Emily Torres and Chris Perdomo were named winners of the 31st annual Miami Lakes Optimist Club’s Roland Gomez Scholarship award, which recognizes student-athletes for their stellar performances in the classroom and playing fields.
Torres won the top spot for girls and Perdomo earned the top prize for b oys, each receiving a $1,000 college scholarship and a gold medal.
Torres plays softball for the Optimist Club and Hialeah Gardens High, and Perdomo played basketball at the club and Hialeah Miami Lakes, where he graduated in June.
For the girls, softball player Erika Castroman of Mater Lakes Academy was runner-up (Silver Medal), and Alyssa Crespo, who played softball at Immaculate Conception, finished third with a Bronze Medal.
Alicia Loesch from Pace High (basketball) and Aneli Cutis of Hialeah Gardens Middle School (basketball) received Honorable Mentions.
For boys, Erick Marrero of Christopher Columbus High (basketball) was runner-up (Silver Medal) and Mater Academy basketball player Alberto Ruiz finished third with a Bronze Medal.
Belen Jesuit basketball player Adam Magoulas and Hialeah Gardens Middle School basketball player Matthew Gonzalez received Honorable Mentions.
Jim Hamilton, longtime member of the Optimist Club and chairman of the Roland Gomez Scholarship Committee, said the members made the scholarship award possible.
“The best we do that’s not a sport is recognizing student-athletes for their achievements in high school,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton expressed his gratitude to committee members Sandy Meneses, Alex Castroman, Luis Rojas and Jack McCall.