Cape elementary youths win college scholarships
Nine Cape Coral students have been awarded college scholarships in a program designed to reward academic excellence in the area’s youngest and brightest students.
The Carson Scholars Fund is a national program, brought to Southwest Florida by Sanibel resident Dr. Bill Frey. The program is administered locally by the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools with the purpose of recognizing students with exceptional promise and to provide academic role models for other students.
Frey is a former college professor and co-owner of Frey & Son Homes who has a passion for education and an interest in the country’s youth, especially those in the community.
“Because of Frey, we are able to provide each of the elementary schools in Lee County with a scholarship for one student this year, and 15 of the schools with an annual scholarship award every year in perpetuity,” said Marshall Bower, executive director of the foundation. “Rewarding these students for academics as well as community involvement sets an example for all our students.”
The scholarship recipients will be honored at the Inaugural Lee County Annual Awards Banquet from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Estero.
Scholarship students will be awarded the scholarship, a medal of honor and held up as a role model for other students. Each of the schools will receive a perpetual trophy engraved with the winners’ names.
The Carson Scholars Fund was founded in 1994 by world-renowned Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin S. Carson and his wife, Candy, to reward elementary school students with scholarships for their academic and humanitarian qualities. The scholarship is invested for college education until graduation from high school.
The local scholarships in the fund – the first in Florida – were initiated by Frey, who became interested in the program after learning about Carson’s dream to reward student scholars and to promote their pursuit of academic excellence.
Frey contributed the initial $500,000 gift to the fund last fall to endow 15 Lee County elementary schools with $30,000 each so school principals can offer a college scholarship to one student each year in perpetuity. The scholarships are based on academic excellence and community service for students in fourth or fifth grade.
Frey’s donation is the largest single gift in the program since the Carson Scholar Fund’s inception.
In addition to Frey’s donation, three additional schools have been endowed by local donors The John A. & Aliese Price Foundation, through T. Wayne and Mavis Miller, John and Ellen Sheppard, and an anonymous donor.
Cape students receiving scholarships include:
– Trevor McDaniel of Patriot Elementary is a thoughtful boy with a wonderful sense of humor. He always has a positive attitude in the classroom and is very helpful toward his family and neighbors.
– Rheaden Jackson of Caloosa Elementary has hobbies that include drawing characters, playing the steel drums and being a morning anchor for her school’s news program. This bright and enthusiastic child plans to become a pediatrician when she grows up.
– Sarah Gonzalez of Cape Elementary couples her scholastic achievements with a long list of community service activities. Through the Kiwanis Kids service club, she has contributed to her community in many ways.
– Christopher Brice of Diplomat Elementary is a hard-working student who challenges himself and others in the classroom. He pushes himself to succeed at high levels.
– Victoria Garcia of Hector A. Cafferata Elementary cares deeply about the well-being of members of her community. She volunteers in many capacities and thinks critically about issues faced by those around her.
– Mackenzie Buss of Skyline Elementary is a motivated student and a positive role model for her peers. She juggles a busy schedule of sports and extracurricular activities while achieving well in school.
– Shelby Dahl of Gulf Elementary School has a passion for reading. Whenever possible, you can find her with a book in her hand. In addition, Shelby loves to write poems and enjoys painting and sculpting. When she grows up, she would like to be a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology.
– Anna Dotstie of Pelican Elementary School is a very active fourth-grader. At church she participates in the hand bell choir and plays the piano during the service. In addition, Anna enjoys art and her work has been on display at Center of the Arts. She aspires to become a biologist.
– Kristen Barzola of Trafalgar Elementary School is a fifth-grader who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Her interests include playing sports, writing stories and taking pictures of wildlife. Kristen serves as the class student council representative and is active in the school’s ecology and scholars clubs.