Hawthorne wins $10,000 surprise at Friday homecoming game

The Hornets received a special surprise at homecoming on Friday night—a check for $10,000 from Edward Jones for a Financial Literacy Program.

Hawthorne High School applied for the competitive grant through Edward Jones, but officials kept a tight lid on the fact that the Hornets had won. The funds already sat in the bank before the check presentation between the first and second quarter of the home football game against Zephyrhills Christian Academy, but not even the school principal was aware.

Matt Surrency works as an Edward Jones financial adviser and also serves in Hawthorne as a baseball coach and former mayor. He told Mainstreet the program will help high schoolers to make solid financial decisions and build the community.

"It's nice, especially for the community we're in," Surrency said.

A small, rural city, Hawthorne has dominated high school sports despite having a smaller school size.

Surrency said the Edward Jones program will focus on entrepreneurship and financial literacy. He hopes Hawthorne students can get involved and use this program, like sports and its agriculture program, to find success.

He said the program will include two advisers and guest speakers, including Edward Jones professionals.

Edward Jones officials and Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) officials met in Hawthorne for the check presentation.

ACPS Superintendent Shane Andrew joined the ceremony at a school he called home for 16 years.

"I'm so pleased for the students and staff at Hawthorne Middle High School," Andrew said in a release. "My first full-time teaching job was at Hawthorne, and I spent 16 years there as a teacher, coach, dean and assistant principal, so I know what a special place it is. Preparing students for financial success is so important, and I know this grant will have a significant and long-lasting impact on Hawthorne students."