Ponte Vedra Focus - Scholarship

Chasing Pavements in St. Augustine, Florida: A Guide to Running in the Nation’s Oldest City

By Graci Flaherty

Just when you think you have a place all figured out, it finds a way to surprise you.

Ponte Vedra’s most historically significant neighbor, St. Augustine brings to mind less sneakers and races, and more museums and forts. But look close enough and you’ll find a thriving running community, from the Flagler Cross Country team to the Ancient City Road Runners. Growing up in St. Johns County, I thought I knew the area like the back of my hand, but after spending the past 2 years falling in love with running, I can attest to the fact that St. Augustine feels entirely different when you experience it on foot So, download Strava, grab your Garmin watch, and start chasing pavements!

ROUTES

From Bridge to Bridge and Back (6.5 miles)

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My Return to High School to Talk Real Estate and Scholarships

by Jennifer Heller

Ever wonder why “Career Day” is so popular on TV but rarely happens in real life? That was my exact thought too until my friend Becky Campbell, a Mandarin High School teacher, invited me to speak to her students about real estate and a scholarship opportunity.

Going back to school felt like stepping into a weird time capsule, yet this time, I wasn’t the student.  My audience?  High school juniors and seniors curious about the real estate industry, and let me tell you, I’ve never been more frightened to speak in front of a group.  These were 16 and 17 year old kids and since I’ve raised two kids that were those ages not too long ago I knew I had my work cut out of me.  It can be hard to impress older teenagers, if you know what I…

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Food & Photographs: Instagram Worthy Posts in St. Augustine

by Peyton Palmer, Senior Student, Nease High School
2024 Ponte Vedra Focus Blog Scholarship Winner

The Ancient City, St. Augustine, hosts two million visitors annually, and is home to many local hotspots. This national landmark encompasses a multitude of hidden gardens, restaurants, and roads perfect for Instagram posts or a formal photo session! Also, knowing where the top restaurants are is key to a memorable trip.  

Ben's Pretzels, St. Augustine, Florida

St. George Street is the main pedestrian only street in St. Augustine, consisting of clothing, souvenir stores, and restaurants. Off this street is Ben’s Pretzels, known for their delicious, soft pretzels. One incomparable thing this shop exhibits is their secret garden in…

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Mastering the College Application Process: A Guide to Success

by Jenn Heller

Navigating the college application process involves a sequence of organized steps which includes standardized tests, personal statements, recommendation letters, and application submissions. Creating a compelling application package is essential for demonstrating academic excellence. While it's undoubtedly an involved process, its structure remains fairly uniform across most colleges.

In this article, we've tapered down the process to provide you with a clear roadmap of what lies ahead and when to begin working on each phase. Let's kick things off by outlining the typical things you'll need to compile and organize in order to begin on the college application journey.

8 Steps Through the College Application Process

Initiating the…

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Scholarship Opportunities in Ponte Vedra Beach

by Cindy Moody

If you have a senior in high school, I am guessing that most of you have just crossed the finish line in the daunting process of college admissions. Congratulations! Many of you tasked your senior with the job while chewing your nail beds down to nubs anxiously watching, some of you probably helped more than you should but couldn’t help yourself and some just proudly watched your able-bodied young adult do what they do best. While your senior waits for their final acceptances and churns through what is arguably the most tedious of semesters because of "short timers," is there anything else they (read, you) can be working on? YES! Now is a perfect time to be applying for scholarship money, but don’t delay because deadlines are…

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Secrets of the Break: Top Two Surf Spots in Northeast Florida

By Avery Little

The peace of paddling out into the endless blue, the exhilaration of dropping into a wave, the first unforgettable ride and if you are lucky, the way your heart skips when a dolphin takes a breath next to the board. Surfing has become a way of life for some right here in Northeast Florida and it is a sport that some experienced surfers and beginners enjoy. Our beautiful coast boasts a deep sense of connection through the culture and history of surfing. The surfing community is one of the most unique and special groups; the music, events, and people are welcoming and encouraging, eager to share waves and good times. Waves break all along our coast, but the surfing community would agree that two local surf breaks form some of the most…

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5 Peaceful Places in Jacksonville to Visit

Written by Kyah Williams, 2023 Ponte Vedra Focus Blog Scholarship Winner

Life can get pretty busy, as we all know. Sometimes a break is just simply needed, somewhere to go in between meetings or on the weekends. Your body, and mind, need rest. It’s necessary to perform well at anything and everything you do. It’s natural, human, to need to find some sort of peacefulness in this busy world. 

Stop and take a moment for yourself so that you can get the rest that you deserve. The Northeast Jacksonville area has plenty of places where you can sneak away for a few hours with some peace and quiet. 

Neptune Beach

This may seem like an obvious one to some – but most forget that the most peaceful place is right in our backyards! Neptune Beach is the…

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Ponte Vedra Focus Blog Scholarship Celebrates 5th Anniversary

It's hard to believe this is the 5th year of the Ponte Vedra Focus Blog Scholarship! It's been amazing to be able to help our local students achieve great things when leaving high school and this year will be no different. The annual Blog Scholarship is sponsored by The Volen Group at Keller Williams Luxury International and Gwinn Volen. Gwinn Volen is a top real estate agent in Ponte Vedra Beach and the creator of the Ponte Vedra Focus Blog.

All St. Johns County and Duval County graduating seniors who plan to continue their education in the college arena are eligible to participate in The Blog Scholarship. "Through the years, we've read some pretty amazing blogs created by high school seniors and we have loved including them on our blog as ways to…

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A Slice of Goodness: Pizza at the Beach

by Gabrielle Monk

The perfect slice. Cooked to perfection. Savoring every bite. Plain. Pepperoni. Meat lovers. Veggie. Chicago style. New York style. How do you describe pizza and what is your favorite topping? Who has the perfect pizza in the Jacksonville area? I have a feeling if you ask ten people, you will get 10 different responses. Although I don’t necessarily have a favorite restaurant, I do have my favorite type at each of the places mentioned. Pizza, for my family, is an easy Friday meal that we always enjoy.

We struggled when we first moved to Ponte Vedra Beach because finding the perfect slice at a variety of places wasn’t exactly easy. And the amazing thing about the places below is the fact that most of these places have locations at…

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Golfing for Under $35 in Jacksonville

by Ashton Monk,

The Jacksonville area has its fair share of wonderful golf culture and courses. With THE PLAYERS Championship held every year in Ponte Vedra Beach and the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, the area is a hub for golf enthusiasts from all around the world. However, the prices to play the courses in TPC Sawgrass or World Golf Village can be quite steep. For many younger golfers who cannot afford to shell out triple digits on a weekend round, it can be hard to experience the great golf in the area. However, I have mastered the art of finding golf rounds for an affordable price for these golfers. 

Finding the Right Course

The first and most important step to getting a round that your wallet will thank you for is finding…

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