Unlock Your Future
Scholarship Applications Open Through January 31, 2024
Unlock your potential with the Giovanni Vitrano Memorial Scholarship! We’re awarding $10,000 in total scholarships this year—$6,000 grand prize and two $2,000 awards. Applications are open now through January 31, 2024. If you’re a dedicated student-athlete, seize this opportunity to shine both on the field and in the classroom!
Meet our Past Winners
We are proud to have awarded scholarships to a diverse group of deserving student-athletes.
Jose Gonzalez
Chiles High School
Jose co-founded the Physics Club and participated in the Science Olympiad, the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and more. He led the Chiles Boys’ Soccer Team to the 2022 Gio Cup Championship and the 2022-23 District Championship. Jose is attending Penn.
Betrice Drayton
Rickards High School
Betrice is a talented soccer player who scored 41 goals in 14 games this season, ranking as one of only two girls in Leon County with 40+ goals. She is also an ABC 27 Scholar-Athlete of the Week award recipient and is attending West Florida College.
RJ Hosay
Maclay School
RJ was the Editor-in-Chief of The Andalusian School Newspaper and a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and All-Florida Scholastic Press Association. He scored 44 goals in his varsity soccer career at Maclay and was named ABC 27 Scholar-Athlete of the Week. RJ is attending Florida.
Alejandro Alonso
Gadsden County High School
Alejandro is the second family member to graduate high school and the first to attend college. He was the Secretary of the Gadsden Future Farmers of America. Alejandro, a Second-Team All-Big Bend midfielder, held a 3.6 GPA and plans to attend Florida State University to study Criminology.
Maddie Kopka
SAIL High School/Florida High Soccer
Maddie is the 2022 All-Big Bend Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Maddie overcame physical challenges to persevere to become an elite soccer player in our area. She achieved a 3.9 GPA and now plays at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Ethan Stewart
Leon High School
A 2022 Big Bend-All Star on Leon High School’s soccer team and former teammate of Giovanni Vitrano, Ethan held a 3.9 GPA. Ethan now plays soccer at Southwestern Assemblies of God University while studying Children’s Ministry.
What to know before you begin
Eligibility Criteria
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 2024.
- Have a 3.2 GPA or higher as of January 31, 2024.
- Reside in the Tallahassee, FL & Thomasville, GA media market. This area includes Leon, Franklin, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Jackson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee, and Hamilton counties in Florida and Seminole, Miller, Decatur, Grady, Thomas, Brooks, Lowndes, Lanier, and Echols counties in Georgia.
What we look for
We’re searching for extraordinary students who excel both in the classroom and on the soccer field. Our ideal candidates possess:
- Drive: Students who go the extra mile in their academic and athletic pursuits.
- Leadership: Students who are role models amongst their peers.
- Resilience: Students who have overcome challenges to pursue a college education.
- Community Engagement: Well-rounded students who are active in their school and community.
- Impact: Students for whom our scholarship would make a meaningful difference in their educational journey.
- Academic Achievements: Students who have excelled academically, achieving strong grades and participating in honor societies or other scholastic organizations.
What To Expect
- Time Commitment: Expect to spend 20-30 minutes on our streamlined online questionnaire.
- Save Functionality: You can save your progress at the bottom of each page. By doing so, you will be emailed a link to continue your application later. Avoid refreshing the browser without saving.
- Information Required: Provide basic contact info and details about your academic and athletic milestones.
- Essay Submission: On the final page, you will upload a short essay per the guidelines below.
- References: You will be asked for three references, including a soccer coach, a teacher, and one more of your choice (excluding relatives).
- Deadline: January 31, 2024.
- Evaluation: Our process comprises two phases. Phase I involves evaluating your application and essay to select finalists. In Phase II, we’ll contact your listed references for further evaluation. You will be notified of your status at the end of each phase, along with timelines for any next steps.
Essay Instructions
This application does require a short, three-paragraph essay. You can prepare your essay and submit it when you reach the designated page in your application.
Topic: Describe a lesson you have learned from playing soccer and share a concrete example where you applied these learnings in everyday life.
Ensure your essay fits the following format:
- First Paragraph: Introduce the lesson you gained from playing soccer and detail the circumstances under which you learned it.
- Second Paragraph: Illustrate a specific scenario where you applied this lesson outside the soccer field.
- Third Paragraph: Discuss how you foresee this lesson guiding your actions and decisions post-high school.
Additional requirements:
- File Format: Your essay should be submitted as a .pdf, .doc, or .docx file.
- Writing Quality: Ensure your essay is well-organized, free of spelling and grammatical errors, and divided into clear paragraphs.
Pro Tip: To make your essay memorable, be specific in your examples and consider sharing a brief story that encapsulates your experience. While it’s common for applicants to mention lessons like “hard work,” try to offer a unique angle that sets you apart from others.