High school seniors graduating this year, and pursuing further education, or someone considering returning to school, might want to consider applying for one of several scholarships being offered by the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida, Inc. The 2026-27 online scholarship applications portal for seven different scholarships from the Foundation is now open and the deadline to apply closes on March 1, 2026.
The Mary Fran Carroll Scholarship is available again this year for residents of Sarasota County. There are two versions of this scholarship. The Traditional Scholarships are open to graduating seniors and recent high school graduates (within the last 2 years) who wish to pursue an undergraduate degree in any accredited college or university. The Non-Traditional Scholarships are open to adult learners who are returning to school to obtain a college degree or vocational certification after being out of high school for three or more years. This year, the Foundation will be awarding multiple $4,500 annual Mary Fran Carroll scholarships which each have a renewable worth of $22,500 over five years. The Traditional and Non-Traditional scholarship can both be used for tuition, books and fees at an accredited college, university, or vocational program.
“Over the past 12 years, the Catholic Community Foundation has awarded more than $1,020,550 in scholarships to 169 students attending universities, colleges, and vocational programs,” said Michael Morse, Executive Director of the Foundation. “In addition, millions of dollars have been provided to the Catholic Schools within the Diocese of Venice from Foundation endowment funds, donor advised funds, and outright donations for scholarships and tuition assistance for needy students.”
In addition to the Mary Fran Carroll Scholarships, the Foundation is offering:
- Frank and Florence Coseglia Scholarship, which provides a scholarship to one financially needy college-bound student graduating from each of the four Catholic High Schools within the Diocese of Venice. This one-year, non-renewable scholarship is valued at approximately $1,100 and is intended for students that provided significant service to their respective Catholic School and Parish.
- James & Margaret Schwarz Scholarship, for a graduating senior at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota, who is interested in pursuing a career in education. This year, the Foundation will be awarding a single academic scholarship of approximately $8,000. This one-year scholarship is non-renewable and can be used for tuition, books, fees and housing expenses.
- Frederick Schaerf, M.D., Ph. D. Neuroscience Scholarship, for students at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers, who are interested in pursuing a career in neuroscience or similar field. This scholarship is a one-year, non-renewable $4,000 scholarship for tuition, books, fees and tutoring services (housing and living expenses not eligible).
- Steven Toner Math Award Scholarship, a one-time approximately $1,500 scholarship to one college-bound financially needy student graduating from St. John Neumann High School in Naples Florida with an interest in pursuing a career in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) field.
- Frank M. Bertoni & Beverly Cimini-Bertoni Scholarship, a three-year renewable scholarship to students pursuing an education in nursing, a technical field, or other vocational program. The scholarship is $5,000, and renewable up to three years for a total of $15,000.
- Barry L. Carey, M.D. Scholarship, a single, four-year renewable college scholarship for a practicing Catholic high school senior graduating this year from a Catholic, private, home school, or public school within the 10 counties of the Diocese of Venice in Florida. The scholarship is $400, and renewable up to four years for a total of $1,600. Additionally, the recipient must be the first generation in their family to attend a college or university.
All applications and supporting documents for each of the scholarships must be submitted electronically by no later than March 1, 2025.
To find out which Catholic Community Foundation scholarship you qualify for, please visit https://ccfdioceseofvenice.org/scholarships/. If you have any questions, please email ccf@dioceseofvenice.org.
