The 2003 Pre-Teen Florida  Scholarship & Recognition Program was held recently at the Grand Hyatt Hotel  in Tampa. Florida’s  best and brightest top female honor roll students, ages 7 to 12 years old, competed for over $5,000 in educational bonds, prizes, and awards, as well as for the opportunity to qualify for competition in the 2004 Pre-Teen America Nationals to be held July 2-7, 2004 in beautiful Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  There  they will have the opportunity to compete for over $25,000 in educational bonds, prizes, and awards. 

The participants were evaluated in seven  criteria divisions including (1) Academic Achievement (2) Volunteer Service to Church and Community (3) School Honors and Activities (4) Development of Personal Skills and Abilities (5) General Knowledgeability 6) Communicative Ability (7) On-Stage Expressiveness and Overall Pre-Teen Image. 

The following are the state titleholders and runners-up.

2003 Pre-Teen Florida  (Senior) 

Emily Gottfried - 12 year old from Oviedo

1st Runner-Up - Sr.(tie)

Brittany Willis - 10 year old from Temple Terrace

2^nd Runner-Up - Sr.(tie)

Rachel Harvey - 12 year old from Cape Coral

Carolyn Mercer - 11 year old from Orange Park  

3^rd Runner-Up - Sr.(tie) 

Victoria “Sunshine” Atteberry - 11 year old from Lawtey

Stefanie Collier - 12 year old from Tyndall AFB 

4^th Runner Up - Sr.(tie) 

Victoria Dahl - 11 year old from Tampa

Jennifer Hiltz - 12 year old from Wesley Chapel