Cape Coral Kiwanis awards 24 scholarships
Two dozen student scholarship recipients gathered at the Kiwanis Splendor Event Center Tuesday night to be formally recognized as winners of the organization’s annual awards.
The Class of 2026 graduates were recognized for their outstanding community leadership.
“Together, the students in this room have contributed 3,850 hours of volunteer community service,” Cape Coral Kiwanis president Eric Feichthaler said.
He added that the volunteerism showcased by the scholarship winners, “served to make our community stronger.”
In all, Cape Coral Kiwanis awarded $264,000 in scholarship money to the 24 recipients.
The Kiwanis scholarship awards are near and dear to president Feichthaler’s heart.
Today, he’s an attorney who has served among Cape Coral’s mayors.
In 1990, as a graduate of Mariner High School, he was a Kiwanis scholarship recipient.
This year, his daughter, Emily, is one of the 24 honorees.
“The Kiwanis club began awarding scholarships in 1982,” Feichthaler said. “This year, our donations have been better than some years. In fact, donations have been really strong.”
The primary sources of funding for the Kiwanis scholarship program are the organization’s two area thrift stores. The thrift stores are stocked with area donations and staffed by local volunteers.
“The 150 volunteers, who man the thrift stores without accepting payment, help make these scholarships possible,” Feichthaler said.
He added that those funds are supplemented by five area families who have given to Kiwanis as gifts from their estates.
“I am really grateful to be one of tonight’s winners,” said Zoe Enslin, soon to be a 2026 graduate of Mariner. “I’ll be going to Florida Southwestern University, and I plan to study biology.”
A volunteer committee of six members was responsible for selecting this year’s scholarship winners. None of the Kiwanis team is paid for their time. While area students must apply for the Kiwanis scholarships, these individuals must also have a connection to the community. Winners, or members of their immediate family, should live in Cape Coral.
Kiwanis Treasurer Dusty Shelton shared that a pool of 45 competitive applicants vied for this year’s Kiwanis scholarships.
Brody Menna, who received a one-time $3,000 scholarship from the Lorenz Family fund, said he plans to become a firefighter and to serve locally.
Attendees of Tuesday evening’s event were invited to bring up to three guests. Many attendees brought their families and several winners thanked their parents for getting them ready for adulthood.
Scholarship recipient Gemely DeLosSantos thanked her mom.
“I have learned so much from the woman; she is my life,” DeLosSantos beamed.
She will attend the University of South Florida and plans to ultimately work in pediatric medicine. DeLosSantos is one of five children.