Delaware Community Foundation Awards Record-Breaking $851,500 in Scholarships to 245 Students for 2025-26 School Year
The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF), one of the largest charitable organizations in the state and a top-100 community foundation nationwide, today announced $851,500 in scholarships awarded to 245 new and renewal students from Delaware for the 2025-2026 school year.
“Without this scholarship, I would not have been able to accept my University of Delaware offer, as the tuition was far out of reach for my family and I,” said Valeria Tamayo, Aspira Academy graduate and Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski Scholarship winner. “Upon receiving this scholarship, I felt joy, relief, but most importantly, gratefulness. I immensely appreciate this help and will be attending the University of Delaware’s nursing school in the fall.”
Last year, the DCF awarded $652,000 in scholarships to nearly 200 students, then a record amount. The 30% increase in funds distributed this year was made possible by contributions from philanthropists and donors, such as Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski, whose newly created scholarship fund awarded $100,000 to 10 students.
“As the cost of higher education continues to rise, we’re deeply grateful to the generous donors who make these scholarships possible,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “Their support opens doors for talented young people across our state. We’re incredibly proud of all the students receiving scholarships this year.”
There is no limit to the number or amount of scholarships a student can receive. Many can be used for textbooks and fees as well as tuition. Some are one-time awards, while others are renewable. Eligibility may depend on field of study, school, or demographic criteria.
Donors can open a scholarship fund with an initial gift to the DCF of $50,000 or more in cash or other assets, such as appreciated stock, mutual funds, or real estate. For information about how donors can create scholarship funds at the DCF, contact Kelly Sheridan at [email protected].
The new awardees for 2025-2026 are listed below by county.
New Castle County
- Alessandra Broussard – African American Aspire to Greatness Scholarship, Philip L. Bartlett Scholarship
- Aanya Gupta – Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Ahdel Candelaria Vega – Mark B. Holzman Scholarship
- Alexandria Drummond – Delaware Art & Design Scholarship
- Alicia Rodriguez-Feliciano – Mark B. Holzman Scholarship
- Amrutha Veeramachineni – Mark B. Holzman Scholarship
- Arlene Chiu – Drew Bilinski Memorial Scholarship
- Arnav Taduvayi – Committee of 100 Scholarship
- Arya Gupta – Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Ava Cimorosi – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski Scholarship
- Brianna Saxton – Ryan R. Wagner Scholarship
- Cailyn Pan – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski College Scholarship
- Catherine Osinubi – Carl Hill Memorial Scholarship, Taylor Family Scholarship
- Chase Frey – Ryan R. Wagner Scholarship
- Clara-Rosa Hertzog – Eleanor & Henry H. Stroud, M.D. Memorial Scholarship
- Conner Jackson – Beekhuis Scholarship
- Elizabeth Handlin – Philip L. Bartlett Scholarship
- Emma Archer – Mark B. Holzman Scholarship
- Emmaline Bragg – Margaret A. Stafford Nursing Scholarship, Caesar Rodney Rotary
- Gael Eduardo Mendoza-Pantoja – Caesar Rodney Rotary
- Hailey Vandenbraak – Caesar Rodney Rotary
- Isabella March – Philip L. Bartlett Scholarship
- Izabella Wolff – Margaret A. Stafford Nursing Scholarship
- Jakob Reifendifer – Frank Vari Memorial Scholarship
- Jasmin Mendoza-Aragon – Philip L. Bartlett Scholarship
- Jean Rubelo – Generation III Scholarship
- Jillian Farley – Margaret A. Stafford Nursing Scholarship
- John Lednum – Citibank NAF Scholarship
- Jonathan Kachappilly – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski College Scholarship
- Kayla Shoop – Citibank NAF Scholarship
- Lillian Powell – Margaret A. Stafford Nursing Scholarship
- Lillian Whitesell – Philip L. Bartlett Scholarship
- Matthew Melican – Delaware Fine Arts Scholarship
- Maya Flicker – Julie H. Shenk Memorial Scholarship
- Mehtap Yazar – Beekhuis Scholarship
- Mikayla Grimes – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski Scholarship
- Nikolas Carranza – Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Ojas Paudyal – John & Louise Maslin Scholarship
- Rafe Marsh – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski Scholarship
- Redwanal Bari – Carl Hill Memorial Scholarship
- Saniyah Anderson-Harris – Steven Wesley Beheler Scholarship
- Shil Shah – Dr. Jill Biden Scholarship, Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Soham Bhatt – Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Tharanya Satheesh – Beekhuis Scholarship
- Valeria Tamayo – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski College Scholarship
- Wasma Ali – Philip L. Bartlett Scholarship
- William Easterday – Philip L. Bartlett Scholarship
- Wren Rust – William J. & H. Virginia Miller Scholarship, Thomas A. & Mary Jo Russo Scholarship
Kent County
- Alexa Dickerson – John J. & Rita D. Ryan Scholarship
- Deionte Swiggett – Dr. Jill Biden Scholarship, John J. & Rita D. Ryan Scholarship
- Francis Mailom – John A. & Marion B. Smitheman Scholarship
- Grace LoBiondo – Margaret M. Moore Scholarship
- Isabella Anderson – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski Scholarship
- Jada Newsome – Lee Hirsch Scholarship, Barbara Kimmey Pierce Memorial Scholarship
- Jamaal Akpoidrissou – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Kenza Lakhsassi – Chester Dickerson, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
- Krisney Andre – Citibank NAF Scholarship
- Lacey Hutson – Tony Silicato Scholarship
- Lakeya Fullman – Lee Hirsch Scholarship
- Landon Hughes – Fred Fifer III Memorial Scholarship, Janosik Family Scholarship, Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski College Scholarship
- Megan Johnson – James H. Postles Scholarship, John A. & Marion B. Smitheman Scholarship
- Noah Marcelle – James L. Davis Scholarship
- Nyla Mason – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Reagan Garnsey – Kelly Family Scholarship
- Sheldon Thompson – Keisha M. Michael Memorial Scholarship
- Sigrid Evers – Garbutt Family Scholarship, Milford High School Alumni Scholarship
- Sofia Bellestas – Ken Cicerale Memorial Music Scholarship
- Tyra Jones – Cpl. Stephen Ballard Memorial Scholarship
- Wassim Rasamny – John A. & Marion B. Smitheman Scholarship
- Zongze Lyu – John A. & Marion B. Smitheman Scholarship
Sussex County
- Aaron Tikiob – Cloutier-Valenti Legacy Scholarship
- Allen Zhang – Janosik Family Scholarship, Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Anna Beck – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Anna Coverdale – J.D. O’Connor Scholarship, Robert J. & Kathryn W. Davis Scholarship
- Brielle Ross – George Henry Award, Margaret M. Moore Scholarship
- Caleb Murat – Hastings Scholarship
- Chloe Megee – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Darcy Crotty – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Duncan Winger – Sussex Foundation Scholarship
- Emma Mullen – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Gwenn Twilley – Don and Anne Ward Scholarship
- Jenna Reinhold – Cape Henlopen Taxpayers for Fair Elections Scholarship
- Joseph Morelli – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Kaila McCabe – Angela M. Wenyon Memorial Scholarship, Atlantis Scholarship for Excellence in Medicine
- Kathryn Meszaros – Margaret M. Moore Scholarship
- Keenan Williams – J.D. O’Connor Scholarship, Sussex Foundation Scholarship, Thurman G. Adams and Hilda McCabe Adams Family Scholarship
- Kendall McCabe – Atlantis Scholarship for Excellence, J.D. O’Connor Scholarship
- Kieran Morrissey – Cape Henlopen Taxpayers for Fair Elections Scholarship
- Layla Webster – Geneva Pepper Morris Scholarship
- Lily Allen – Chris Cordrey Student Athlete Scholarship, J.D. O’Connor Scholarship, John Botto Memorial Scholarship, Philip L. Bartlett Scholarship
- Lucas Santini – Cloutier-Valenti Legacy Scholarship, Cynthia & Nathaniel Simmons Memorial Scholarship
- Macy Mumford – Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary Scholarship, Lucille M. Tiro Memorial Scholarship, V. George & Jeannette Carey Scholarship
- Matthew Perchiniak – Dr. Jill Biden Scholarship, Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Morgan Leeper – Sussex Foundation Scholarship
- Mustafa Kilicarslan – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Noah Calhoun – John M. Roca Memorial Scholarship
- Peyton Miller – Don and Anne Ward Scholarship
- Rylee Tipton – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Shannon McLaughlin – Sussex Foundation Scholarship
- Shelby Manlove – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski College Scholarship
- Srijay Chenna – Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Terra Berkheimer – Margaret L. Richey Scholarship
- Terrin Jones – Michael J. & Hannah George Koziski College Scholarship
- Thien Barends – Margaret M. Moore Scholarship
Out of State
- Christopher Farrell – Achievement Scholarship for Students w/ Chronic Illness
- Callista Herrmann – MATRA Scholarship
- Cody Gibbs – Ladies/Lions Auxiliary of Lincoln University
- Cullen Kisner – Sherman Townsend Memorial Scholarship
- Ernest Burch – Janosik Family Scholarship
- Jeffrey Makowski – MATRA Scholarship
- Ryan Simon – MATRA Scholarship
- Sofia Berthe – Elisabeth C. Tassone Oncology Scholarship
- Srijay Chenna – Margaret L. Richey Scholarship