May 17, 2021 — Education is a top priority in Coral Gables, as proven by the Coral Gables Community Foundation recent award of nearly $250,000 in college scholarships to deserving local students.
Dignitaries, Foundation Board Members, donors and the scholarship recipients and their families celebrated at the annual Scholarship Reception hosted jointly with the City of Coral Gables on Tuesday, May 4th at the Coral Gables Museum.
This year, the Foundation awarded 57 scholarships from its various scholarship programs: the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Four-Year $10,000 Scholarship, Four-Year $5,000 Scholarship, Merit Scholarship and Culinary Arts Scholarship; Dave Ragan Jr. Memorial Scholarship; Ralph V. Moore Scholarship for Cavalier Excellence; Lady Suzanna P. Tweed Scholarship; Garcia Perseverance Scholarship; Coral Gables Bar Association Scholarship in memory of Ervin Gonzalez; Kerdyk Music Scholarship and three new scholarships this year: the Julian Perez Memorial Scholarship presented by Mayra Vide-Perez in honor of her husband, the Mitchel Zuniga Memorial Scholarship presented by Martha Mendez Michele in honor of her son given to a graduating Cavalier football student athlete and the inaugural Shine Bright Scholarship.
“Each year, the Coral Gables Community Foundation has the privilege of honoring students who have excelled academically and shown outstanding service to their community,” said Laura Russo, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, adding that she believes that today’s scholarship recipients will be the ones awarding even larger scholarships years from now.
“The generosity of our Board of Directors, fund holders and donors has allowed us to invest nearly a million dollars in our community’s education over the last few years” said Matthew Meehan, Scholarship Committee Chair and Foundation Board Member. Mr. Meehan concluded the ceremony with a challenge to the students to give back to the community that has supported them and to use their education and skills to make a difference by paying it forward to the next generation.
The Foundation’s fund holders have taken a strong interest in education, as proven in scholarship giving by funds like the Coral Gables Bar Association, Dave Ragan Jr. Memorial fund as well as through the development of the Friends of Gables High fund, a fiscal sponsorship fund operated under the charitable umbrella of the Foundation and founded by dedicated alumni. The Friends of Gables High recently awarded $10,000 to Coral Gables High School to fund projects such as renovating the drama department, repairing the school band’s instruments, improving video production equipment and others. For more information on the Coral Gables Community Foundation, please visit gablesfoundation.org.
Read more at Miami’s Community Newspapers
https://communitynewspapers.com/coral-gables-news/education-in-coral-gables-receives-major-investment-as-community-foundation-awards-nearly-250000-in-scholarships/
2021 Scholarships Awarded
Coral Gables Community Foundation Scholarship Fund
- Aya Hamza
- Daniela Parra Del Riego-Valencia
- Natalya Hope Barbido
- Emma Bartelt
- Rebecca Carrillo
- Arely Correa-Perez
- Erika Del Valle
- Kaitlyn Duardo
- Natalie Falls
- Patrick Flipse
- Aya Hamza
- Vivian Lowe
- Karla Sánchez Garcia
- Natalie Abrahantes
- Lizabeth C. Carolina Arrieta
- Gabriella Condoleo
- Olbin Gil
- Emily Gonzalez
- Christian James
- Amber Lleo
- Lisset Lopez
- Nicolas Musa
- Melanie “Pip” Ozuna (Sarabia)
- Daniela Parra Del Riego-Valencia
- Caitlin Peters
- Nataly Rabelo
- Sofia Malena Rebull
- Mary Amanda Rodriguez Finales
- Diana Solomon
- Alexandra C Torres-Arsuaga
Coral Gables Culinary Scholarship Fund
- Camila Ortiz
Daugherty Nursing Scholarship
- Diana Maradiaga
Dave Ragan Jr. Memorial Golf Scholarship
- Giuliana Gomez
Dr Thomas E. Deal Medical Scholarship
- Jasmine Morales
Garcia Perseverance Scholarship
- Rose Clermont
- Osmel Fernandez
- Pierre Jebian
- Sarah Perkel
- Jahnee M Smith
Kerdyk Family Trust Music Scholarship
- Rafael Mazza
- Connor Munroe
- Mena Williams
Lady Suzannah P Tweed
- Paola Villafuerte
Mitchell Zuniga Memorial Scholarship
- Carnell Partridge
Julian Perez Memorial Scholarship
- Brayden Sanchez
Principal Ralph V. Moore Scholarship for Cavalier Excellence
- Sara Rabell
Coral Gables Rotary Scholarship
- Natalie Abrahantes
- Carolina Aguilar
- Isabelle Barbery
- Imgard Sophia Bonheur
- Sara Ebrahimi
- Hanna Ebrahimi
- Daniel Fernandez
- Samantha Gazda
- Aya Hamza
- Irene Martinez
- Jasmine Morales
- Michaela Torres
Shine Bright Scholarship
- Penny Brooke Richards
Walsh Fund Scholarship
- Chase Bagnall
Total: 59 Awards, $236,500 value.
