Largo High School Student Awarded 2026 Ernest J. Freeman Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge of Madeira Beach is proud to announce that Ms. Jovana Mutlak of Clearwater has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Ernest J. Freeman Jr. Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $3,500.
Jovana, a senior at Largo High School, has distinguished herself through exceptional academic achievement, maintaining an impressive 3.98 unweighted GPA and a 4.57 weighted GPA. She has been recognized as an AP Scholar with Honor, a recipient of the College Board First Generation Recognition Award, and a member of the National Honor Society.
Beyond the classroom, Jovana has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service. She serves as Co-President of her school’s STEM Club, Vice President of the Largo Cultural Association, and an active participant in Model United Nations, where she has earned honors including Best Delegate and Best Position Paper.
Her commitment to community service is equally noteworthy. Jovana volunteers with Morton Plant Hospital, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Largo Area Historical Society. She has also contributed as a co-organizer of the Pulsera Project and as an International Baccalaureate Ambassador.
The daughter of Serbian immigrants and a first-generation college student, Jovana has worked since the age of fourteen while balancing a rigorous academic schedule. She has been accepted to Brown University, where she plans to study biochemistry on a pre-medical track, with aspirations of pursuing a career in research and healthcare.
The Ernest J. Freeman Jr. Memorial Scholarship was established from a vision by Ernest J. Freeman Jr., who, during his term as Master of Gulf Beach Lodge in 1984, sought to create a program that would provide meaningful financial assistance to deserving local high school students pursuing higher education. He also envisioned a self-sustaining fund that would continue supporting students well into the future.
Following Brother Freeman’s passing in 1989, the scholarship fund was renamed in his memory and has continued to assist college-bound students each year. In 2008, Brother Albert T. MacMillan further strengthened the program through a generous $100,000 bequest in honor of himself and his son.
Each year, a $3,500 scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from select Pinellas County high schools, including Largo High School, to assist with college or university expenses.
The Ernest J. Freeman Jr. Memorial Scholarship continues to recognize students who exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and a strong commitment to community service—qualities that Jovana Mutlak clearly embodies.