5/29/2052
By Doug Alderson
Two deserving Franklin County Schools graduates were the 2025 recipients of the annual Katie Herzog Apalachicola Riverkeeper scholarships. Mya Huckeba and Isabella Nations will each receive $2000 towards college tuition. On Tuesday, May 27, Tom Herzog, Katie’s husband and retired high school science teacher, and Riverkeeper Cameron Baxley announced the scholarships at the Franklin County Schools Senior Recognition Night ceremony.
The award celebrates the life of Katie Herzog who was a longtime high school guidance counselor and an avid supporter of Apalachicola Riverkeeper. Katie was engaged with the Apalachicola River Blueway and National Recreation Trail projects and regularly attended Apalachicola Riverkeeper events, greeting guests with her beaming smile. Former Apalachicola Riverkeeper Executive Director, Georgia Ackerman, described Katie as, “the epitome of putting care into action in protecting our region’s precious natural resources, especially the Apalachicola River and Bay.”
Mya and Isabella will soon celebrate their awards with Apalachicola Riverkeeper staff, Tom Herzog, and family members with a boating trip on the Apalachicola River.
Scholarship awardees are selected by a committee that considers students holistically, looking at their academic, leadership, and personal life experiences.
Mya’s teachers describe her as intelligent, dedicated, charitable, and trustworthy, and she is the Valedictorian of the 2025 Class. “Just as the bay and river support various species of fish, bivalves, and plants, my peers and loved ones supported me through my academic journey,” she wrote in her application. She plans to attend Florida State University and is interested in Environmental Science and Exercise Physiology.
Isabella, a sixth generation Franklin County resident who has family members working in the fishing industry, plans to attend Tallahassee State College in the fall and major in Criminology. “As her school counselor, I have witnessed Isabella’s dedication to her academic success,” wrote Melanie Copeland in her recommendation letter. “She is a very motivated and organized student, who is hard-working and astute.”
Besides being top students, both Mya and Isabella are competitive dancers.
Join us in congratulating Mya and Isabella! We are excited to follow their journey through college and beyond.