Brooksville, Florida (July 19, 2019) – St. Anthony the Abbots Knights of Columbus Council 6800 announces that it has awarded scholarships to three local high school graduates in the amount of $750 each. The awards were based on the recipients’ successful completion and submission of the requirements included in the Council’s 2019 scholarship application, their outstanding academic credentials, their ongoing service to St. Anthony’s and to Hernando County community and elsewhere. The application included research and meaningful responses in relation to an essay question included in the application regarding the life and times of Knights of Columbus founder, Father Michael McGivney. The three recipients in alphabetical order are: Camila Mejia, Victoria Rivera, and Casey Whittier.
Criteria for the scholarship included that the recipients must have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher, an SAT of 1150 or higher, or ACT equivalent, provide at least two letters of recommendation from teachers and advisors, provide an essay regarding the life and times of Father McGivney, an a letter of acceptance and registration to an institution of higher learning. Funds are distributed directly to the higher institution they are attending.
About Camila Mejia
Camila Mejia will be attending Florida State University in Tallahassee. She is a graduate of Nature Coast Technical High School and will major in astrophysics and minor in political science. She is a member of her high school’s Beta Club and is the swim team captain. She intends to continue her education and eventually achieve a doctorate degree.
About Victoria Rivera
Victoria Rivera will be attending Pasco-Hernando State College on both the New Port Richey and Brooksville campuses. She is a graduate of Hernando High School. She has been highly active in Future Farmers of America and a leader in the Peer Inclusion Team, a part of the National Honor Society and on the Hernando High golf team. She has volunteered her time in the Peer Inclusion team where she was paired with a student with a disability and assists them in certain class periods. Victoria has worked part-time as a veterinary assistant and intends to obtain a degree in agriculture. She enjoys hunting, horseback riding and raising animals.
About Casey Whittier
Casey Whittier is a graduate of the Whittier Home School Academy and will be attending Ave Maria University in Florida in the fall. Casey has been extremely active in a variety of different clubs and groups in his church community. He intends to major in history and political science. Casey is interested in the law and politics. His goal is to obtain a degree in law and become either a lawyer, politician or judge.
The scholarships were presented at mass at St. Anthony the Abbot Church in front of the congregation. In addition, the Knights of Columbus Assembly 1721 color guard were also present to pay tribute to the event.
In presenting the scholarships Grand Knight Michael Kelly said, “On behalf of the nearly two million members of the Knights of Columbus worldwide, we thank you, you as parishioners, for your ongoing support of the Knights of Columbus in making these events possible.”
Since 2015 related award criteria has been reviewed annually and approved by the officers and membership of the Knights of Columbus. In 2015 a new program was implemented and since then $5,200 in scholarships have been awarded to nine students over the past five years.