Students Awarded $960,000 in College Scholarships by Founders Scholarship Fund

40 Local High School Students Awarded $960,000 in College Scholarships by Founders Scholarship Fund

Realizing the dream of attending college will now be significantly easier for 40 Collier County high school students who have been awarded four-year, post-secondary education scholarships by Founders Scholarship Fund. The scholarships total $960,000 over four years.

The deserving students, along with their friends and family members, and Founders Scholarship Fund Board members and mentors, were among the 140 attendees at a Scholarship Awards Ceremony held at Club Pelican Bay on April 30, 2026. During the celebration, Board Chair Michael Balgord welcomed the students and their families.

“It is a great honor to introduce Founders Scholarship Fund Class of 2026,” Balgord said. “Each of these students exemplifies what it takes to succeed in college and in life. They have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership skills, and commitment to helping others. We are proud to help them pursue their dreams through a college education.”

Stacy Lee-Williams, Fund Director, and Karen Hindman, Board Trustee, presented the scholarships to each recipient. Upon receiving the award, the recipient announced where they will attend college and what they plan to study.

Founders Scholarship Fund is a local 501(c)3 non-profit organization that awards renewable scholarships to local students who have shown determination, academic achievements, and financial need to pursue a college education.

Each student receives a $24,000 scholarship disbursed at $6,000 per year for four years. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and may use the scholarship for tuition, books, lab fees, housing, food, and other college-related expenses.

Scholarship funds are made possible thanks to the generous donations of the members of Club Pelican Bay, and from supporters of the biennial Ed Brennan Memorial Banquet & Golf Tournament. Since the charitable organization was founded in 1991, it has awarded over $9.1 million to more than 930 local students.

The 2026 Founders Scholarship Fund recipients are:

• Aubrey Rogers High School – Noah Harton, Vincent Laperche
• Barron Collier High School – Madelynn Amburgy, Fatima Beingolea-Almestar, Tenzin Dhakar, Valentina Garcia, Isabela Monroig
• Club Pelican Bay (Employees/Family) – Adam Edwards, Sarah Lopez, Jossimar Reyes-Barrios, Yazmin Salazar
• Golden Gate High School – Kamila D’Alessio, Laisa Moran, Lindsey Pineda, Winner Seide, Emily Serrato, Joselyn Suarez-Torres
• Immokalee High School – Juan Diego Juarez, Frantz Francois, Angel Garcia-Chavarria, Yaneli Morales-Velasquez, Diana Ramirez, Jasmin Reyes, Keydi Santis-Vazquez
• Lely High School – Hastry Andino, Maria Duran, Minerva Mendez, Richard Obas
• Lorenzo Walker Technical High School – Delainey Anderson, Jean Enaillo, Youd-Stessy Pierre, Christa Prunier, Ilormise Sirenord
• Mason Classical Academy – Sierra Cancel, Mia Vlahakis
• Naples High School – Isabella Cuellar-Gutierrez, Sofia Cuellar-Gutierrez, Carizma Johnson
• Palmetto Ridge High School – Edwin Miguel
• St. John Neumann Catholic High School – Dario DiPonio

For additional information about scholarships or available sponsorships, please visit Founders Scholarship Fund online at www.TheFoundersScholarshipFund.org.