Danny Federico
editor@riverbendnews.org
During their Tuesday, Jan. 27, regular meeting, members of the Suwannee County School Board took the time to recognize two students for their outstanding achievements.
First to be recognized was Ryan Donaldson, a Suwannee High School senior who claimed the Class 2A Girls Golf Individual State Champion title.
“In the State of Florida, to be an individual state champion in golf is beyond hard to understand,” Superintendent Ronnie Gray said. “This is a state with the most courses in the United States of America … Just about all the pro players in the country live in Florida.”
Suwannee County Superintendent Ronnie Gray (left) and coach Marisley Leal-Hicks (right) present Ryan Donaldson (center) with a certificate recognizing her as the 2025-26 Florida Individual State Champion for Girls Golf Class 2A.
Gray noted that Donaldson, who has signed to play at the University of Oklahoma, competed against athletes from some of the nation's most competitive programs.
“This entire season was super beautiful, super fast paced,” coach Marisley Leal-Hicks said. “It’s really fun watching her play. At the end of the day, it was honestly more about coaching the mental aspect, because she is an athlete all on her own. It was a mental game the whole time, and it was phenomenal. She’s a really funny girl. Her discipline is phenomenal. I think that’s really what took her to this point in her career, and I look forward to seeing how she does in Oklahoma.”
To illustrate the level of her performance, Leal-Hicks shared that Donaldson shot a 67 during a postseason competition. Additionally, Donaldson stated her handicap is +5.
Board members congratulated Donaldson, and Superintendent Gray presented her with a certificate recognizing her state championship.
The board also recognized Suwannee High School senior Randy “Zakk” Womble, who was awarded a $40,000 scholarship after being selected as one of six finalists statewide in the Leaders 4 Life fellowship program.
School Board member Lesley Fry (left) and Take Stock in Children mentor coordinator Amanda Fry (right) stand with Randy “Zakk” Womble as he displays his Leaders 4 Life Fellowship award during the Suwannee County School Board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Lesley Fry, the program’s College Success Coach, and Amanda Jordan, Mentor Coordinator for Take Stock in Children, spoke about Womble’s journey.
“I taught Zakk back in sixth grade, onboarded him in our program in ninth grade, and he’s a senior this year,” Fry said. “He will graduate with his A.A. two days before graduating from high school.”
Fry also noted that Womble works 50 hours a week at The Gathering while balancing academic and leadership responsibilities.
“The obstacles that he has overcome to get where he is right now — and continues to go through these obstacles — are just a testament to his grit. I’m so proud to be his mentor,” Fry said. “He makes me a better person.”
Jordan explained that the scholarship is awarded to 12 finalists statewide, then narrowed to six recipients.
“You have to be in Take Stock to apply,” she said. “It pays for everything besides tuition. They will pay for him to travel home twice a year, they will pay for insurance, housing, travel abroad and study abroad. He also gets to intermingle with some really cool professional people.”
In addition to financial support, the scholarship includes leadership development programming and ongoing mentorship. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade point average each semester and have the opportunity to attend annual summer sessions to connect with past fellows.
Jordan and Fry also took a moment to encourage community members to get involved as mentors to help students reach for the stars. To learn more about the Take Stock program, visit www.goodwillnorthfl.org/tsic-suwannee-county/.
The next regular Suwannee County School Board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, in the school district office, located at 1740 Ohio Ave. S., in Live Oak.