Meet Our 2025-26 Scholarship Winners!
Each year, the New England Gator Club® proudly awards scholarships to outstanding students from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont who are attending the University of Florida.
These scholarships recognize academic achievement, leadership, community service, and of course, true Gator spirit.
This year’s recipients have already made remarkable impacts on campus and in their communities! Meet our 2025-26 winners: Lynn McCoy, Ariana Lee, and Samuel Williams!
Lynn McCoy’s dream of becoming a Gator started back in sixth grade during a campus tour for her older sister, and she’s been committed ever since. Now a Health Science major from Massachusetts, she balances a full academic schedule with service in multiple organizations.
She competes in NIRCA races and volunteers with the Florida Running Club, is a member of the pediatric interest committee for the American Medical Student Association, participates in Gator Savors and PAW (People for Animal Wellness), and more.
Lynn is excited to pursue her studies while exploring research and CNA work next year, all while continuing to bring her drive and compassion to Gator Nation.
Ariana Lee, a nursing student from Connecticut, has embraced UF’s size and energy while bringing her own “northeast community feeling” to campus.
As social chair of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, she helps foster connections among her peers, and her volunteer work spans from the March of Dimes Collegiate Council to the Baby Gator Early Childhood Development Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities, UF Health, and local assisted living facilities through GlamourGals. She is also a part of Small Bites Nutrition, where she volunteers to teach elementary students about nutrition, as well as the Children’s Future Association and the Pre-Nursing Student Association.
Ariana’s commitment to service and community shines in everything she does, reflecting qualities that will make her a caring and skilled nurse.
Sam Williams’s journey to UF is one of resilience and reinvention. He grew up in New Hampshire and started a vegan smoothie business with a vintage food truck he bought and renovated.
Attending college wasn’t originally part of his plan, but after facing challenges with his business, Sam decided to change course and enrolled at Santa Fe College with the goal of transferring to UF. Along the way, he founded the Santa Fe Soccer Club, growing it to over 200 members.
Now a Journalism major, Sam is thriving at UF and credits the sense of community and opportunity in Gainesville for helping him achieve goals he once thought were out of reach. His determination, perseverance, and adaptability truly show the Gator Nation spirit.
Lynn, Ariana, and Sam embody the mission of the New England Gator Club®, and their hard work, passion, and spirit make us proud to call them this year’s scholarship recipients. Congratulations, and Go Gators! 🎉
