Longboat Island Chapel Rewarded Local Students Exhibiting Leadership and Academic Excellence

LONGBOAT KEY -- The Longboat Island Chapel Scholarship Fund, started in 1992 by Harry and Anne Ferries, just awarded 10 applicants scholarship monies. These stellar students exhibited outstanding academic achievement and community leadership.

Next year, the Longboat Island Chapel's scholarship counsel would like to see even more students interested in their scholarship fund.

Judy Achre heads the scholarship committee at the chapel, and she said all 10 applicants who applied for the scholarship received help.

”The students who received money from the fund were interviewed by a chapel committee, and each student selected was academically successful and active in their school and community,“ she said.

There were two doctorate candidates in the group who received money and the rest were undergraduates. Many of the students attend, or will attend, colleges and universities in Florida.

”We really wanted to help the students in a way where we make a difference in their education,“ Achre said. ”Most of the students were from the outer community and had applied back in fall for the scholarships.“

Students in Manatee and Sarasota Counties have an opportunity each year to be considered for the Longboat Island Chapel Scholarship Fund. The information will be posted on their Web site in the fall, and The Bradenton Times will be sure to alert the community to the opportunity and directions for applying at that time.

Rev. Daniel Maiden was just awarded one of the scholarships. He’s the associate pastor at the chapel and in his second year at Hartford Theological Seminary, in Hartford Connecticut.

As a Doctor of Ministry degree candidate at the seminary, Maiden looks forward to applying his practical studies to the work of the chapel and the greater community.

Rev. Daniel Maiden said he plans to use his doctorate education to impact the interfaith community of Longboat Key and its outer communities. Maiden was one of the selected recipients this year.

He planned several interfaith dialogue events last year. This summer, Maiden is leading a spiritual formation retreat for the community, helping people in their journey of faith, regardless of their faith background.

”I have felt greatly supported by the congregation to focus on my ministry and education, fulfilling my call and interfaith work in the community, ” he said.

He added that the scholarship process was not complicated, but more of an organization of requested materials and meeting a deadline.

”The Longboat Island Chapel is also very supportive to all their scholarship applicants,“ he said. ”They want to help and support as many people as they can. They take this opportunity very seriously.“

So, while everyone who applied received scholarships, Achre said that she hopes even more students will participate next year.

”We get applications in from around the Bradenton and Sarasota schools,“ she said. ”Each has a very strong academic and a community driven background. It would be great for our chapel to reach out and get even more students involved in the upcoming year.

”Our scholarship recipients represent a wide range of interests and range from aerospace engineering to veterinary science.“