Gov. Scott Visits Ave Maria

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Published on Friday, 14 October 2011 17:23

Governor Rick Scott made an impromptu visit to Ave Maria Friday morning, much to the delight and surprise of students at the Donahue Academy and Ave Maria University.

The governor stopped for coffee at The Bean of Ave Maria on his way to Immokalee for an announcement about a jobs program, and decided on the spur of the moment to come back after the announcement for a longer visit.

"I haven't been here in a while," Gov. Scott said, "and I wanted to see how things were coming along."

UPDATE: Gov. Scott's unplanned visit may have been inspired by his chance meeting a week ago with Ave Maria resident Chelsea Allan, who was at a restaurant in Naples with six of her nine children when Gov. Scott came in and sat next to her. "He asked a lot of questions about Ave Maria," she said. A week later, the day after visiting Ave Maria, at the same restaurant, Gov. Scott came in again, saw Mrs. Allan, and said that their visit a week before prompted him to visit when he was in the area.

At the Donahue Academy, Headmaster Dan Guernsey scrambled to get everyone ready with about an hour's notice of Gov. Scott's arrival.

"Good morning, Governor Scott," said about 30 students grade school students in unison as the governor entered the building. The 30 students greeting Gov. Scott (pictured above right) were among about 50 who benefit from the private school voucher program Step Up for Students.

"I wanted the governor to see how important this program was for disadvantaged students," Dr. Guernsey said after Gov. Scott toured the k-12 school, stopping into a math class and a theology class taught by Sr. Teresa Benedicta  (left), and chatting with students.

"Who wants to run for governor some day?" Mr. Scott asked each group of students.

After spending time at the Donahue Academy, Gov. Scott met briefly with Ave Maria University President Jim Towey, who then showed him around the campus. He decided to visit an Economics class let by Prof. Joseph Burke (below left) after Mr. Towey asked which of several classes he'd like to visit.

"None of the options are an anthropology class," Mr. Towey quipped in reference to a remark the governor made recently about how he did not expect there would be many jobs in anthropology in Florida.

Right, Mr. Towey and Gov. Scott in Mr. Towey's office on the Ave Maria University campus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left, Gov. Scott taking a question from a student in Prof. Burke's Economics class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right, Gov. Scott with AMU juniors Corrinne Lauer (L) and Leah Johanni.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left, with freshman Jelani Bonner.

 

 

 

 

 

Below left, Gov. Scott with AMU Dean of Faculty Michael Dauphinais touring the campus. Below right, visiting the oratory with AMU VP of Institutional Advancement Louis Traina.