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Education is at the heart of the Uncommon Friends Foundation mission. Scholarships help people of all ages, all socioeconomic groups and with all varieties of career goals realize their full potential by finding the right dream and pursuing it. Each award has multiple effects because recipients have demonstrated a commitment to helping others and because, with education, recipients will contribute to the economy and society. Some awards recognize demonstrated leadership and academic excellence. Other awards are for people with extraordinary potential who have overcome great obstacles and, via education, will move into the mainstream of the economy and society. Most Uncommon Friends scholarships are intended to assist with costs prior to a time when the student might qualify for other financial aid. Over thirty social service agencies and schools were invited to nominate candidates. Panels of citizens then evaluated nominations and selected recipients.
The scholarship program began with a generous gift from Mrs. Berne Davis in memory of her late husband, civic leader Sidney Davis, and she has made subsequent annual major gifts. Other donors will be recognized from the podium during the program. Every donor of a small gift or a large gift is helping to improve individual lives and, consequently, the community.
Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout scholarships for books in the first semester of college recognize that scouting fosters ideals of the Uncommon Friends Foundation. Eagle Scouts have demonstrated additional achievements, including completion of a special project.
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Karl Larrison received the Dot and Tom Orthman scholarship. Karl designed and constructed an eight-sided shelter with cement floor for Camp Cocohatchee, a Collier County youth camp. |
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Matthew James Bendza received the Foundation scholarship. He led his troop in clearing and leveling a nature trail at Lely High School in Naples. The trail is dedicated to the spirit of Ronda Tohms, a cross-country athlete who was the unfortunate victim of a murder-suicide. |
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Jeffrey Williams received the Sandra and Don Stilwell scholarship. He identified, recorded and photographed over 100 historic structures in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. His work assisted the State of Florida Division of Historical Resources in updating master files of historical structures. |
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Neal Dentler received the Lou and Steve Pontius scholarship. He improved the setting and environment for public enjoyment of Duette Park in Manatee County by clearing five campsites of brush and debris and constructing barbecue grills at the sites. |
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| Lifeline Family Center nominated Kimberly Stickles, a single mother, for a scholarship that will pay fees to take state board examinations leading to license as a massage therapist to work in a nursing home. While a resident of Lifeline Center, along with her infant child, Ms. Stickles achieved the high school General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and, with a previous Uncommon Friends Scholarship, gained career training. |
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| Catholic Hispanic Social Services nominated Maria Fernanda Torres for a scholarship to assist in college enrollment. Granted political asylum from Colombia along with her parents, Ms. Torres arrived in the United States a year and a half ago speaking no English. She is now fully bilingual, an honor student at Riverdale High School, and a volunteer tutor of at-risk Hispanic students from five Lee County public schools. |
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| Lee County High Tech Center Central nominated |
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Chris Brill, an outstanding student in the practical nursing program. |
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Steve O'Banion, a mature person with family responsibilities who is using the computer electronics technology program as a step toward economic self-sufficiency and income adequate to send his daughter to college. |
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Camela Gibson, a mature mother of four, who is progressing well in the child development assistant program in preparation for a career in education. She has demonstrated great success in working with children. |
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John G. Conklin, who was decorated for valor in Viet Nam combat, later encountered and overcame barriers in life. He now has the highest academic average in his class, is a student leader in the architectural drafting program and will be an asset to the construction industry. |
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| Cornerstone Ministries nominated |
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Darnell Hayes, who wants to attend Edison Community College and gain skills in preparation for operating an inner-city service business. After a life of problems, he sees the value of education, and currently transports children to and from an after school literacy program. |
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Dara Henry, one of eight children of an inner-city single mother, who is well experienced in overcoming difficult situations. With unwavering determination to achieve life's dreams, she sees High Tech Center training as a step toward success in business and consequent financial self-sufficiency. |
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| Travis Jolliff, Jr., of Travis Reprographics and Cary Robinson, McGregor Baptist Church minister to college/career nominated Sean Tanner, a junior at Baptist College of Florida, who is preparing for a career as minister to youth. |
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| Lee County High Tech Center North nominated |
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Brian Powers, who overcame physical challenges and is a commercial art technology student. |
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Ondrea LaBrozzi, a caring person who is dedicated to helping people improve their health, but who has no financial support for education. After completing the High Tech surgical technology program, she would like to go on to the Edison Community College cardiovascular technology course. |
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| Edison Community College FRESH START PROGRAM for displaced homemakers nominated |
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Cathy Cobb, a mature single parent with two teenage children. She sees the associate of arts degree as an avenue toward stable employment with income sufficient to support her children. |
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Laurie McDole, a mature single parent who supports her son (also in college), her brother and his children. She sees the associate of science degree in criminal justice as a way to move from insecure employment of two jobs at wages too low for subsistence to permanent employment with adequate income. |
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Mayra Mones, a single parent of a teenage son, is physically challenged and sees the associate of science in nursing as a way to secure employment and a release from dependence on government assistance. |
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| Life Choice Pregnancy Resource Center nominated Lisa Dove, a single mother who works two jobs to support her daughter and, in addition, volunteers by sharing her story and speaking to young women. Her goal is to be a midwife. |
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| Gabriel House and the City of Naples nominated Matthew E Ravish for a book scholarship to continue in premedical training at Carson-Newman College. His parents have devoted their lives to helping children with special needs in the Fort Myers area. This scholarship was purchased with a donation in honor of the marriage of Frances Machno and Dennis P. Slattery. |
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| Florida Gulf Coast University nominated Amanda Pointelin for the Gulf Region Education Achievement for Teachers (GREAT) scholarship to help purchase books. Within one semester of completing a degree in accounting, Ms. Pointelin found herself tutoring elementary school students in English as a second language and fell in love with teaching. She quickly saw that accounting would not bring her the personal satisfaction and creativity that her life needed. She is now en route to becoming a teacher. |
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| College Prepaid Tuition scholarships, in conjunction with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, are granted to selected ninth-grade students who contract to succeed in high school through graduation and to stay free of drugs and crime. Starting in 2002, the Bill Davis Memorial Scholarhip will also be presented. |
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Keith Green was nominated by Fort Myers Senior High School. |
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Rosa McDonald was nominated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Charleston Park. |
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Donica Goree was nominated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Charleston Park. |
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Billy McLain was, in 1998, the first Sidney Davis Scholar to receive prepaid tuition. He will now graduate from Cypress Lake High School and go on to Edison Community College.
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2003 Scholarship Awards
2002 Scholarship Awards
2001 Scholarship Awards |
