25 donor-directed funds celebrate the academic excellence
of 246 students across Miami-Dade County and beyond
CORAL GABLES, FL (May 19, 2026) – The Coral Gables Community Foundation has surpassed its own record, awarding $3,938,500 in college scholarships to high school seniors through its 2026 Scholarship Program.
These awards, made possible by the Community Foundation’s generous donors, represent investments in the futures of students from Coral Gables and across Miami-Dade County.
At the Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Ceremony on May 13th at the University of Miami’s Shalala Student Center, 257 scholarship awards were presented to 246 students from 84 high schools, representing the most significant single-year distribution in the Foundation’s 35-year history. These scholarships were made possible through 25 unique donor-directed scholarship funds, allowing contributors to support the causes and communities that matter most to them.
The impact of the Foundation’s donors was especially felt this year through the continued growth of the Stamps Family Scholarship, which awarded $20,000 scholarships — paid in four annual installments — to the top academic performers at 84 high schools across Miami-Dade County, including public, Catholic and select charter schools. This year’s Stamps cohort of 168 scholars is the largest in the program’s history at the Foundation, representing a significant expansion from 144 scholars in 2025.
“We believe deeply in the power of higher education to transform lives and we are proud to support — in partnership with the Coral Gables Community Foundation — these exceptional students as they take the next step toward achieving their dreams,” said Annie Stamps, Trustee of the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation.
This year marks the debut of two new scholarship funds.
- The Gaby Bryan Memorial Medical Scholarship, established by Teresa Lowenthal in memory of Gabriela Bryan, a devoted mother and lifelong educator, will support young women pursuing careers in medicine.
- Raymond Bravo’s dear friend Joaquin Mendez established the Raymond Bravo Foundation scholarship fund to carry on Raymond’s lifelong message of sharing good fortune and giving back to the community where he was raised.
The 2026 Vince Lago Scholar Award, created in recognition of Mayor Vince Lago’s years of partnership and support of the Foundation’s mission, was presented by him to engineering student Marina Astorga.
More than 800 applications were submitted by students from schools across Florida and a few other states.
“Our scholars represent the promise and potential of the next generation,” said Matthew Meehan, Chair of the Scholarship Committee and longest-serving board member of the Foundation. “The donors in this room didn’t just give money tonight — they gave belief. And that is what changes a life.”
This year’s 257 scholarship awards are made possible by the generosity of donors to 25 unique scholarship funds: 1980 Cavaliers Boys Soccer State Championship Scholarship in Memory of Team Captain Bruce Hayes; Coco Plum Woman’s Club Scholarship in Memory of Max Gruver; Coral Gables Bar Association Ernest Gonzalez Scholarship; Coral Gables Community Foundation Four-Year Scholarship; Raymond Bravo Foundation Scholarship; Coral Gables Culinary Arts Scholarship; Grant and Bridget Daugherty Nursing Scholarship; Dr. Thomas E. Deal Scholarship; Erickson & Zoellers Engineering Scholarship; Gaby Bryan Memorial Medical Scholarship; Garcia Perseverance Scholarship; Robert & Marian Fewell Scholarship; High-Achieving Scholarship; Kerdyk Family Trust Music Scholarship; Julian Perez Memorial Scholarship; Principal Ralph V. Moore Jr. Scholarship for Cavalier Excellence; Rotary Club of Coral Gables Scholarship; Shine Bright Scholarship; Jeannett Slesnick Community Spirit Scholarship; Stamps Family Scholarship; Luke Sturgill Memorial Scholarship; Lady Suzanna P. Tweed Scholarship; Vince Lago Scholar Award; Walter & Alma Vogel Memorial Scholarship; Zubizarreta First-Generation Scholarship; and the Mitchell Zuñiga Scholarship.
A complete list of scholarship recipients will be published on the Community Foundation website following the event. For more information about the Scholarship Program and how to apply, visit
ABOUT THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Coral Gables Community Foundation partners with individuals, families and organizations to create personalized charitable funds that support impactful philanthropy. As a grant-making public charity, we provide leadership and resources to enhance the quality of life in Coral Gables and beyond. We take pride in helping our donors reach their philanthropic goals through Donor Advised Funds and other strategic giving vehicles.. Investing over $30 million into the community for 35 years and currently managing over $18 million in assets, the Community Foundation is a trusted entity for delivering nimble and powerful philanthropy via partnerships and donor-advised funds. To learn more about the many ways to partner with the Coral Gables Community Foundation, visit www.gablesfoundation.org.
2026 Scholarship Awards
2026 Vince Lago Scholar Award ($12,000): Marina Astorga
Coral Gables Community Foundation Four-Year Scholarship ($228,000 total, 19 awards): Joseph Angel Abrahantes, Albatool Khalid Alomari, Lucia Astorga Corral, Valeria Cifuentes (presented by donor Danielle Gonzalez), Davnette S Flores, Andres-Liron Florentino, Linda Alexandra Garcia Altamirano, Hazel Grosell, William Brice Felipe Hardie, Lauren Kaler, Lua Del Carmen Lara (presented by donor Ashley Cusack), Johan Liethof, Corina McDanal, Amalia Peraza Perez, Adrian Alberto Perez, Cesar Romero (presented by donor Greenberg Traurig), Alexander Tam-Solis, Juan Pablo Texier and Christian Alexander Tomas.
High Achieving Scholarship ($104,000 total, 14 awards): Ariana Agosto Santiago Antunes, Maria Del Mar Fernandez, Davnette S Flores, Linda Alexandra Garcia Altamirano, Isabella Melendro, Semilore Opeaye, Aaron Benjamin Orellana, Adrian Alberto Perez, Jose Ponce de Leon, Fabian Aurelio Ramirez, Loreana Soleika Rayo, Juan David Rendón-Garces and Naisha Simon.
Raymond Bravo Foundation Scholarship ($35,000, 10 awards): Ashley Blandon, Alicia Castro, Ariel Denis Gonzalez, Maria Del Mar Fernandez, Denis Ernesto Lopez Ledesma, Avril Paz Donner, Mia Ramirez, Amanda Teresa Rodriguez, Kylie Jae Rodriguez and Maritere Suco.
Coral Gables Culinary Arts Scholarship ($25,000, four awards): Matthew Angel-Nguyen Mendoza, Julien Defreitaslima, Elizabeth Lindner and Lucas Pertierra.
Dr. Thomas Deal Medical Scholarship: Rafael Hanono
Robert & Marian Fewell Medical Scholarship: Katherine Sanchez-Garcia and Alejandro Fernandez
Jeannett Slesnick Community Spirit Award Scholarship: Linus Valentin Boettcher, Ian Edmonson, Adriana Garcia, Joshua Markowitz, Lucas Martinez-Miro, Levi Mbadiwe, Gabriella Roa and Catalina Elena Valdes
Rotary Club of Coral Gables Scholarship: Israel Candia, Gianna Figueroa, Eliem Salazar, Michelle Quintana
Erickson & Zoellers Engineering Scholarship: Rony H. Condori-Gonzales
Shine Bright Scholarship: Selena Feal Castano
Walter & Alma Vogel Memorial Scholarship: Jude Everett
Gaby Bryan Memorial Medical Scholarship: Amanda Teresa Rodriguez
Coral Gables Bar Association Scholarship in Memory of Ervin Gonzalez: Maria Jose Cardenal and Linus Valentin Boettcher
Luke Sturgill Memorial Scholarship: Arian Prado and Sharon Romero-Gutierrez
Garcia Perseverance Scholarship: Linda Garcia Altamirano and Isabella Melendro
Kerdyk Family Trust Music Scholarship: Natalia Pacheco, Brayan Fernandez and Aidan Remedios
Zubizarreta First-Generation Scholarship: Valeria Cifuentes, Dania Ortiz and Brayan Fernandez
Lady Suzanna P. Tweed Scholarship: Jasmin Abu-Zaraybah
Julian Perez Memorial Scholarship: David A. Escalona
Principal Ralph Moore Scholarship for Cavalier Excellence: Samantha K. Gonzalez
Mitchell Zuñiga Football Scholarship: Fara Marie Lux
1980 Cavaliers Boys Soccer State Championship Scholarship in Memory of Team Captain Bruce Hayes: Paz Chico
Daugherty Nursing Scholarship: Bianca Lucia Giordano, Orlando Portuondo and Stefany Viera
Coco Plum Womans Club Scholarship in Memory of Max Gruver: Adriana Munoz de Santiago
Stamps Family Scholarship ($3.36 million, 168 awards)
- Academy for Advanced Academics: Leandra Morales, Rusbell Perez
- Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High: Arianna Caeymov, Tata Shalutashvili
- American Senior High: Devaughn Henry, Travis Calderon
- Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll: Arie Mejia, Mayra De Los Angeles Prieto Piñero
- Archimedean Upper Conservatory: Shaun Johnet, Tiago Nascimento Aversa
- Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts: Elliot Montiel, Shelayah Wilson
- Barbara Goleman Senior High: Gabriel Diaz, Anthony Lazaro Perez
- Belen Jesuit Preparatory School: Santiago Felix-Padilla, Renier Alejandro Quintero
- BioTECH @ Richmond Heights High: Annarela Alejandra D’Ambrosio, Meagan Ann Fernandez
- Booker T. Washington Senior High: A’Dereon Andre Dunson, Kiara Amyria Walden
- Carrolton School of the Sacred Heart: Ines Cristina Diaz, Lili Ferruh Veziroglu
- Center for International Education: Jose Abrahan Parrilla, Olenka Francesca Prado
- Christopher Columbus High School: Patricio del Castillo, Antonio Javier Santamaria
- Coral Gables Senior High: Avril Paz Donner, Alexander Ridoux
- Coral Reef Senior High: Mia Cunningham, Dineli Jayaweera Jayaweera
- Cristo Rey Miami High: Kimberley Christal Ferdinand, Deborah Jenisha Mery
- Cutler Bay Senior High: Patricia Chacon, Santino Felipe Rodriguez
- Design and Architecture Senior High: Nathalie Berthin, Carolina Michelle Garcia
- Don Soffer Aventura High: Ela Bermudez and Andrés Pasquali Rey
- Dr. Michael Krop Senior High: Miro Poj-Gordon, Simon Tchira
- Felix Varela Senior High: Giselle Alvarez, Ana Lucia Salcedo Rivas
- G. Holmes Braddock Senior High: Giselle Mayo, Ryan Porras
- Hialeah Gardens High: Abraham Jara, Alex Nicolau
- Hialeah Senior High: Maggie Cardenache, Nicholas John John Thrasher
- Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High: Jason Alarcon, Lucia Bring Castro
- Homestead Senior High: Roselinda Julien, Mariah Desiree Smoke
- Immaculata-La Salle High: Manuela Garcia-Casas, Colleen Anne Swan
- International Studies Charter High: Jean-Michel Esber, Stephanie Ann Farah
- International Studies Preparatory Academy: Kaylee Hernandez-Cartaya, Benjamin Padron
- iPrep Academy North: Raiya Mia Cohen, Tomas Facundo Nolasco
- iPreparatory Academy: Aileen Naomi Espinoza, Ashley Yerena Turcios
- iTECH @ Thomas Edison Education Center: Ivie Dormena, Ivonda Dormena
- JC Bermudez Doral Senior High: Catalina de Leon, Angela Troia
- John A. Ferguson Senior High: Diego Daniel Cantin, Lauren Olivia Hernandez
- Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy: Emily Beltran-Reyes, Isabellla Rita Flores
- Law Enforcement Officers Memorial High: Gabriela Garcia, Santiago Leon
- Maritime and Science Technology Academy: Tara Caroline Conway, Florencio Jose Munoz-Legarre
- MAST @ FIU Biscayne Bay Campus: Vincent Jiahao Ng, Isabella Sanchez
- Mater Academy Charter High: David Anthony Molina, Abraham Piedra
- Medical Academy for Science and Technology: Anabella Guerra, Stephanie Dionicio Vasquez
- Miami Arts Charter School: Daria Andreevna Borisevich, Maia Nicole Ramos
- Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer: Sara Lucia Moreno, Ava Isabella Prego
- Miami Beach Senior High: Leo Miles Forsberg, Sofia Martinez-Leggieri
- Miami Carol City Senior High: Fabiana Alejandra Blanco Vega, Ky’ene Starr Wimberly
- Miami Central Senior High: Charme Emauri Clayton, Ibrahim Alec Gowon
- Miami Coral Park Senior High: Joel Julio Pena, Ernesto Korin
- Miami Edison Senior High: Marie Steph Bastien, Alana Ivory Johnson
- Miami Jackson Senior High: Sefora Etienne, Jayden Emmanuel Smith
- Miami Killian Senior High: Lia Bella Fife, Adam Jameson Tait
- Miami Lakes Educational Center: Kayrat Erenulugovich Sarypbekov, Raquel Weaver
- Miami Norland Senior High: Franteria Lashawn Dantus-Cooper, Glykelis Iglesias-Cruz
- Miami Northwestern Senior High: Syeda Rubaiyat Ferdausi, Jaiel Rihanna Langston
- Miami Palmetto Senior High: Janie Yang Cai, Michael Guan
- Miami Senior High: Herbert Garlin Bresier, Javorie Wilson
- Miami Southridge Senior High: Pablo Josue Contreras, Daniel Rolando Sanchez
- Miami Springs Senior High: Isaura Giselle Larios, Victoria Rodriguez
- Miami Sunset Senior High: Brandon Troy Almazan Urban, Damien Michael Burandt
- Monsignor Edward Pace High: Julien Ramon Ramon Peña, Caroleena Rojek
- Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High: Lucille Maloney, Phoebe Elizabeth Mueller
- New World School of the Arts: Juliette Michelle Garcia, Sienna Maria Santiago
- North Miami Beach Senior High: Jennika Shamar Celestin, Jaliyah Irene Weekes
- North Miami Senior High: Christie Lea Clesidor, Dania Dominguez
- Our Lady of Lourdes Academy: Lorena Alvarez, Lauryn Alina Graham
- Pinecrest Academy Charter: Andrea Sofia Fonseca, Abigail Rose Kairalla
- Robert Morgan Educational Center: Melanie Guerra, Milena Guerra
- Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High: Sara Peaguda, Diego Alejandro Requena
- Saint Brendan High School: Stephanie Martínez, Olivia Travieso
- School for Advanced Studies – Homestead: Justin Enriquez, Eliora Oyedepo
- School for Advanced Studies – North: Polina Davydouskaya, Diana Carolina Ramirez
- School for Advanced Studies – South: Sebastian De Guzman, Miguel Angel Di Mare
- School for Advanced Studies – West: Shashank Kumar Maringanti, Antonio Mikel Mourad
- School for Advanced Studies – Wolfson: Giselle Iskandarani, Varit Seeherunvong
- Somerset Academy South – Homestead: Dainery De Leon Rodriguez, Gianna Antoinette Nino
- South Dade Senior High: Jeremy Tyrell Alaniz, William Amador Romero
- South Miami Senior High: Brhytani Linares Morales, Jorge Ricardo Silva Cabreja
- Southwest Miami Senior High: Amanda Belen Rodriguez, Angelica Isabel Rodriguez
- TERRA Environmental Research Institute: Jordan Alejandro Gomez, Evan Amado Valdez
- The SEED School: Isaac Cruz, Rebecca Normile
- True North Classical Academy – Sunset: Adrian Alonso Hurtado, Sabrina Lily Lopez-Cantera
- Westland Hialeah Senior High: Natalie Maria Molina, Daniel Alejandro Torres
- William H. Turner Technical Arts High: Myriah Jaëlle Cayo, Sandriana Loriston
- Woodstock Union High: Aleksandra Cirovic, Schuyler May Hagge
- Young Men’s Preparatory Academy: Kevin Calvaire, Nathan Anthony Hart
- Young Women’s Preparatory Academy: Andrea Cabrera-Elguezabal, Miabella Latta
