Lennard and Riverview Woman’s Club Scholarships – The Observer News

By LINDA CHION KENNEY

In memory of Earl J. Lennard of Riverview and to further the mission of the Riverview Woman’s Club, $11,000 in scholarships were presented to the 2024 high school graduates.

Established “to enrich our community through fellowship and educational support,” the club’s annual scholarship drive predates the 12-year-old club’s founding when co-founders Jeanne Burkeson and Donna Fore were members of the Apollo Beach Woman’s Club.

Riverview Woman’s Club co-founders Jeanne Burkeson (left) and Donna Lee Fore

“For years, Apollo Beach only gave scholarships to students who lived in Apollo Beach,” Burkeson said. “We noticed that Riverview was growing by leaps and bounds. We thought, ‘What about tomorrow? The kids of Riverview need scholarships, too.'”

To that end, the club has been raising money for 12 years through the Riverview Woman’s Club Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, for scholarships awarded to high school graduates who will attend a four-year college or university, community college or trade school. Applicants must have a Riverview address or apply as the child or grandchild of a club member.

The club also raises money through fundraising events, which since 2023 have included the annual charity race for honorary mayor of Riverview. The club receives 15 percent of each candidate’s proceeds. This year’s winner, Amy Sams, and her opponent, Sharon Keil, raised more than $27,000 combined. The club’s next fundraiser, Music Bingo, will be July 2 at Bullfrog Creek Brewing Co. in Valrico.

Fore said the club has raised “well over $60,000” for scholarships since its inception, including the six $1,000 scholarships awarded June 19 at the Sweet Water Club at Sweet Water Grand The Bridges in Riverview. It also awarded two $1,000 scholarships funded individually and collectively by club members, and three $1,000 scholarships in Lennard’s memory awarded by the Central Hillsborough County Chamber of Commerce, formerly known as the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce.

Lennard, a lifelong Riverview resident and graduate of Brandon High School and the University of South Florida, served as Hillsborough County school board member and Hillsborough selectman. His administrative duties included overseeing agricultural education and technical and vocational education. Lennard died in December 2019.

Board President of the Riverview Woman’s Club, June 19 at The Bridges at Sweetwater Grand.

Recipients of the Dr. Earl J. Lennard Scholarship include David Frazier, a graduate of Lennard High School’s Collegiate Academy who also received an associate degree from Hillsborough Community College (HCC). He plans to study political science and economics at Florida State University.

Anais Degnan, who prioritized education and community service at Riverview High School, will attend HCC and plans to pursue a degree in agriculture.

Valerie Dominguez, a Sumner High School graduate who participated in the Cambridge AICE program and the school’s HCC dual enrollment program, is now attending the University of South Florida to study medical engineering.

Larry Brooks, the club’s first male member and now one of five, has been funding need-based scholarships out of his own pocket for 13 years, reserving them for East Bay High graduates. “The money I give won’t put them through Harvard, but it helps,” says Brooks, a reverse mortgage specialist at A&A Mortgage Funding.

The Larry Brooks Scholarship was awarded to Omaris Ruiz-Rivera, who did not speak English before entering high school but went on to become an English honor student and was selected to the Hillsborough County All-County Honor Choir. She plans to study diagnostic medical sonography at HCC.

The recipient of the scholarship, jointly sponsored by club members Fore of PF Auto Glass and Jennifer Hart of Impact Taekwondo, is Riverview High graduate and marching band percussionist Angel Montejo. He will attend Erwin Technical College to pursue his passion and become an automotive technician.

“It’s the little things that a scholarship like ours can do,” Fore said, pointing to the necessary costs of books, tuition and living expenses. “Students receive two or three scholarships like this; it adds up.”

Recipients of the remaining six club scholarships include Denver Codner, a Sumner High School graduate who has completed more than 140 hours of community service and was the marching band’s drum major. She is attending the University of Central Florida and plans to study hospitality and continue her education in law school.

Sean Falvey, a leader in agricultural careers at Riverview High, including 4-H and FFA, is headed to HCC where he is pursuing a degree in agricultural communications and education and hopes to become an agriculture teacher.

Kourtnee Gray graduated from Lennard High Collegiate Academy with a diploma and an associate degree from HCC. As an elite athlete, she plans to study biochemistry and biomedical engineering at Florida State University and aspires to study medicine to become a cardiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon.

Photos by Linda Chion Kenney
Fellows, from left: Sophia Garcia Lilo, Valerie Dominguez, David Frazier, Denver Codner, Alisha Parshad, Sean Falvey and Anais Degnan. Not present: Omaris Ruiz-Rivera, Angel Montejo, Kourtney Gray and Alyssa Wheeldon.

Sophia Garcia Lilo, a graduate of Sumner High School, was president of Latinos in Action. She will study business and economics at the University of Florida.

Alisha Parshad has completed 120 hours of service, was captain of the Riverview High golf team, and will soon attend the University of Central Florida.

The latest scholarship recipient is Alyssa Wheeldon, one of the top 20 graduates of East Bay High’s graduating class. She was the varsity cheerleading captain and served as yearbook editor-in-chief for two years. She is now attending the University of Florida to study political science and aspires to attend law school.

For more information about the Riverview Woman’s Club, visit www.riverviewwomansclub.org/.