Scholar Spotlight: Esther Appolon, Tallahassee State College Class of ’26

As a student in the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Atlantic Community High School, one would have never thought that Esther Appolon grew up missing out on some of her most formative years in school.

She battled severe scoliosis as a young child, and at age seven, she was diagnosed with Potts Disease — a rare and debilitating extraspinal infection. This disease required two major surgeries, which placed a significant financial strain on her family, but also forced her to miss half of her second-grade year.

Her father, a Haitian immigrant unfamiliar with the American school system, tried his best to help her stay on track as she did coursework at home, but he ultimately struggled to teach her what she needed to keep up with her peers.

“This left a gut-wrenching feeling of being the odd man out around the kids my age upon entering third grade. I would have to go to a different room to take tests, and it was hard for me to finish assignments on time. But I had to force myself to accept the idea that my surgeries were a hurdle, rather than a burden, even if it wasn’t easy,” she says.

As her hard work and sleepless nights began to pay off, the question of how she would finance her higher education loomed over her and her family. That all changed when she found the opportunity to apply for a scholarship through the Community Foundation.

Initially, Esther was nervous about the scholarship interview. It was her first experience with such a process, and the stakes felt incredibly high. However, any apprehension she had melted away when she found herself in a welcoming and supportive environment created by the Community Foundation. They listened intently to her story, understanding the challenges she had faced and what she had been through thus far. This positive experience culminated in the news that she had been awarded the James H. Davis Memorial Scholarship.

As she transitions from high school to college, Esther’s summer has been filled with meaningful and fun work, spending her third and last year with Community Greening, a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting and maintaining trees — through weeding and watering — in underserved areas.

On “enrichment days” they would visit nature and wildlife institutions to learn more about the state of the ecosystem. Sometimes they would go kayaking and snorkeling, even. “What made this experience special was the family that was built, and the best friends I gained,” she reflects.

In August, Esther will begin her next chapter at Tallahassee State College. Her ambitions are clear: She envisions creating her own nonprofit organization focused on nature and wildlife. And her dream is to establish a center where people can learn about their natural environment, complete with a diverse array of trees and educational materials about local wildlife.