Family Travels Many Miles To Award ScholarshipA family traveled thousands of combined miles this past week to award a scholarship Friday afternoon at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
Susanna Martinez and Garrett Penn were awarded the Felipe A. and Azucena F. Lopez Memorial Scholarship. The family of Felipe A. and Azucena F. Lopez traveled from Texas, Florida and Germany to Warsaw to share the occasion.
Maria Lopez Oler, Felipe J. Lopez and Juan Lopez established the scholarship five years ago to honor the memory of their parents.
Felipe and Azucena Lopez came from Cuba in 1965. They made Warsaw their new home until their passing in 2003. Now, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren want to continue their belief in giving back to the community that gave so much to them.
Making the scholarship presentation Friday were Randy and Marie Oler; Tony, Angie, Emily and Natalie Oler; Jeremy, Janae Oler, Sarah, Anna and Ellie Newton; Felipe J. and Juan Lopez; and Kosciusko County Community Foundation Executive Director Suzie Light.
Martinez will be a senior at Grace College, Winona Lake, this fall. Majoring in social work, Martinez wants to be an advocate for society's most vulnerable and defenseless people and for those who suffer from social problems. She is a 2006 Wawasee High School graduate.
Penn will be a sophomore at Bethel College this fall. A 2008 Tippecanoe Valley High School graduate, Penn feels called to serve the community, as well as the surrounding community, by providing counseling services, especially for the Latino population.
The Felipe A. and Azucena F. Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a deserving student living in Kosciusko County. A student must be pursuing a service profession, show financial need and must have taken Spanish in high school or college. The amount of the award varies.
For more information on the eligibility requirements and/or to make a donation, contact the Kosciusko County Community Foundation at 574-267-1901.
