Scholarships
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Nowhere else but Notre Dame...
Notre Dame Club of Southwest Florida Scholarship Endowment Fund Awarded in memory of Patrick James Kearns (1924-2005)
The first annual award from the Fund was awarded 2006, and annually thereafter, in memory of Patrick James Kearns, a significant benefactor to the fund. About Pat Kearns Pat Kearns was born on October 14, 1923 in County Mayo, Province of Connaught, Ireland. In 1952, he came to America to visit an aunt and uncle in Staten Island, New York, and shortly thereafter moved to Phillipsburg, New Jersey. In 1954, he met and married his lovely wife Jean Bachman Kearns. They raised four children in Phillipsburg, where Pat was a founding member of the Phillipsburg Irish Society and a member of the Notre Dame Club of Phillipsburg. After arriving in Fort Myers in 1994, Pat became a founding member of the Irish Heritage Society and later supported the merger of the Irish Heritage Society with the Irish American Club of Lee County to form the United Irish of SW Florida. Over the years, Pat and Jean were great supporters of the University of Notre Dame and visited the campus many times, particularly enjoying their trips to the Grotto. Their grand-daughter, Kelly Ann Kearns of Ramsey, N.J., is currently at Notre Dame. Pat Kearns passed away on May 25, 2005. "Guh meg graw un mahar day err a anum". Jean Kearns currently spends her summers in Martins Creek, PA, and winters in North Fort Myers. The United Irish of SW Florida sponsor many fun events including a December Christmas Party at the Royal Palm Theatre and a March 12, 2007 pre-St. Patrick's Day party featuring the Dublin City Ramblers. See their event calendar by visiting their web site at www.swflairish.com. Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program Launched
Especially special is that one of the Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars is our own Samuel Biel, from Fort Myers and graduate of Bishop Verot Catholic High School. Selected from a pool of more than 400 applicants, the scholars embody the program’s vision of influence, scholarship, character and compassion. Each will receive four years of merit scholarship awards of $25,000 per year. Other components of the program will include a complement of fully funded summer enrichment experiences, seminars and service-learning projects during the academic year, career advising, and alumni mentoring and networking. “The inaugural class of Hesburgh-Yusko scholars brings together an uncommonly accomplished, diverse and ambitious group of students,” says University Provost Thomas G. Burish. “We look forward to helping them grow and develop not only into successful leaders in their professions but also ethical and generous leaders in their communities, the nation and beyond.” Notre Dame graduates Mark W. ’85 and Stacey Miller Yusko ’86 of Chapel Hill, N.C., last year made a $35-million gift to their alma mater—the third largest in University history—to establish the program and provide students with the tools to become transformational leaders in the image of Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president from 1952 to 1987. “Stacey and I are excited to see our vision for the program become a reality,” Mark Yusko says. “We have been blessed to have such incredible support throughout the selection process from the HYSP team, our outstanding application readers, the alumni, friends, and faculty who participated in the finalist visit interview process and the high school counselors and University admissions team who made the original nominations for the program. We are grateful for the opportunity to help build something very special for Notre Dame, a place that means so much to us and our family.” Mark Yusko is the founder, president and chief investment officer of Morgan Creek Capital Management, a registered investment adviser that provides investment management and advisory services based on the university endowment model of investing to wealthy families, individuals and institutional investors. Stacey Yusko is the director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels program and a member of Notre Dame’s advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters. Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars are selected annually by an advisory committee from a pool of qualified admitted students nominated by distinguished high schools and referred by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The students are chosen based on distinguished academic accomplishments, exemplary integrity and moral character, demonstrated leadership abilities, and a commitment to a life of service embracing the values of Catholic social tradition. At Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Sam was vice-president of the National Honor Society and vice-president of the Bishop Verot Mission and Service Club, helping organize five trips to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief. Sam also organized a service trip to Haiti to work in schools and shelters. He was captain of the varsity football team and an All-Star Area Selection. At Notre Dame, Sam is looking forward to studying civil engineering and taking courses through the Center for Social Concerns.
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Established in August 2002, the Fund, with a current market value of over $18,000, provides financial aid to deserving Notre Dame students from Lee and Charlotte Counties. 