This spring, Grace Place alumna, Rebecca Paul, will celebrate an early graduation from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) – with honors. She will be “debt-free,” thanks to the incredible gift of a full-tuition scholarship she received three years ago. No easy feat for any young adult these days, as the average student loan debt for recent college graduates is nearly $30,000, according to U.S News data.
For Rebecca, who will be the first in her family to accomplish this achievement, it will make an enormous difference as she begins her next journey into medical school. And to what does Rebecca credit for this success? “Faith, family, and the community where it all started – Grace Place.”
At this year’s Dean’s Circle Luncheon, Rebecca invited the 2022 scholarship candidates to come forward and recognized all their hard work right before she surprised them with the special news – this year thanks to the generosity of Grace Place community members, students would be recipients of prestigious “full-ride” scholarships to FGCU, through the Jubilee Scholarship and Opportunity Scholarships. The students (and most of the guests in the room) were left completely flabbergasted by this news. Emotions were running high, and the room was infused with a sense of hope and joy.
The College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Students Aid 2021, states “Over the past decade, average tuition, fees, room, and board costs have increased 11% at public colleges and 14% at private colleges over and above general inflation.” And while college costs are growing, we can’t say the same for earnings for families with low incomes. The same report states “between 1990 and 2020, the average income increased by 57% for the top quintile of families and by 12% for the lowest quintile of families”. This makes the reality of student loans a higher burden for some families and a lot of times even unattainable.
We are ecstatic that we can provide this kind of opportunity to our students because of Grace Place supporters like you. We can’t wait to see what great things our scholarship recipients will achieve in the fall during their first semester of college. For more insight on our scholarship recipients make sure to stay connected on all our social channels!
2022 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
SCHNAISSON DESROSIERS
Opportunity Scholarship Recipient
“I’ve spent the last four years at Grace Place being mentored and tutored on how to give it my all and never settle for less. I’ll never forget the day I got notified that I was accepted to FGCU. I want to express my gratitude to Mr. Jim Bosscher, Ms. Karen, and everyone else who helped mold me into the person I am today. I was a member of the varsity wrestling team as well as the varsity track and field squad. On top of having a job, I take a peer education class and volunteer at a food bank outside of school. I intend to attend FGCU to study business management and accounting.”
JESSICA DOLCE
Opportunity Scholarship Recipient
“I was born in Haiti, I moved to the Bahamas in 2015 and moved to the United States in August 2019. According to friends and my teachers at Grace Place, I am a goal setter and very competitive. I’ve successfully completed the Florida Ready to Work certificate and I’ve received a Taste of Immokalee entrepreneur certificate. I am working on getting my CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) using the scholarship money that I have accumulated during my years in the Grace Place program. Currently, I am a participant in the Peer Educator group with Planned Parenthood. At school, I am the Vice President of the Pottery Club, I’ve been a member of the Link Crew Club since junior year. I was also a part of the Diversity Club. I played varsity tennis and soccer since junior year. My favorite class is Health science.”
KARINA LOPEZ
Opportunity Scholarship Recipient
“I plan to major in exercise science at Florida Gulf Coast University. I’ll never forget volunteering after school at St. Agnes while also being Senior Class Vice President during my senior year of high school. This past fall, I always looked forward to spending Fridays after school attending the Peer Education Program, volunteering at the Food Pantry, and cheering for my school’s football team. I would like to thank God, and my family for shaping me into the person I am today.”
WOOD BIEN-AIME
Full-Ride to Saint John’s University: Academic Achievement Scholarship, The Saints Scholarship, and The Saint John’s Grant. As well as, Grace Place Scholarship Recipient for $500
“In the fall, I am going to St. John’s University in Minnesota where I will be majoring in biology, in hopes of becoming a doctor one day. Some of my favorite high school memories were being a part of my school’s track and cross-country teams, as well as, volunteering for Meals of Hope where I got to help a lot of people in need. The reason I love Grace Place so much is that I have always felt welcomed by everyone there, and the staff always made me feel at home. Some of my favorite Grace Place memories were helping the kids with homework. I would like to thank my family, especially my mom, and the whole Grace Place staff, especially Ms. Sheila and Ms. Karen for helping me to get to where I am today.”
STAINA STACO
Grace Place Dale-Clarke Scholarship Recipient for $1,000
“I plan on attending the Army Reserve for 3 years and being a part-time college student, afterwards I plan on becoming a travel nurse. In high school, I was part of the Diversity Club and I played Tennis for two years. My favorite high school memory was going to Grace Place after school and working with the elementary-age kids, they always brightened my day. I would like to thank my geometry teacher for always being there when I needed someone to talk to for extra encouragement.”
LINDS FRANCOIS
Grace Place Scholarship Recipient for $750
“In the fall, I am going to St. John’s University in Minnesota where I will be majoring in biology, in hopes of becoming a doctor one day. Some of my favorite high school memories were being a part of my school’s track and cross-country teams, as well as, volunteering for Meals of Hope where I got to help a lot of people in need. The reason I love Grace Place so much is that I have always felt welcomed by everyone there, and the staff always made me feel at home. Some of my favorite Grace Place memories were helping the kids with homework. I would like to thank my family, especially my mom, and the whole Grace Place staff, especially Ms. Sheila and Ms. Karen for helping me to get to where I am today.”
YOUDLY PIERRE
Grace Place Scholarship Recipient for $750
“In the fall, I am going to St. John’s University in Minnesota where I will be majoring in biology, in hopes of becoming a doctor one day. Some of my favorite high school memories were being a part of my school’s track and cross-country teams, as well as, volunteering for Meals of Hope where I got to help a lot of people in need. The reason I love Grace Place so much is that I have always felt welcomed by everyone there, and the staff always made me feel at home. Some of my favorite Grace Place memories were helping the kids with homework. I would like to thank my family, especially my mom, and the whole Grace Place staff, especially Ms. Sheila and Ms. Karen for helping me to get to where I am today.”
