YOUR TOWN

Three students awarded $1,000 L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series scholarships

One of the recipients is a Mainland High School student who started her own confectionary business as a sophomore.

  • By Jim Graham, Daytona State College
  • | 3:00 p.m. February 26, 2025
L. Gale Lemerand, Autumn Demarest and DSC President Tom LoBasso. Courtesy photo
L. Gale Lemerand, Autumn Demarest and DSC President Tom LoBasso. Courtesy photo
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Business
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Three students — two from Daytona State College and one from Mainland High School — each received a $1,000 scholarship to support their entrepreneurial ambitions during the Spring 2025 L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series. 

The event featured a panel discussion with DSC alumni Emilie Schmitz, director of People Operations at GermFree and co-inventor of the CrockPocket slow cooker insert, and Justine Knight, founder and owner of Treats and Sweets Cakery in Daytona Beach. 

More than 300 DSC students and local high school students were in attendance to hear about the successes and challenges of entrepreneurship. The high schools included New Smyrna Beach High School, University High School, Deltona High School, Pine Ridge High School, DeLand High School, Seabreeze High School, Mainland High School, Atlantic High School and Spruce Creek High School.

Recipients of the L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series Scholarships are: 

L. Gale Lemerand, Laura Suskey and DSC President Tom LoBasso. Courtesy photo
  • Autumn Brooke Demarest: A Mainland High School student, Demarest started her confectionary business – “Sweet Toof by Autumn Brooke” – as a sophomore at Mainland. She plans to apply the scholarship toward purchase of a food truck that will help her grow her business.
  • Laura Suskey: Suskey is a returning DSC graduate, first earning a degree in dental assisting in the late 1990s and now returning to pursue accreditation through the cosmetology program before bridging to the Operations Management Technology program to earn an associate of science degree. She will use the scholarship to attend the Orlando Hair Show, acquire the equipment and supplies needed to complete her state board exam and licensing requirements, and focus on her salon and spa – Salty Rose Salon and Spa.
  • Dominique King: King is pursuing a bachelor of applied science in supervision and management with a concentration in project management. Her vision is to launch Kids in Tech Academy, an online tech academy for children ages 8 to 17. KIT Academy will equip students with essential technical skills in software development, testing, marketing, graphic design and website design. A core focus of the academy will be fostering teamwork by introducing students to collaborative work environments early on. She will use this scholarship to earn additional certifications, enhance her personal growth and expand her community engagement.

Gale Lemerand, a longtime Volusia County resident, philanthropist and one of the nation’s leading entrepreneurs, has founded over 100 companies and served as vice chair of the Daytona State College District Board of Trustees.

Lemerand funds these scholarships to support aspiring DSC entrepreneurs. Recipients are selected based on professors’ recommendations and class performance. Since its inception, the program has awarded approximately 80 scholarships.

 

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