Red Sox Foundation awards 16 local high-school students college scholarships
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Boston Red Sox honored 16 local high-school seniors before the March 26 game vs. the Twins.
For the eighth-consecutive year, the Boston Red Sox presented local public high-school seniors each with a $5,000 college scholarship by the Red Sox Foundation.
Again, this year all Lee County charter and ALS schools were added with one $5,000 scholarship also being awarded to a student from this category for a total of 16 scholarships worth $80,000.
The scholarships are for academically talented students who have shown a commitment to community service and are pursuing a two- or four- year degree at any college or university.
The 16 students plan to attend universities ranging from the University of Florida, UCF, FGCU, Harvard, Georgia Tech, Rice and more and will major in computer science, business, aerospace, engineering, nursing, biology, communications and more.
Scholarship funds are raised annually from proceeds of the Red Sox annual Swings for the Sox Golf Tournament. To date, the Swings for the Sox has raised more than $497,000 for local charities and specifically $437,175 for the scholarship program. Due to Hurricane Ian, this year’s tournament was cancelled.
“Since I never graduated college, I’m happy to continue supporting these impressive students on their first great step towards their future,” said David Doran, owner of DLD Builders LLC of Naples, who was the title sponsor of the Swings For The Sox for the 8th consecutive year. “My hope is not only for these students to do well, but at some point, when they are able to pay it forward and help the next generation behind them.”
Doran has donated over $70,000 to the Red Sox scholarship program.
“These students are going to be stepping out and doing many amazing things in the future,” said Dr. Jennifer Cupid-McCoy, deputy superintendent for the School District of Lee County. “We are incredibly proud of our students. This is a new beginning for them, and we wish them the best. We cannot wait to see what they achieve.”
The Red Sox Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox. The foundation’s primary focus locally is in serving the health, education, recreation and social service needs of children and families across Southwest Florida. The Red Sox Foundation is one of the most successful in all of Major League Baseball.
2023 Scholarship Recipients
Vanessa Kinley Bonita Springs
Jennifer Gongora-Caruncho Cape Coral
Autumn Rodes Cypress Lake
Ah’riyah Kemp Dunbar
Janalicia Nava Ozuna East Lee County
Justin Breitenstein Estero
Dalevyon Knight Fort Myers
Rozaria Brown Gateway
Ella Daudbasic
Tawny De La Fe Cruz Island Coast
Alexis Smith
Berk Aydogmus Mariner
Makayla Ashley North Fort Myers
Mar Perez Riverdale
Deborah Ghullikie South Fort Myers
Emily Paraboschi Charter/ALS
