Ethan Follick

Gotham Gators Incoming Freshman Scholarship Recipient

Hi, my name is Ethan Follick, and I’m from Long Island, New York. I recently graduated from W.T. Clarke High School and will be attending the University of Florida this fall as a biology major, with aspirations of attending medical school afterward. I was a three-sport athlete throughout high school, and although I won’t be competing at UF, I can’t wait to support the Gators, especially the football and basketball teams. I worked throughout all four years of high school while volunteering year-round with my local youth sports organization, giving back to the same program that helped shape me into the person and athlete I am today. In addition, I served as class treasurer, president of the National Honor Society, and held several other leadership positions. I was also a member of my school’s DECA board, where I strengthened my leadership and public speaking skills while earning 1st, 3rd, and 6th-place finishes at the New York State DECA Conference in my respective event. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and staying active. I’m truly grateful to Gotham Gators for awarding me this scholarship and helping me continue my education at the University of Florida. Go Gators!

Aden Otmani

Gotham Gators Incoming Freshman Scholarship Recipient

My name is Aden Otmani, and I recently graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in New York City. I’m starting at the University of Florida in the Fall, where I intend to study Civil Engineering. I’m very community driven, volunteering at my local wrestling on my school’s team for 3 years, and acting as secretary for my school’s chapter of the Make-A-Wish organization. I’m incredibly thrilled to have received this scholarship, and I’m looking forward to my time as a Gator!

Eric Fishon

Gotham Gators Continuing Education Scholarship Recipient

Dr. Fishon has more than two decades of experience spanning broadcasting, airline operations, and financial services, including long-term leadership roles at TD Bank and Southwest Airlines. He began his career in New York media with stations such as WBLI and WBAB before transitioning into corporate leadership focused on organizational culture and customer experience.

Alongside his professional work, he has served on multiple nonprofit and advisory boards, including LI Against Domestic Violence and the Florida State Troopers Association, and has supported educational initiatives through organizations such as Nations University and Sophia Learning.

Dr. Fishon’s journey has also been shaped by his lived experience with autoimmune conditions and other unseen disabilities, which led him to become a vocal advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and disability awareness. He returned to higher education to deepen his academic foundation and strengthen his advocacy work, focusing on how institutions can better support students with invisible disabilities.

He is the founder of the Dr. Disruptor Network, an advocacy platform dedicated to inclusive design across education, healthcare, and the workplace, and created the XTERMIGATOR KIDS initiative, which supports youth with unseen disabilities through storytelling, education, and community building.

Today, his work focuses on advancing disability inclusion, ethical applications of artificial intelligence, and building more accessible systems that allow all individuals to thrive.