Sarasota County SSTRIDE

  • SSTRIDE students holding up hands wearing latex gloves

    First Aid training for SSTRIDE students

Located in Sarasota County, The SSTRIDE Program is located in the City of Sarasota on the southwestern coast of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts as well as arts and entertainment. Sarasota has a very diverse socioeconomic status ranging from poverty to some of the wealthiest individuals in America.  Sarasota is situated approximately 60 minutes south of Tampa.  The SSTRIDE Program started in Sarasota in 2017 through a generous grant from the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, and currently resides in the McIntosh Middle and Sarasota High School in partnerships with Sarasota County Schools as well as the FSU College of Medicine Sarasota Regional Medical School Campus.

2023 Promising Youth Medical Scholar
Tegan Hoffman
Tegan Hoffman

Tegan Hoffman

Tegan was in 9th grade when she was awarded. She has a 4.8 GPA and near-perfect attendance. She has earned many awards for her hard work and dedication to SSTRIDE such as the SSTRIDE Academic Excellence award since her start in the program. She is heavily involved in her school and community. She regularly volunteers at various places like the local women’s shelter, beach clean-up days, and community clean ups. Tegan has been a part of many clubs through school such as National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball. She is a natural born leader as indicated by her many accolades. Her future goal is to attend Florida State University and become a Pediatric Oncologist.

2022 Promising Youth Medical Scholar
Madison Silverthorne
Madison Silverthorne

Madison Silverthorne

Madison was awarded in 2022.  She maintained a 4.6 GPA, was a member of the National Honors Society, the OneNine Club, and the Black Student Union.  She was on the Superintendent Student Advisory Council for Sarasota County High Schools, and volunteered regularly at Fruitville Elementary with students with Autism.  Her future career goal is to be an OBGYN or Reproductive Endocrinologist.  She was a leader among her peers and has a shining personality! 

2021 Promising Youth Medical Scholar
Leah Wojtaszek
Leah Wojtaszek

Leah Wojtaszek

Leah was awarded in 2021 when she was in 10th grade. Leah is always the student teachers turn to when other students need help. She continuously makes straight A’s and leads in class through example. Leah hopes to attend Florida State University and pursue a career as an Anesthesiologist or in pediatric medicine.

2020 Promising Youth Medical Scholar
Maren Schweid
Maren Schweid

Maren Schweid

Maren was awarded in 2020 when she was in 11th grade. She excelled while she was in SSTRIDE, maintaining over a 5.0 GPA . While in high school, Maren was a competitive gymnast and ran on the high school track team. She is currently a freshman at the University of Florida and is majoring in Exercise Physiology.

2019 Promising Youth Medical Scholar
Emma Davie
Emma Davie

Emma Davie

Emma was in 9th grade when she was awarded. She has all A’s and near-perfect attendance at school and in her SSTRIDE Biology Class. She volunteers for the Relay for Life every year and participates in the AICE and MAST Programs at Sarasota High School. She is very upbeat and always has a positive attitude in class. Her future goal is to become a Veterinarian or Physical Therapist.

Thank You to Our Funding Partners:

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