Investing in Dreams: Gulf Coast Village Foundation Awards Record $19,000 in Associate Scholarships

On Sunday, June 7, the Gulf Coast Village Auditorium was filled with residents, associates, family members, friends, and supporters gathered for one of the Foundation’s most meaningful traditions, the annual Associate Scholarship Ceremony.

This year’s celebration marked a historic milestone for the Gulf Coast Village Foundation as a record $19,000 in scholarships was awarded to six deserving associates pursuing higher education while continuing to serve residents throughout our community.

The 2026 scholarship recipients included Tanisha Joseph, Victor Chavez, Edwin Santiago Baron Cruz, Ashanza Paul, Shernelle Gerson, and Carlos Gonzalez Pena. Together, these associates represent a variety of career aspirations, including nursing, psychology, and aviation. While balancing work responsibilities, academic pursuits, and, for some, caregiving roles at home, each recipient has demonstrated extraordinary determination and commitment to personal and professional growth.

The ceremony provided recipients with an opportunity to share their own stories by reading personal essays written as part of the scholarship application process. Through their words, attendees gained insight into the challenges they have overcome, the dreams they are pursuing, and the passion that drives them to continue learning while serving others.

Throughout the afternoon, members of the Gulf Coast Village Foundation Education Committee introduced each scholarship recipient. The committee itself reflects the spirit of mentorship and encouragement that defines the scholarship program. Made up primarily of resident volunteers with backgrounds in education, healthcare, law, and community leadership, the committee devoted countless hours to interviewing applicants and supporting the selection process.

During the ceremony, Foundation and Outreach Coordinator Rachel Byrd shared remarks about the Foundation’s mission and the life-changing impact of educational support. For Byrd, the event carried special significance.

Twelve years ago, she sat in the very same auditorium as a scholarship recipient herself.

As a high school student working as a dietary aide at Gulf Coast Village, Byrd received a Foundation scholarship that helped launch her educational journey. Today, after earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees and building a career in senior living, she now leads the very program that once invested in her future.

“What they gave me was more than financial assistance,” Byrd shared during the ceremony. “They gave me confidence. They gave me encouragement. They gave me the reassurance that someone saw potential in me and was willing to invest in my future.”

She continued, saying, “A scholarship is not simply a check or an award. It is a statement of belief. It says, ‘We see you. We believe in your goals. We believe in your future.'”

The scholarship selection process is designed to recognize both academic ambition and excellence in the workplace. Applicants submitted personal essays that were anonymously scored by a third-party reviewer. They then participated in interviews with the Education Committee, with each committee member independently evaluating the candidates. Finally, supervisors assessed applicants based on qualities such as integrity, responsibility, quality of work, discipline, and teamwork. These three components were combined to determine final scholarship awards.

This year, however, something remarkable happened.

After meeting with each candidate, the Education Committee strongly advocated that every applicant receive support. Impressed by the dedication and potential demonstrated by all six associates, the Foundation Board approved awarding scholarships to each candidate, resulting in the largest scholarship distribution in the program’s history.

The ceremony also included a special recognition honoring Margaret “Peggy” Young for her decade of service supporting the scholarship initiative. Alongside her late husband, Dr. Walter Byron Young, Peggy anonymously reviewed scholarship essays year after year, helping ensure fairness and integrity throughout the selection process. Her steadfast commitment has played an important role in shaping the program and supporting generations of Gulf Coast Village associates.

At its heart, the Gulf Coast Village Foundation exists to enhance the lives of those who live and work within the community. Through initiatives such as associate scholarships, benevolent care, spiritual care, and special campus projects, the Foundation creates opportunities that strengthen the entire Gulf Coast Village family.

As the ceremony concluded, recipients gathered with residents, colleagues, and loved ones over coffee, cookies, and photographs. This was a fitting reminder that education is not a journey undertaken alone.

These scholarships were made possible through the generosity of Gulf Coast Village residents, families, associates, donors, and community supporters. Their contributions are more than financial gifts; they are investments in people, potential, and the future of care.

The 2026 Associate Scholarship recipients embody the values that define Gulf Coast Village: compassion, perseverance, service, and a commitment to growth. As they continue pursuing their educational goals, they do so with an entire community standing behind them.

Because when we invest in people, we change lives and those ripple effects extend far beyond what we can imagine.

For more information about the Gulf Coast Village Foundation scholarship program or how to contribute, contact Rachel Byrd at 239-999-3989 or rbyrd@voa.org, or visit GulfCoastVillage.org/Foundation.