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A slew of students in Lee County were recently awarded the Carson Scholarship Fund, $1,000 that will be put into a trust until they graduate from high school and attend a four-year college or university.
There were 36 new scholars for the 2022 Carson Scholarship Fund in Lee County and 89 recognized scholars.
To date, there have been 538 Carson scholars from Lee.
The recognition program's purpose is to encourage and empower students to maintain the positive behaviors that epitomize what makes them a Carson Scholar.
New recipients from West Zone schools include three from Cape Coral, five from North Fort Myers and one from Pine Island.
Cape Coral recipients include:
Megan Buchhofer
Grade: 5
Diplomat Elementary School
Lachlan Feichthaler
Grade: 5
Oasis Elementary School South
Kylee Hutchins
Grade: 5
Skyline Elementary School
Other West Zone recipients include:
Zoe Bott
Grade: 5
Tropic Isles Elementary School, North Fort Myers
Sophie Chaoui
Grade: 5
North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts
Janelly Mendoza
Grade: 5
J. Colin English Elementary School
Madilyn Montgomery
Grade: 5
Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary School
Eann Myers
Grade: 5
North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts
Patrick Kunkel
Grade: 5
Pine Island Elementary School
"The Fort Myers area hosts one of the Carson Scholarship Fund's most active chapters," Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. Executive Director Amy Warner said. "Expansion of the program to Fort Myers began in 2009 when Dr. Bill Frey, his family, and the late Mr. John Sheppard and his wife, Ellen began recruiting support and endowing schools in the Fort Myers area. Their commitment to education at an early age has led to the endowment of 21 Fort Myers schools. An endowed school promises a scholarship each year, provided the school nominates a qualified applicant."
Frey said he is always blown away by the young Carson Scholars.
"Not only are they outstanding students, but they are also committed to acts of service in their own communities," he said. "The Carson Scholars program is an incredible organization promoting traditional American values of scholarships, hard work and faith in God and one my wife Lorraine and I are proud to support."
Warner said that annually funded scholarships provide other schools the opportunity to nominate a scholar.
"This spring, Fort Myers scholars will receive an invitation to a film premier titled 'Carson Scholars: Heroes Among Us,' which will feature new and recognized 2022 Carson Scholars," Warner said. "During the premiere, Dr. and Mrs. Carson will provide a personalized message to the scholars and their medals and pins will be awarded."
"Twenty-one of our new Carson Scholarship recipients' were endowed scholars thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors," CSF Scholarship Director Rachel Brown said.
Dr. and Mrs. Ben Carson founded the CSF in 1994 to address education crisis in the United States.
Warner said this nations students' educational achievement, especially in math and science, was not equating to the abilities of most other nations.
"With the belief that if children are taught early to excel, they will stay motivated and have a higher chance of educational success later in life, the program was designed to discover and reward students who excel academically. A second component of the scholarship focuses on civic leadership," she said. "The belief is this component will foster compassionate leaders in the future."
CSF relies on educators to nominate students, grades four through 11, as they are often the first to recognize perseverance and compassion.
The nomination process begins in October for the following spring scholarship season with a link sent to educators to begin nominating students. Students are required to have a 3.75 grade point average or higher.
When a student is nominated they have to fill out an application, select a question based on their grade level for an essay, as well as demonstrate extensive community service and activities involved.
"In addition, an educator must submit a recommendation letter on their behalf," Warner said.
An independent panel of judges, which consists of educators, business professionals and community members score the applications. They are scored against a comprehensive rubric and the highest scoring applicants are selected. Although the number of students each year varies, it usually falls within 400 to 600 students.
"Through this process new scholars are selected," she said. "In addition, once a scholar is awarded, each year following their award until their senior year in high school, the scholar has the opportunity to apply as a recognized scholar. There is no additional monetary reward, but the student is recognized at a ceremony, provided a pin, certificate and a plaque to add to their school's trophy.”
This year, Warner said they are awarding 547 new and 801 recognized scholars. New scholars receive $1,000 scholarship, which she said is held in a trust until a student graduates and matriculates to an accredited four-year college, or university.
"Each year the scholar receives a statement with the current value of their scholarship," she said.