20 May 2016 Southwest Florida Community Foundation awards scholarships
More than $675,000 awarded to 107 students through 82 scholarships funds for high-school seniors,
and undergraduate and graduate students
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 20, 2016) –The Southwest Florida Community Foundation recently granted $550,550 in scholarships through a competitive process to local high-school students, and undergraduate and graduate students from Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. An additional $129,350 in scholarships was awarded by outside committee and/or designated by school. A total of 107 students were awarded funds through 82 scholarships for high-school seniors, and undergraduate and graduate students.
During the 2016 scholarship season, more than 1,000 eligible applications were received and reviewed by more than 70 volunteer reviewers.
“Thanks to the generous donors who established and continue to support scholarship funds, we are able to assist students entering college or training programs, and adults returning to school,” said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation.
Through the Community Foundation’s online portal, students were able to apply for multiple scholarships, while the the Foundation’s volunteer reviewers could log on to review and score the submitted applications based on the criteria set by the scholarship fund donor.
Ten new scholarships were awarded this year and included the Patricia Means Scholarship Fund for ‘B’ or ‘C’ students from Southwest Florida who will enroll full time at a technical school, community college or four-year college or university. Five local students were awarded this scholarship in 2016 and will each receive a total award of $40,000 payable at $10,000 annually up to four years with satisfactory progress reports and continued enrollment at a post-secondary school.
Patricia Means passed away in March 2014 at 88 years old at her home in Shell Point Retirement Community. Originally from Fort Wayne, Ind., she raised five children with her husband Richard Means and moved to Cape Coral in 1982.
According to the Foundation, Patricia felt there was a need in the community for individuals who were not ‘A’ students but were still motivated to go to school and showed promise in receiving a post-secondary education. She directed the Foundation about her wishes in her estate documents to set up the Patricia Means Scholarship Fund in this way.
“Scholarships like the ones honoring Patricia Means are important and signify our work with our donors and the FutureMakers Coalition,” added Owen. “We have been able to shift the way scholarships are granted to better benefit the students’ ability to not only access schooling but to complete it through vocational college; these scholarships are not just for attendance at colleges and universities.”
According to Owen, examples of some of the more unique scholarships not as highly sought after included scholarships for students with disabilities, student athletes, students pursuing a specific field of study such as teaching deaf or blind individuals, students with specific church membership or community service hours in a particular facility such as a veterans hospital, adult students going back to school, students from particular schools or communities, and students pursuing a graduate or professional degree.
As leaders, conveners, grant makers and concierges of philanthropy, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation is a foundation built on community leadership with an inspired history of fostering regional change for the common good in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Community Foundation connects donors and their philanthropic aspirations with evolving community needs. With assets of more than $93 million, it has provided more than $63 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves. Last year, it granted more than $3.2 million to nonprofit organizations supporting education, animal welfare, arts, healthcare and human services, as well as provided regional community impact grants and scholarship grants.
For more information about the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.floridacommunity.com.
Scholarship Funds and 2016 Student Recipients
Also found at: http://floridacommunity.com/2016scholarships/
Allen B. and Elizabeth Shevach UF College of Medicine Scholarship Fund
Leslie Boucherle, University of Florida
Allen B. and Elizabeth Shevach Lee High School Graduate Scholarship Fund
Enessa Guerra, North Fort Myers High School
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Sue Gottcent Memorial Scholarship Fund
Erol Brenes, Florida Gulf Coast University (Nurse Anesthesia Program)
Anne M. Fassett Scholarship Fund
Tony Peterson, Florida Gulf Coast University
Anne Sturrock Nursing Scholarship Fund
Krista Sciulla, Bishop Verot High School
Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce/Ralph A. Richardson Fund
Erin Reedy, Estero High School
Paul Duguay, Estero High School
Bruce T. Gora Scholarship
Gillian Marino, Cypress Lake High School
Carl E. Brooks Scholarship Fund
Maria Valladares, Florida SouthWestern Collegiate High School
Isis Porta, King’s Academy in Clewiston
Carol Patti McLaughlin Scholarship Fund
Christina Calderon, Lemon Bay High School
Charles and Margaret Foster Scholarship Fund
Katie Thorp, Fort Myers High School
Josiah Vega, Florida State University
Chet and Janett Perry Rotary Club of Fort Myers Scholarship Fund
Anica Adzievska, Barron Collier High School
Chip Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund
Jeffrey St. Firmin, Florida Gulf Coast University
Victoria DeLaney, Florida Gulf Coast University
Iman Zekri, Florida Gulf Coast University
Couse-Gram Scholarship Fund
Brittney Drayton, Moore Haven High School
David G. Robinson Arts Scholarship Fund
Jessica Hill, North Fort Myers High School
Doc Keen Memorial Scholarship Fund
Payton Lawson, King’s Academy in Clewiston
Drs. Ira and Udaya Dash Nursing Scholarship Fund
Judith Galindo, Florida SouthWestern State College
Doris W. Frey Memorial Scholarship Fund
Emily Hendry, Fort Myers High School
Isis Porta, King’s Academy in Clewiston
Isabella Quintero, Naples High School
Dunbar Heritage Scholarship Fund
Nahisha Alabre, Dunbar High School
Javonta Graham, Dunbar High School
Edna and Felix Swain Scholarship Fund
Aliyah Mason, Fort Myers High School
Tyler Mouzon, Dunbar High School
Dominique De Loach, Florida Gulf Coast University
Ellen Sheppard Scholarship Fund
Chelled Crespo, Florida SouthWestern State College
Faye Lynn Roberts Education Scholarship Fund
Andrea Bruno, Florida Gulf Coast University
Former Everglades City High School Graduate Scholarship Fund
Lucas Parson, Palmetto Ridge High School
Frances Harris Gresham Scholarship Fund
Ariana Allen, Fort Myers High School
Frances H. Waldron Scholarship Fund
Maria Augilar, Immokalee High School
Marycruz Mendoza, Immokalee High School
G. Napier and Ellen T. Wilson Scholarship Fund
Olivia Morales, Fort Myers High School
George E. Judd Scholarship Fund
Sara Bryce, Oasis Charter High School
Dahlia Lilleslatten, Cypress Lake High School
Gerard C. Mehr Scholarship Fund
Duneshka Cruz, Marco Island
Howard P. and Magdalen K. Breitenbach Scholarship Fund
Aubrielle Curccuini, Gulf Coast High School
Thomas Salyer, Gulf Coast High School
Jason Tillotson, Cape Coral High School
Immokalee Achievement Award Scholarship Fund
Nyla Reyna, Immokalee High School
Isabel Mayer Kirkpatrick Scholarship Fund
Karlie Olmstead, Canterbury School
James Bilder Scholarship Fund
Jennifer Rose, North Fort Myers High School
Austin Knipper, North Fort Myers High School
Dedrick Douglas, Fort Myers High School
Jane H. Berktold Scholarship
Aubrey Walker, South Fort Myers High School
Luke Turner, Cypress Lake High School
Ian Sanders, Florida SouthWestern Collegiate High School
John and Ruth Childe Scholarship Fund
Rachel Barnes, Mariner High School
John and Ellen Sheppard Humane Student Scholarship Fund
Michael Chesnover, Fort Myers High School
Emily Hendry, Fort Myers High School
John I. and Madeleine R. Taeni Scholarship Fund
Erol Brenes, Florida Gulf Coast University (Nurse Anesthesia Program)
Shauna Sciancalepore, Florida Gulf Coast University (Nurse Anesthesia Program)
John M. and Mary A. Shanley Memorial Scholarship
Maria Valladares, Florida SouthWestern Collegiate High School
David Victoria, Oasis Charter High School
Austin Knipper, North Fort Myers High School
Megan Wagner, Mariner High School
Jordan Abdo Memorial Scholarship Fund
Payton Denny, North Fort Myers High School
Judge Isaac Anderson, Jr. Scholarship Fund
Dedrick Douglas, Fort Myers High School
Judge William J. Nelson Scholarship Fund
Kara Lefebvre, Lemon Bay High School
Julie Willard Mikell Fund
Taylor Kerr, Dunbar High School
Lewis B. Barber Memorial Scholarship Fund
Jannai Maxwell, Ida S. Baker High School
Love of Bonita Empowerment Scholarship Fund
Conni Leonessa, Hodges University
Mary Ann Elder Scholarship Fund
Ashley Jones, University of Central Florida
Patricia Means Scholarship Fund
Javonta Graham, Dunbar High School
Kyle Dennison, Riverdale High School
Aline Dort, Immokalee High School
Jeremy Jennings, Florida SouthWestern Collegiate High School
Ansley Blackwell, Cypress Lake High School
Paul B. and Aline Flynn Scholarship Fund
Emily Minoui, Fort Myers High School
Taylor Girtman, Riverdale High School
Richard S. Thompson and Marion L. Thompson Memorial Fund
Megan Galbreath, Cape Coral High School
David Victoria, Oasis Charter High School
Shelbi Erp, University of South Florida
Leah Colucci, University of Miami
Spencer Ellis, Mariner High School
Robert A. Kleckner Scholarship Fund
Summer Chrzescian, Naples High School
Robert B. and Dorothy Pence Scholarship Fund
Emma Pachiva, Fort Myers High School
Robert C. and Margaret A. Schikora Scholarship Fund
Judith Galindo, Florida SouthWestern State College
Ruth Messmer Scholarship Fund
Riley Marshall, Fort Myers High School
Sanibel Community Church Scholarship Fund: Next Generation Fund Trust
Samuel Owen, Ozark Christian College
Southwest Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association Fund
Adriel Alexander, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School
Dylan Caparo, Port Charlotte High School
The William R. Shevach Scholarship Fund
Jarod Maier, Fort Myers High School
William L. Graddy Law Scholarship Fund
Andrew Stoquert, University of Miami
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