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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 greatly help the program every year. Every donor of
a small gift or a large gift is helping to improve individual
lives and, consequently, the community. Additional support
is needed.
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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Matthew Milligan placed mile markers
to help walkers and bicyclists on the 11-mile long Summerlin
Bike Path, and is awarded the scholarship sponsored by Tom Orthman. |
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Patrick Daniel Wilke built two
elevated bat houses in the conservation area of McGregor Baptist
Church where people observe nature. He is awarded the scholarship
sponsored by Sandra and Don Stilwell. |
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Keith Parker, Jr., established four
picnic areas along with fenced parking in Myakka Forest. He
receives the scholarship sponsored by Lon and Steve Pontius. |
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Marshall Naimo removed old and dying vegetation,
replanted, mulched and helped nine landscape areas for St. Andrews
Church of Christ, Sarasota. He is awarded the scholarship sponsored
in memory of Sidney R. Davis. |
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| Edison Community College FRESH START PROGRAM helps displaced homemakers gain skills for further education
to reenter the workforce, and scholarships help pay for subsequent
regular college-level classes. |
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Pearl Daibach is a single mother whose livelihood
was endangered by an injury that forced her out of nursing.
She will use the scholarship to help reach her goal of an accounting
degree. |
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Eva Crabtree is the single mother of eight children,
five still living at home. She works as a church janitor, recently
completed the GED and is now taking prerequisite courses to
enter the Edison Community College nursing curriculum. |
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Laurie Taylor, the single mother of two boys,
is pursuing a degree in drafting as an avenue leading toward
financial independence. |
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| Gulf Region Educational Advantages for Teachers
(GREAT), an organization of the best future teachers
at Florida Gulf Coast University, nominated Michele Ludick. The scholarship will buy books to help her complete
her studies. |
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| The Children's Home Society made
two nominations for workers to further their education and better
serve the community. |
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Michelle Strachan is a paraprofessional in the
Healthy Families Lee program, helping new mothers achieve healthy
parenting goals. The scholarship will help her enroll in an
adult education course in Spanish so that she can better communicate
with clients. |
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Donna M. Sanborn will use the scholarship for
studies to become even more effective as a social worker. |
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| Mount Hermon Christian School nominated Allen Riggins, who will enter college with a great
determination to benefit himself and others. |
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| Big Brothers and Big Sisters nominated Marie Davis, a single parent who has been working
in the Sister to Sister mentoring program for mothers. She sees
education as a means to go beyond minimum wage jobs to support
her two young children. |
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| The Women's Resource Center nominated Rhonda Korpi, a single mother of high integrity
who will use the scholarship to attend the High Tech Center
to develop skills for a health care vocation and become part
of the economic mainstream to support her four children. |
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| The Salvation Army nominated Melody
McDonald, a single mother, for a High Tech Center scholarship
to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, which will enable her
to continue helping others and support her two children. |
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| Teen Challenge International nominated Jeremi Fortress, a 26-year-old with a passion
to help others. The scholarship will help him learn to become
a caregiver to people who are physically and emotionally challenged. |
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| Hispanic Services of Catholic Charities nominated Olga Castaneda, a senior honor student
at Cypress Lake High School who has volunteered in Habitat for
Humanity, Thanksgiving Food Drive Christmas Toys for Tots, church
thrift store, and participates in school and church music. The
scholarship will help her prepare to be an engineer. |
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| High Tech Center Central nominated |
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Lorraine Harper, a mature nursing assistant
who will use the scholarship for vocational advancement to practical
nurse and better wages to support her family. |
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Latongella Nelson, who will use the scholarship
to compete the practical nurse program so that she might better
service patients and increase wages to provide for her family. |
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Cheri Krose, who returned to school after raising
children, is straight "A" student with perfect attendance
and has won the regional competition in her field of cosmetology. |
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Valerie Pete, who was widowed with three young
children. After many years as a bookkeeper, she is now pursuing
her original dream to be a practical nurse. |
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| High Tech Center North nominated Monica Yepes, who is preparing to be a surgical
technologist. Her ultimate goal is to enter medical school and
become a physician. |
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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, stay free of drugs
and crime, and be model citizens. |
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Katisha Sturgis was nominated by Operation
About Face. |
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Josh Gardener was nominated by the Dunbar
High School and will receive the Sidney R. Davis Scholarship. |
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Anna Dunton was nominated by the Key
Club of Bishop Verot High School and receives the scholarship
sponsored by Covanta Energy of Lee, Inc., in memory of William
Burdsal (Bill) Davis. |
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2003 Scholarship Awards
2002 Scholarship Awards
2001 Scholarship Awards |
