The Founders Scholarship Fund awards 27 College Scholarships to Collier County students
College scholarships were awarded to 27 Collier County students by The Founders Scholarship Fund (FSF).
Soon-to-be high school grads, along with their parents and Founders Fund Board members, gathered for the annual scholarship reception and ceremony on April 26 at Club Pelican Bay. A total of $648,000 in scholarships were awarded at the ceremony.
The Founders Scholarship Fund is a local 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that awards renewable scholarships to local students who have shown determination, academic achievements, and financial need to pursue a college education. Each student will receive $6,000 per year amounting to a $24,000 scholarship.
Since the organization was founded in 1991 by golf members of Club Pelican Bay, FSF has awarded over $6 million in scholarships to more than 800 Collier County students. Scholarships are non-restrictive and are given to help students with college and post-high-school educational expenses. Students receive the renewable scholarships with the agreement they are a full-time student and maintain a B average or better in their college studies.
At the celebration, Board Chair Pat Chadwick welcomed the students and their families and then introduced Stacy Lee-Williams who is the Director of the Founders Scholarship Fund. Ms. Williams was followed by Bob Tyre, 2023 Scholarship Committee Chair and incoming Chair Michael Balgord who presented the scholarships to each student.
As students were individually introduced, they took the microphone to speak about their college choices and future goals. Career aspirations ranged from nursing, research and engineering to artificial intelligence and beyond.
The 2023 Founders Scholarship Fund Recipients:
Barron Collier High School – Tina Tran
Club Pelican Bay (Employees/Family) – Maria Cabrera
Golden Gate High School – Caleb Archelus, Maranica Cassy, Cedric Emmanuel, Ashley Esteban-Mazaba, Amanda Lugo, and Tanya Raphael
Gulf Coast High School – Peyton Davidson
Immokalee High School – Litzy Banda – Soto, Benchy Dutreuil, Fabian Estrada, Ashley Murillo, Heriberto Santos-Cruz, and Widme Victorin
Lely High School – Leila Antoine and Emily Gutierrez
Lorenzo Walker Technical High School – Maria Cano Gallardo, Lorena Cobos Chacon, Leyla Lahens, Johana Senatus, and Jenny Thassou
Naples High School – Alejandra Cuellar-Gutierrez, Betsy Doreus, and Nicholas Fredette
Palmetto Ridge High School – Ellie Carvajal
St. John Neumann High School – Serene Aviles
For more information about scholarships or sponsorships, contact Stacy Lee-Williams, FSF Director at 239-593-0124 or visit www.TheFoundersScholarshipFund.org.
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