$37,000 in Scholarships Awarded
Since our founding in 2021, the Giovanni Vitrano Foundation has transformed the memory of an extraordinary young man into a powerful force for good in our community. Through the generous support of our donors and the success of our annual Gio Cup tournament, we’ve helped twelve exceptional student-athletes pursue their college dreams while honoring Giovanni’s legacy of excellence both on the soccer field and in the classroom. As we continue to grow, each scholarship awarded carries forward Giovanni’s spirit of determination, leadership, and community service to a new generation of scholar-athletes in the Tallahassee area.
Class of '26 Scholarships
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Class of '25 Winners
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Class of 2026 Scholarship Information
Who is eligible to apply for our scholarship?
All student-athletes who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
- Played soccer at the Varsity High School or equivalent club level.
- Is a graduating member of the Class of 2026.
- Have a 3.2 GPA or higher as of January 31, 2026.
- Reside in the Tallahassee, FL area. This area includes Leon, Franklin, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Jackson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee, and Hamilton counties in Florida.
The 2026 Scholarship window will run from November 2025 through January 2026. Details and requirements above are subject to change. Any changes will be posted no later than November 1, 2025.
The Giovanni Vitrano Scholarship
Class of 2025 Winners
Uriel Carrillo (St. John Paul II) - $6,000 Winner
Uriel, a first-generation Mexican-American student with a 4.7 GPA, exemplifies resilience and dedication. As salutatorian of his class, he will graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associate’s degree. Beyond academics, Uriel devoted his summers to teaching migrant children to read and write, helping one student advance 6 grade levels in reading in a single summer. On the soccer field, coaches describe him as “humble” and someone who “will not be outworked.” His commitment to lifting others while excelling academically and athletically truly embodies Gio’s spirit.
Kyndal Smith (Chiles) - $2,000 Winner
As team captain and defensive anchor for Chiles, Kyndal has earned recognition as a First Team All-Big Bend Player and FACA All-State Team member. Maintaining a 4.1 GPA while managing test anxiety, Kyndal has signed to play Division II soccer at Valdosta State University. Her coaches describe her as “dynamic” with game-changing abilities, noting her exceptional leadership skills and detailed approach to her college search process. Kyndal’s essay on servant leadership highlighted how she applies lessons from soccer to her work with Special Olympics.
Gray Burleson (Maclay) - $2,000 Winner
Gray maintains a stellar 4.63 GPA while serving as Student Government President and captain of the Maclay girls’ soccer team. She founded “Center Forward,” an organization that donates sports equipment to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Gray led her team with 15 goals this season, and coaches praise her consistency and willingness to adapt to different positions on the field. Her essay on learning to focus on the future rather than dwell on the past demonstrated remarkable maturity and perspective.
Making an Impact
Martina Silva
2024 Scholarship Winner
“”It’s good to know that my hard work on and off the field has paid off and will help me in the future. This money is a big help for college.”
Lawre Bradley May
2024 Scholarship Winner
“Its means so much, soccer is such a huge part of my life…to know that out of this whole area, people have seen me as a significant part of the soccer culture means so much to me.””
Ethan Stewart
2022 Scholarship Winner
“When I first got the call to varsity my sophomore year Gio was the first person to come to me. He really taught me that in soccer, your team is family and you can’t really have anything like that so being able to receive a scholarship that’s in memory of Gio is awesome. It means I have a part of him that’s always going to be with me.”
Ron Vitrano
Gio’s Dad & Foundation President
“These are great high school students, athletes, pillars of the community. To be able to help out a little bit, I think that’s the key. It helps ease the pain of what happened. Giovanni died six and a half months ago, but to watch these young students and athletes walk away with these awards, it warms my heart.”
Jose Gonzalez
2023 Scholarship Winner
“I’m overwhelmingly happy with winning the scholarship. Thank you to the foundation for this experience, it’s been incredible.”
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation
Board of Directors
Ron Vitrano
Gio’s Dad, President
Emilee Copeland
Gio’s Sister, Director
Mike Fahmie
Vice President
Tom Block
Director
Chris Petley
Director
THE GIOVANNI VITRANO FOUNDATION
NEWS COVERAGE
Our Foundation has been featured in the Tallahassee Democrat, WCTV (CBS Tallahassee), WTXL (ABC Tallahassee) and more.
Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipients
Three Local Student-Athletes Awarded $10,000 in College Scholarships TALLAHASSEE, FL —...
Announcing the 2024 Giovanni Vitrano Scholarship Winners!
We're thrilled to announce the distribution of scholarships among our 2024 Giovanni...
2024 Scholarship Winners Announced
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation is thrilled to unveil our 2024 scholarship recipients,...
Lincoln Girls, Maclay Boys Claim 2023 Gio Cups
Tallahassee, FL – The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation proudly hosted the 2023 Gio Cup, a...
Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Welcomes Renowned Figures Tom Block and Chris Petley to its Board of Directors
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation is excited to welcome Tom Block and Chris Petley to its Board of Directors for the 2023-24 academic year. Renowned FSU Football Sideline Reporter Tom Block joins as Director of Fundraising, and Tallahassee Soccer Club’s Chris Petley steps in as Director of Community Outreach. Their combined expertise promises to elevate the foundation’s mission of supporting high school student-athletes in Tallahassee. Read more about their contributions and the foundation’s ongoing impact.
2023 Giovanni Vitrano Memorial Scholarship
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation proudly announced its annual scholarship winners in a heartwarming event at Southwood Community Center. Among the exceptional student-athletes recognized, Jose Gonzalez of Chiles High School clinched the $6,000 Giovanni Vitrano Memorial Scholarship and is set to attend Penn this fall. Betrice Drayton from Rickards High School and RJ Hosay from Maclay School both secured the $2,000 scholarship. Both have exhibited outstanding prowess in soccer and academics alike, with Betrice gearing up to join West Florida College and RJ set to embark on his journey at Florida. These scholarships, commemorating the inspiring Giovanni Vitrano of Leon High School’s Class of 2020, celebrate a legacy of dedication to education, soccer, and community service.
How you can help
Join over 400 of our friends, family and community neighbors who have helped raise $30,000 to fund our scholarships. All funds raised go directly to scholarships for graduating seniors.
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