SWFLCF

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

 

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