian Academy
and demonstrated his
compassion for his
community by actively
participating multiple years
in the City Rescue Mission
Bed Race, Seamark Ranch
Mud Run, and Brooks
Rehabilitation Adaptive
Sports.
Outside of school and
community service, Colt
has volunteered as a ranch
hand since 2008 handling
cattle and livestock. Colt
also enjoys hunting,
fishing, horseback riding,
building functional model
rockets and competitive
shooting.

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