The Tom Fellows Event Center in Davenport played host to the Ridge League of Cites June Membership Dinner on Thursday June 11, 2026. It was an exciting night as the Ridge League welcomed and congratulated the 2026 Vocational/Trade and 2026 Academic Scholarship recipients and guests. Davenport Mayor Donna Fellows-Coffey welcomed the 232 attendees. Our Associate Members were well represented with DCCM winning the Associate Member Traveling Trophy. President Sara Roberts McCarley thanked all our Associate Members for their continued support and noted that we would not be able to have a scholarship program if it was not for their support. Thank you Associate Members!
Eighteen (18) of our twenty-four (24) member cities were represented by 153 municipal officials and guests. Haines City Mayor Vernel Smith accepted the City Traveling Trophy on behalf of Haines City.
Four students from various high schools within the six counties of the Ridge League were each presented with a $1,250 Vocational/Trade Scholarship. Five other high school graduates were each awarded with a $2,500 Academic Scholarship. Olivia Simmons from Pasco High School was presented an additional $500 and awarded the 2026 Ruthanne Stonewall Scholarship. The award is presented to the student receiving the highest number of points from the selection committee. The Award is named after the former Ridge League of Cities Executive Director in honor of her eighteen years of service to the organization. The University of South Florida International Management Student Chapter served as this year’s selection committee. Congratulations Scholars and thank you to the USF ICMA Student Chapter.
It was announced that there will be no meetings in July, and the next RLC event will be our breakfast meeting in August at the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference in Hollywood, FL.
