Criteria for Scholarship Recipients

Must be a Charlotte County public high school senior or graduate.
Accepted to or attending in good standing in an accredited post-secondary education institution or technical program in  the field of engineering or physical science.

2021  David Gerdel Scholarship Recipient

•  Colby Gielow - University of Florida (Engineering )

Dennis Munholand, DDS, MBA, was a prominent dentist in Port Charlotte for more than 20 years prior to his passing.  Dr. Munholand is credited with creating the Harbor Heights Peace River Rotary Club.  He was the Chapter’s first president and later named a Paul Harris Fellow, an award given to those who make significant contributions to Rotary. He also was honored as the club’s Rotarian of the Year in 2000.   Dennis’ heart showed in the way he helped young people become productive adults, in the charities he fostered, in the hours he spent teaching others, and in the care he showered on patients.  He helped start Charlotte High School’s Project Graduation, an alcohol-free party for graduates.  He worked for eight years on Project Graduation, and was involved in many charitable organizations and events in support of local youth.

Upon Dr. Munholand’s death in a car accident at the age of 52, The Harbor Heights Peace River Rotary established this scholarship fund in his name.  This fund provides scholarships for graduating high school seniors looking to enter the dentistry field.   According to Eugene Heitman, Rotary president at the time of Dr. Munholand’s passing, “It’s a little something extra for the youth, and Dennis was very involved with doing things for the youth in our community. The HHPR Rotary has lost a dear friend.  We will never forget him, and in his honor, have established a memorial fund to provide support for young people seeking a career in dentistry.”

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a graduate of a Charlotte County high school
• Accepted to or attending in good standing an accredited post-secondary education institution or technical program in the field of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental assistance, or other related field or educational pursuit that promotes excellence in dentistry.

2021 Dennis Munholand  Scholarship Recipient

• Ana Beltran - University of South Florida ( Health Science)

Douglas Brian Thatcher was born in Long Beach, CA and lived in North Port for 22 years.  Doug was a registered nurse and a medical sales representative for Johnson and Johnson Depuy Synthes Orthopedics.  Patients, physicians and his coworkers looked to him as a leader in the medical community.  Doug loved windsurfing, fishing and cooking.  Doug also had a love for learning, and his most recent project was creating a koi fishpond in his backyard.  His koi fish are now permanently living at the Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Gardens.  Doug truly impacted every person he ever met in a positive way.  Doug was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend to all those he loved.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:

•  Must be a Charlotte County high school senior that has participated on the boys’ or girls’ basketball team
•  Must be accepted to a post-secondary educational institution to pursue a career in Healthcare.

 The donors who established these scholarships are retired professionals in the healthcare industry. They desire to provide Charlotte County residents  entering or already enrolled in a health professions degree program with enhanced higher learning opportunities.  Their belief is that these healthcare roles are much needed positions that cannot be outsourced overseas like so many other jobs. 

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Must be a resident of Charlotte County entering or attending a 2-year or 4-year Health Professions Program in a college in Florida or an accredited online Health Professions program.
If high school senior, must attend a Charlotte County High School.
Must remain in good standing with their school
Scholarship automatically renews 1 time if the student remains in the program and in good standing.  Must reapply for additional years.

2021 Health Professions Scholarship Recipients

• Emily Anderson - State College of Florida ( Nursing )
• Morgan Barham - Florida Southwestern State College (Nursing)
• Lucita Gomez - Florida Southwestern State College (Nursing)
• Jamie Gonzalez -Florida Southwestern State College(Nursing)
• Davon  Keyes - University of South Florida (Biomedical Science)
• Kaitlin McCausland - Florida Southwestern State College (Nursing)
• Tamara Paul - State College of Florida (Nursing)
• Chelsea Raines-State College of Florida (Nursing)
• Kellie Redmann - State College of Florida (Nursing)
• Emma Sweiderk-State College of Florida (Nursing)
• Megan Winter - Florida Southwestern State College (Nursing)
• Laura Yepes - Florida Southwestern State College (Nursing)

Jennifer was born April 25, 1949 in Madison, Wisconsin. Growing up on a farm outside Mequon, Jenny attended private schools. She went to Smith College, earning a Bachelor of Science in math and education. She furthered her education, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Applied Math at Brown University, and a PhD in Leadership and Public Policy at The Ohio State University. Worthington Schools in Worthington, Ohio, hired her as a math teacher in 1972. Among her many responsibilities during the next 30 years were teacher, department chair and President of the Worthington Education Association. She retired as an assistant principal at Worthington Kilbourne High School in 2002. She also was a leader in the OSU Graduate Principal Development Program.

Not only did she encourage learning in others, but she herself was a lifelong learner. She dedicated herself to making schools more responsive to students, to helping teachers achieve their maximum potentials and to developing more competent and humane administrators. After retirement she returned to the east coast where she had residences in Virginia, Florida, and Maine. Jenny and her life companion, Michele Matto, enjoyed traveling with and showing their Samoyeds in their RV. Other interests included bridge, golf, sailing and woodcarving. She was considered by everyone who knew her as one of the kindest, most loyal, and caring of friends. She had a gentle nature that belied her competitiveness.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

High school senior or graduate pursuing a career in education at a 4-year accredited college. (not restricted to graduates of Charlotte County high school)
Must demonstrate a “need” for college funding
Must submit a resume that reflects personal integrity and honor

2021 Jennifer A Young Memorial Scholarship Recipients

• Sara Drake - American College of Education  (Master's in Education)
• Trinity Gohl - Florida Gulf Coast University  (Elementary Education)

The Karen Wynn Memorial Scholarship was established by her husband Doug, family, friends and colleagues. The Karen Wynn Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at the Charlotte Community Foundation  to memorialize Karen and her passion for Real Estate. 

This scholarship will benefit local Charlotte County residents who wish to pursue a career in Real Estate by allowing them to attend the needed classes, help to provide funding for registrations, certifications, and necessary dues.

Criteria for Scholarship Recipients

• Must be a Charlotte County or Sarasota County resident pursuing a career in Real Estate.
• Must be a high school graduate
• Must be 18 years of age

2021 Karen Wynn Memorial Scholarship  Recipient

• Jessica Howard - Magnolia School of  Real Estate

Leo Wotitzky was born in Punta Gorda in 1912 and resided here until his death in 2005.   Leo had an illustrious life as a teacher, newspaper editor, state legislator and attorney at law.  Due to his intellect, personality and sense of humor, Leo was a leader in every activity he ever undertook.  As a teacher, he was able to inspire the best from the gifted and the not so gifted.  Not just in the subject material, but in life.  As a newspaper editor, he consistently advocated and promoted community concerns.  His tenure as a state legislator proved Leo to be a leader in addressing the needs of public education, elevating the standards and providing the funding so that every child in Florida would have a quality educational opportunity.   As an attorney, Leo represented both the rich and the poor.  He provided free legal services to many nonprofit organizations.

If not for a teaching scholarship, Leo’s education would have been interrupted by the economic depression of the 1930s.  Leo would have been forced to drop out of college.  In both his personal and professional life, he always identified with people who might have been economically disadvantaged, but had the intellect, the inner strength and motivation to reach their life goals.

His family, friends and former students have contributed to create the Leo Wotitzky Scholarship Fund to last in perpetuity in the memory of one of Florida’s finest citizens.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Must be a recent graduate or high school senior of a Charlotte County public high school
Must be accepted to or attending in good standing at an accredited post-secondary educational institution or technical program
Must exhibit leadership skills
Must exhibit service to the community
2 year renewable scholarship

2021 Leo Wotitzky Scholarship Recipients

• Fanny Arnyek - University of Southern California (Computer Science)
• Talon Bottonfield - University of South Florida (Environmental Science)
• Tyler Caron - University of Central Florida  (Journalism)
• Stephen Donaldson- Full Sail University (Graphic Design)
• Dylan Hogan - New College of Florida (Political Science)
• Krista Leo- University of South Florida (Exercise Science)
• Raphael Maunahan - University of South Florida (Biomedical Engineering)
• Justin Rotolo - Florida  Southern College (Theatre Performance)

Nora Penton Beatty graduated from the Cooper Hospital School of Nursing (NJ) in 1934.  After marriage to her childhood sweetheart William G. Beatty in 1935, they started a family in 1937, eventually having two sons and one daughter.  Mrs. Beatty was guided to nursing because in that generation, women usually were educated as a nurse or as a school teacher.  Her older sister was a teacher.  Nora was a kind and empathetic person, so she followed those natural inclinations to care for and comfort people.  Her gentle spirit was a good fit for what was expected of a nurse in those days.

Mrs. Beatty’s daughter, Joanne Amendola-Phenix writes this about the scholarship: I chose to fund a memorial scholarship at the Charlotte Community Foundation in my mother’s name to honor an intelligent, gentle and caring woman who died too young at the age of fifty-two from breast cancer. My two sons were not yet born when their grandmother died. By this scholarship, I hope to encourage them to think about their grandmother and the influence she had on me. Education was important to her and she would be delighted to be helping nursing students reach their life goal. I hope this “giving” in turn influences my sons to give to others and come to the knowledge in their hearts that you are truly blessed when you are but a channel for God’s goodness to others.  Personally, my Christian faith compels me to reach out and share the blessings God has showered on my life.  For the scholarship recipients this Bible verse says it all: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).”

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Must be a Charlotte County resident
Must be enrolled and in good standing or pursuing enrollment in an accredited Charlotte County post-secondary educational institution nursing program or technical program in nursing
Has maintained a “B” (3.0) average or better in previous course study

2021 Nora Penton Beatty Nursing Scholarship

• Nicole Pulaskie - University of South Florida  (Health Science)

  The donor who established this scholarship fund is a retired nurse. After serving on the Charlotte Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, she was moved by the numerous applications from students who overcame unfortunate obstacles yet excelled in school while working outside the home, caring for family members, or participating in their community.

“Each one was an inspiration to me and each one deserved the opportunity to achieve their dreams”

~Anonymous Donor/Nursing Scholarship

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a Charlotte County public high school  senior or graduate
• Accepted to or attending in good standing at an accredited post-secondary educational institution or accredited on-line program for nursing or technical program in nursing (RN, BSN, MSN)
• Must maintain a "B" (3.0) average or better

2021 Nursing Scholarship Recipients

• Sabrina Lefebvre - University of South Florida (Nursing & Sociology)
• Hannah Roushia - State College of Florida (Nursing)
• Penelope Thacher - State College of Florida (Nursing)

Virginia  was born and raised in Canton, OH and graduated from McKinley High School in 1937. She attended Ohio University and Kent State University, was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and received her degree in Business Education.  In 1944, during World War II, Virginia was hired by IBM. She retired in 1975 as an Advisory Systems Engineer, paving the way for other women in the industry. In 1980 she moved to Naples, FL and began her next 'career' as a volunteer for the University of Florida's Extension Homemakers. She became the secretary of this organization on the state level in Gainesville, FL, and most often could be found teaching classes to other women in the area of money management. From Naples, she moved to Fort Myers, FL in 1991 and spent four years volunteering at Southwest Regional Hospital. Then in 1995 her travels brought her to Port Charlotte, FL.  She continued to volunteer at Fawcett Memorial Hospital, through Senior Friends. In 2009, Virginia was awarded an honoree of the HCA Frist Humanitarian Award given to outstanding individuals for their humanitarian and volunteer activities. Virginia's generous contribution to the Charlotte Community Foundation for a clinic that provides free healthcare to the underserved working poor in Charlotte County embodied the significance of this award. Her contribution purchased the building for the clinic that will live on into perpetuity as the 'Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic'. She was again honored by the national society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) - Charlotte Bay Chapter, with their prestigious Community Service Award in 2013.
When Virginia was asked, 'What is the most important thing people should know about life, from your perspective?' she shared, 'Take responsibility for yourself - be proactive to advance yourself. Choose to be a survivor and take responsibility in your life to get ahead.'

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Must be a Charlotte County public high school graduate or has lived or worked in Charlotte County for at least the last 2 years.
Must be currently enrolled in and have already completed at least two years of a traditional four year Bachelor’s degree program (or more advanced degree educational program) in a healthcare related field at either Florida Gulf Coast University or Florida Southwestern State College or accredited online program.
Recipients must agree to provide a minimum of 10 volunteer hours per month at  the Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic, Englewood Community Clinic, or other local health related philanthropic organization approved by CCF during the semester(s) the scholarship is received.

2021 Virginia B. Andes Scholarship Recipients

• Nicole Allen - University of West Florida (Master's in Social Work)
• Vincent Bauer - Rasmussen University (Nursing)
• Mary Calitri - Florida Gulf Coast University (Biology)
• Jenna Dunakey - University of Florida (Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience)
• Bana Jarrah - University of Florida (Public Health)
• Kaylee Marr - University of Central Florida (Nursing)
• Samantha Martinez - University of Miami (Nursing)
• Taryn Morneau - University of South Florida (Biorchemistry/Pharmacy)
• Lorrie Norman - University of South Florida (Adult Gerontology  NP)
• Bianca Vales - Keiser University ( Nursing)