By Joe Wise
The Nassau Sport Fishing Association presented $22,000 in scholarships to seven graduating seniors from Nassau County high schools at its June 24 social held at the Kraft Athletic Club.
The recipients of the 2026 $4,000 NSFA scholarships are Kaylee Aguilar, Emilia Dupee and Elizabeth Killmeyer from Yulee High School; Ruby Shaw from Fernandina Beach High School; and Makayla Parkerson from West Nassau High School.
Aguilar will attend Florida State University to pursue a degree in pre-med with a career goal of physician assistant. Dupee will attend the University of North Florida to pursue a degree in nursing. Killmeyer will attend Daytona State University to major in biology/pre-med with a career goal of pediatric physician assistant. Parkerson will attend the University of North Florida to major in elementary education. Shaw will attend the University of Central Florida to major in chemistry/pre-med with a career goal of dentistry.
The recipients of $1,000 merit scholarships are Abigail Fiske from West Nassau High School and Brady Steffen from Fernandina Beach High School. Fiske will attend Jacksonville University to major in nursing. Steffen will attend New College of Florida to major in business finance.
Joe Wise chaired the club’s scholarship committee, which also included Marilyn Mrozek, Heath Whittle and Jefrey Bohn. Committee members based their selections on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service, financial need, an essay and recommendations.
The scholarships are available because of NSFA’s annual fundraising events, which include the Fernandina Beach Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo, as well as donations from individual club members. According to the release, the club is especially grateful to its many tournament sponsors and tournament anglers for financial support.
Founded in 1983, NSFA is a nonprofit organization created to develop and promote saltwater fishing in Nassau County while adhering to state, federal and local regulations; to encourage compliance with water safety rules among club members and the general public; and to promote youth-related community activities.
The NSFA holds monthly business meetings on the second Wednesday and monthly social gatherings on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Kraft Athletic Club, 96-1023 Buccaneer Trail, Fernandina Beach. For more information, email info@nsfafish.net or visit www.nsfafish.net.
Joe Wise is the scholarship chair for Nassau Sport Fishing Association.
