For eighteen years our Poinciana Council has offered an annual scholarship to graduating high school seniors who live in the Poinciana area. This year, the Poinciana Council Board of Directors once again offered this scholarship opportunity to worthy  seniors as well as students already enrolled in post-secondary institutions to help them continue with their degree or certification program.

The Poinciana Council Scholarship is funded by contributions made to the Poinciana Council Scholarship Fund and proceeds from events produced by the Poinciana Council Board of Directors. Thanks to an Osceola County Community Betterment Grant from District 3 Commissioner Brandon Arrington, the Board was able to match their collected funds in order to award four $1000 scholarships. New this year, a business forward scholarship in the amount of $1000 sponsored by HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital was also presented. The Board also presented each student with a $100 Visa gift card.

After an application review process, the Poinciana Council Board chose four remarkable high school seniors from four different Osceola County School District schools and one student enrolled at Osceola Technical College. The decision was based on extracurricular and volunteer activity, recommendation from the students’ teachers and advisors, and, most importantly,the students’ essay response to the prompt “As a young adult/professional inthe Poinciana Community, please address the biggest challenges facing thecommunity and ways that you can address those challenges considering youreducational goals, life experiences, and any obstacles or hardships that youhave overcome.”

This year’s Poinciana Council Scholarship Award winners were Angelina Angervil of New Dimensions, Lorenzo Mag-aso of Osceola County School for the Arts, Eman Fatima of Celebration High School, Jade Sewram of Poinciana High School, and Melina Delgado of Osceola Technical College.

A lunch including favorites from around the world – from pulled pork to Swedish meatballs - was catered, as it is every year, by the Poinciana High School culinary students under the instruction of Chef Juan Alamo.  Poinciana Council Board Chair Biance Belabre, owner of A Creative Station, served as emcee.

Guest speaker, and Osceola County School District Assistant Superintendent, High School Division , Dr. Chundra Evens, Spoke directly to the students and urged them to take the support they have received to get to this point and choose to become that support to someone else as they go forward. She also reminded them that they are the future of Poinciana and beyond. Community advocate and recent Osceola School District graduate Gabriella Brocal reminded them to accept the aid and advice of mentors and learn from them when the opportunity presents itself, and to not take the earned wisdom of their parents and others in their lives for granted.  

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What amazing students will be recognized next year?  We can't wait to find out. The Poinciana Council scholarship fund is significantly supported by proceeds from the Poinciana Council's annual events like PoincianaFest, which this year will be held on November 14. Anyone can also contribute to the scholarship fund in any amount at any time.

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Contributions to the Poinciana Council's scholarship fund may be made HERE.

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