CROWN POINT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDS $505,790 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY – The Crown Point Community Foundation (CPCF) proudly celebrated its annual Scholarship Awards Night on May 7th at the Halls of St. George, honoring the achievements and aspirations of students across the community. The event brought together scholarship recipients, donors, families, and community supporters to recognize a diverse group of learners, including graduating high school seniors, current college/trade school students, and non-traditional adult learners pursuing their educational goals. The evening served as a powerful reminder of the impact philanthropy can have in helping individuals access opportunities and achieve their dreams. 

The CPCF is proud to continue its tradition of helping to make higher education possible for local scholars. The Foundation awarded 116 scholarship awards to 104 students, totaling $505,790.

“Scholarship funds are one of the most meaningful ways donors can create a lasting impact in our community,” said Mary Nielsen, President of the Foundation. “By supporting students as they pursue their educational and career goals, these funds help open doors to opportunity and strengthen our community for generations to come.”

“The CPCF Scholarship night is a fantastic showcase of the accomplishments of our talented students and their desire to better themselves with further education,” said CPCF Chairman Corey Liss. “It is amazing to see our community embrace this through so many valuable scholarship opportunities.”

We extend our gratitude to our Community Partner, the Halls of St. George, for generously hosting the special evening; our Visionary Sponsors: Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics and CP Coworking; our Catalyst Sponsors, AmeriClean, LGS Plumbing, Inc., Commercial In-Sites, The Nickla Group, Party People Audio Video, and Neal Tyler; and our Contributing Sponsors, Party Lane NWI Party, Steamwhistle Coffee Roasters, Tavern on Main, and Strack & Van Til. Their support, along with Shane Lawrence Photography, was instrumental in making this event a success!

We also recognize the dedication of our CPCF Board of Directors, whose leadership continues to champion educational opportunity, and extend our heartfelt appreciation to our generous donors, whose support makes these scholarships possible. Scholarships are awarded through special funds that have been established at the Foundation. Many of the scholarship funds are established to honor or memorialize loved ones, creating lasting legacies and transforming lives.

Each year, the Scholarship Committee (made up of community volunteers) reviews applications, interviews students and selects the recipients.

For more information about the scholarship program or other funds, please call the Crown Point Community Foundation at 219-662-7252 or send an email to info@thecpcf.org.

This year’s scholarship recipients are as follows (Scholarship, Name of Recipient, and Amount): 

Alec Matalin Memorial “Dope” Scholarship Sophia Rubio $5,000.00; Alfred J. Gruber Senior Social Studies Honorarium Silas Borrmann $1,780.00; Alvin & Kathryn Schmidt Scholarship Sara Kamp-Austin $600.00; American Italian Benevolent Society Scholarship Keira Allegrezza $1,600.00; American Italian Benevolent Society Scholarship Vita Ayala $2,000.00; American Italian Benevolent Society Scholarship Kolby Henderlong $2,000.00; American Italian Benevolent Society Scholarship Katie Pampalone $2,000.00; American Italian Benevolent Society Scholarship Madilyn Pavicich $1,600.00; Barbara Jenkins Tyler Speech Scholarship Cesar Querimit $1,500.00; Barney Family Scholarship Grace Griffith $5,000/Semester ($40,000) | 8 Semesters; Barney’s Hub Bootery Scholarship Ma’Rae Wallace $2,735/Year ($8,205) | 3 Years; Bryan C. Niedert Memorial Scholarship Kara Vagelatos $2,500.00; Bryan C. Niedert Memorial Scholarship ($2,500) Anthony Gambino, Jr. $2,500.00; Burrell Family Scholarship Olivia Giaretta $3,445.00; Burrell Family Scholarship Samantha Zivkovich $3,445.00; Candace Lynne Walton Scholarship Dustin Depew $1,175.00; Celia C. Newcomb Memorial Scholarship Emily Cicillian $3,000.00; Charles Hall & Beatrice Joy Kolar Scholarship Braden Porter $2,500.00; Charles M. & Marjorie Quickle Memorial Scholarship Colten Chandler $3,190.00; Charles M. & Marjorie Quickle Memorial Scholarship Elaina Lagos $3,190.00; Colonel John Wheeler Middle School Scholarship Ana Markoska $1,000.00; CPCF – Women’s Giving Circle Scholarship Jennifer Reissman $2,500.00; Crown Point Community Foundation Scholarship Debbie Abad $2,500.00; Crown Point Community Foundation Scholarship Elena Apostolova $2,500.00; Crown Point Community Foundation Scholarship Meaghan Bruskoski $2,500.00; Crown Point Community Foundation Scholarship Blake Colbert $2,500.00; Crown Point Community Foundation Scholarship Brooke Miller $2,500.00; Crown Point Community Foundation Scholarship Devion Outten $2,500.00; Crown Point Lions Club Scholarship Bella Sevenz-Coleman $1,000.00; Crown Point Lions Club Scholarship Ava Zandstra $1,000.00; Crown Point Swim Club Alumni Scholarship Kaitlin Flewelling $5,000/Year ($20,000) | 4 Years; Crown Point Youth Baseball Scholarship Logan Deeb $1,000.00; Crown Point Youth Baseball Scholarship Dominic Fantin $1,000.00; David Gergely Memorial Scholarship Andrew Long $750.00; Dean & Barbara White Scholarship Lauren Foster Full Scholarship | 8 Semesters; Dean & Barbara White Scholarship Russell Olchawa Full Scholarship | 8 Semesters; Donald and Phyllis (Dillabaugh) Ross Purdue Scholarship Levi Pogose $3,000.00; Donald and Phyllis (Dillabaugh) Ross Purdue Scholarship Gabe Sletto $3,000.00; Dorothy Dillman Max Scholarship Heather Hiller $1,000.00; Dr. James W. Gentleman Memorial Scholarship Jessica Harper $2,500.00; Dr. James W. Gentleman Memorial Scholarship Avery Moore $2,500.00; George Letz III Memorial Scholarship Morgan Babbitt $2,500.00; Gil and Gail Stiener Family Scholarship Amy Jongsma $3,720.00; Helen Zielinski and Ray Stuck Family Scholarship Abigayle Kubiak $1,000.00; Jerry A. Caravana Athletic Director Scholarship Kaitlin Flewelling $1,770.00; Jerry A. Caravana Athletic Director Scholarship Kingston Rhodes $1,770.00; Jerry Ross Elementary PTO Scholarship Sage Dorsey $1,000.00; JoAnne and Jim Haag Scholarship Canon Maples $2,420.00; John D. Amodeo Scholarship Sarah Barath $1,000.00; John D. Amodeo Scholarship Kylee Dusseau $1,000.00; Joseph & Evelyn Skora Memorial Scholarship Blythe Dieck $3,545.00; Joseph & Evelyn Skora Memorial Scholarship Henry Maurer $3,545.00; Joseph N. and Annette M. Allegretti Scholarship Zach Brooks $1,000.00; Karen & Cornel Raab Scholarship CeCe Chenore $2,880.00; Karen Pruzin Scholarship Seth Davis $2,500.00; Karen Pruzin Scholarship Mary Mumaugh $2,500.00; Kathy, Russ, and Jim Keller Scholarship Addison Dockins $955.00; Kay Hubbard Music Scholarship CeCe Chenore $2,740.00; L. Jane Keene Memorial Scholarship Amy Jongsma $1,095.00; Lake Street Elementary PTO Scholarship Panagiotis Mattingly $1,000.00; Lisa Schaefer Stover Scholarship Maeci Mullet $2,135.00; Liss CARSTAR Scholarship Anali Cuevas $2,000.00; MacArthur Elementary PTO Scholarship Joseph Jennings $1,000.00; Manhart/Gibbons Family Memorial Scholarship Aniela Olczak $3,085/Year ($12,340) | 4 Years; Marilee Thanholdt Memorial Scholarship Ava Valdez $3,180.00; Marion Kellum Performing Arts Scholarship Trent Josleyn $1,500.00; Marion Kellum Performing Arts Scholarship Jazlyn Morales $1,500.00; Marion Kellum Performing Arts Scholarship Madeline Schroader $1,500.00; Marion Kellum Performing Arts Scholarship Abbey Shih $1,500.00; Mark & Lindsay Bates Scholarship Eden Richardson $1,000.00; Mark Edwards Memorial Scholarship Gavin Jones $900.00; Marty Shahbaz Football Scholarship Nolan Cicero $1,530.00; Mary Gregory Geimer Memorial Scholarship Emily Yadron $2,500.00; McMichael Family Scholarship Alicia Savoy $1,805.00; Mike Brown Jr. Memorial Scholarship Oscar Biasi $3,000.00; Mike Brown Jr. Memorial Scholarship Rylee Owen $3,000.00; Mike Brown Jr. Memorial Scholarship Emily Yadron $3,000.00; Millicent & Forrest Everett Memorial Scholarship Addison Dockins $855.00; Paul and Dorothea Everett Scholarship Maggie Krsteska $2,215.00; Pete Breuckman St. Tradesman Scholarship Ryan Finley $2,500.00; Pete Breuckman St. Tradesman Scholarship Trent Hurysz $2,500.00; Pettit Family Memorial Student Athlete Scholarship Mark Gonzales $4,000.00; Ralph E. and Dee Bennett Scholarship Christian Cutka $1,385.00; Robert “Bob” Brown Scholarship Ana Markoska $1,000.00; Robert Taft Middle School PTO Scholarship Ari Bairaktaris $1,480.00; Robert Taft Middle School PTO Scholarship Lola De La Rosa $1,480.00; Ronald and Suzanne Borto Scholarship Mindi Ramsey $745.00; Russ Keller Family Scholarship Marisa McQuaid $2,500.00; Shirley Mudy Scholarship Lilya Asztalos $1,000.00; Shirley Mudy Scholarship Kaden Poppe $1,000.00; Solon Robinson Elementary School PTO Scholarship Eden Richardson $500.00; Solon Robinson Elementary School PTO Scholarship Luca Rodrigue $500.00; St. Mary’s Catholic Community School Scholarship Alexandria Calzonzi $1,000.00; St. Mary’s Catholic Community School Scholarship Sela Ruiz $1,000.00; Tim Galusha Memorial Scholarship Kamden Honickel $3,965.00; Timothy Ball Elementary PTO Scholarship Abbey Shih $500.00; Timothy J. Grzych Memorial Scholarship Luca Rodrigue $2,500.00; “Tiny” Knesek Bohling & Karla Stiener Scholarship Kate Karamacoski $925.00; Todd Szanyi Memorial Scholarship Dylan Bowen $580.00; Todd Szanyi Memorial Scholarship Sienna Stilley $580.00; Tri Kappa – Sue Crisman Memorial Scholarship Jacqueline Ross $1,500.00; Tri Kappa – Women’s Giving Circle Scholarship Kathryn Hemphill $1,500.00; Tri Kappa Scholarship Addison Batey $2,500.00; Tri Kappa Scholarship Ben Keller $2,500.00; Tri Kappa Scholarship Caleb Kotynski $2,500.00; Tri Kappa Scholarship Olivia Mansueto $2,500.00; Tri Kappa Scholarship Alyssa Steagall $2,500.00; Trinity Lutheran School PTL Scholarship Liana Lagos $1,500.00; Virgil A. Place Scholarship Jase Edwards $3,990/Year ($15,960) | 4 Years; Walter J. Bernacki Memorial Scholarship Logan Deeb $500.00; Wilbert Buth Music Scholarship Liana Lagos $2,000.00; William G. and Phyllis M. Fatch Scholarship Morgan Babbitt $690.00; Winfield Elementary PTO Scholarship Corbin Luchon $2,000.00; Youche Country Club Scholarship Parker Niksch $750.00; Zondor Family Scholarship Eleni Paramantgis $2,185.00; Zondor Family Scholarship Grace Stimac $2,185.00