Bishop Frank J. Dewane, joined by Board members of the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida Inc., honored 22 scholarship winners during a ceremony on May 16, 2023, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice.
The recipients of the Mary Fran Carroll, Coseglia, Schaerf, and Schwarz Scholarships were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements and for their commitment to continuing their education in pursuit of wide-ranging career paths such as education, medicine, business, engineering and more. The Foundation Scholarship Committee carefully reviewed 85 applications before determining the winners. Many of the Foundation Board members were present for the luncheon.
Bishop Dewane opened the presentation with prayer and said he was impressed with the new Foundation scholars, noting their academic success and ambition to seek out distinctive goals. “We pray that what they embark upon, the students will certainly be successful in their life.”
Michael Morse, Executive Director of the Catholic Community Foundation, congratulated the new scholars, saying the young men and women are worthy to forever be known as Foundation Scholars.
“These scholarships were created by individuals (and couples) to support higher education, because they strongly believe in it,” Morse said. “Our committee works hard in the selection process, and it is one of the most rewarding things the Board does. When we see your application and what you have done and are going to do, it gives us all hope for the future.”
Lily LaMorey, the James and Margaret Schwarz Scholar, graduated from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High in Sarasota, and said she is pursuing a career in elementary education at the University of South Florida because her work as a summer camp counselor was “the most fulfilling thing I have done.”
Cameron Phayre, of Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, was named one of four Frank and Florence Coseglia Memorial Scholars (he is also a Mary Fran Carroll Scholar). Cameron will attend the University of South Florida in the fall to study global business. “My passion is to bring the benefits of innovation and technology into the lives of others to make the world a better place. This overarching theme has inspired my career path. My long-term career goal is to either run a successful business or lead as a chief officer at a software or tech company.
Mary Fran Carroll Scholar Anastasilia Lezhanina, a graduate of North Port High School who will be studying hospitality management and tourism and will also study film making at State College of Florida, is an immigrant who fled the Ukraine when the war with Russia began in 2022. She thanked the Foundation Board for awarding her the scholarship because without it she could not afford to go to college. “My family arrived in this country with nothing, and college would be too expensive for my family. This scholarship will help me start my path, so that I will be able to achieve my dreams.”
The Mary Fran Carroll Scholarship provides a total of 16 academic scholarships ($3,500) to residents of Sarasota County and is available for tuition, books and fees. This year there were 15 traditional scholarship winners (high school graduates pursuing an undergraduate degree) and one non-traditional winner (an adult learner seeking an advanced education after being away from school for a number of years). The scholarship is renewable annually up to a total of five academic years ($17,500 total) for students maintaining a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.2 or greater, while also making progress toward their career goal. In the past year, many students had their scholarship renewed.
The Coseglia Scholarship provides a one-time scholarship ($1,100) to one financially needy graduating senior from each of the four Catholic High Schools within the Diocese of Venice. The winners were nominated by their high schools and approved by the Foundation Board.
The Frederick W. Schaerf, M.D., Ph.D. Neuroscience Scholarship provides a one-time scholarship ($4,000) to a graduating senior from Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers interested in pursuing a career in neuroscience or similar field. This was the fifth year the scholarship was offered.
The Schwarz Scholarship is a one-time college scholarship ($7,500) to be awarded for tuition, books, fees, and housing expenses for a student graduating from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota.
During the scholarship ceremony, the recipients shared their personal experiences as well as college and career goals. Each expressed their appreciation for the scholarship from the Foundation. Many specifically explained how the scholarship money will assist in lessening the financial burden of attending college and pursuing their career goals.
The Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida Inc. was established to provide philanthropic opportunities for individuals, such as Mary Fran Carroll, to create lasting gifts in support of Catholic programs and ministries within the Diocese of Venice. This year, the Foundation is on track to distribute $3.5 million in endowed support for Catholic Schools, Parishes, Seminarian education, programs for the needy, college scholarships and more.
To learn more about the Catholic Community Foundation, please contact Michael Morse at 941-441-1124 or by email at Morse@dioceseofvenice.org. You can also visit the Foundation website at www.CCFDioceseofvenice.org.
2024 Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida, Inc. Scholars
Mary Fran Carroll Scholars – traditional
Jewel Medina, Venice High School (2023), University of Central Florida;
Charlotte Gillis, North Port High School (2023), University of Central Florida;
Emmalee Bunnell, Venice High School, Marymount Manhattan College;
Danile Potepa, Riverview High School, University of South Florida;
Christina Bowser, Sarasota High School, State College of Florida;
Ornella Rokh, Venice High School, Boston University;
Cameron Phayre, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, University of South Florida;
Miranda Lauber, Riverview High School (2023), Florida State University;
Jackie Williams, Suncoast Polytechnical School, University of South Florida;
Anastasilia Lezhanina, North Port High School, State College of Florida;
Marco Vegh, Riverview High School, University of Florida;
Giselle Cisneros Lobo, Venice High School, Georgetown University;
Peyton Pablo, Venice High School, Florida State University;
Summer Maclay, Venice High School, Florida State University;
Hailey Renner, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, Florida Gulf Coast University.
Mary Fran Carroll Scholars – non-traditional
John Quigley, Ringling College of Art and Design.
Frank and Florence Coseglia Memorial Scholarship
Cameron Phayre, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, University of South Florida;
Beata Blood, St. John Neumann Catholic High School, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University;
Teresa Klucik, Donahue Catholic Academy of Ave Maria Parish, Ave Maria University;
Naissa Esperance, Bishop Verot Catholic High School, University of South Florida.
James and Margaret Schwarz Scholarship
Lily LaMorey, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, University of South Florida.
Frederick W. Schaerf, M.D., Ph.D. Neuroscience Scholarship
Naissa Esperance, Bishop Verot Catholic High School, University of South Florida.
