Haitian-American Coalition awards scholarships
The Haitian-American Community Coalition of Southwest Florida awarded four scholarships this year, including a recipient attending a Cape Coral school.
Honorees include Mariner High School student Gioasnanti Feneus, Layla Lubin from Lehigh Senior High School, Abigal Castor from Evangelical Christian School and Esha Blanc from Gateway Charter High School.
Each of the graduating students of Haitian heritage received a $1,500 scholarship.
“Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me as it not only financially supports me through my goals, but it also recognizes my hard work, perseverance, and the sacrifices that my family has made before me in order for me to continue to excel and strive for excellence. Winning this scholarship has motivated me to keep pursuing my dreams and give back to my community in the future,” Feneus said. “This scholarship would help allow me to fully focus on my education and career goals.”
One of her close friend’s mother, who is an educator in Lee County, shared information about the Haitian Heritage scholarship.
Feneus has a grade point average of 5.44.
“Achieving No. 1 rank in a class of 480 students required consistency, perseverance and time management. I was constantly asking my counselors to enroll me in difficult classes such as Advance Placement and AICE courses. Within these courses, I developed close relationships with my peers and teachers where if I ever needed help, I would always have someone to help me with the materials whether it be through study buddies or asking questions,” she said.
Her family prioritizes education and has high expectations of her, often checking in on her progress, which further helped motivate her through studying for exams as she did not want to disappoint her family, or herself.
In the fall, Feneus will attend Florida Gulf Coast University to pursue a career in healthcare.
“I am very passionate about helping others when they themselves may not have the capacity to do so on their own. While I am still deciding between nursing and becoming a doctor, I have developed a strong interest in anesthesia. I feel that given time and experience in the hospital I will be able to determine whether pursuing a career as a CRNA or anesthesiologist is the right path for me,” she said.
Feneus said she is very grateful for the scholarship, as she has had some difficult experiences in life, which she has learned valuable lessons.
“They helped me realize that not only do I want to work in the medical field, but also become someone other students can look up to. I want to show others that hard work and perseverance can open doors they never thought existed,” she said.