Scholarships

Scholarships and Awards

Through the generous support of many donors, the School of Aging Studies has a number of scholarships and awards that support our programs.

THE USF SCHOOL OF AGING STUDIES ANNOUNCED ITS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS On APRIL 23, 2026

The School of Aging Studies honored faculty, staff, students, and community partners for their outstanding contributions to the field and to the school's success.

The following students received scholarship awards:

  • Victor Molinari, PhD, Aging Studies Scholarship: Grace Walters, Kira Josephs

  • Wiley P. Mangum Scholarship in Gerontology: Logan Lutz, Dwysha Holgate

  • Kymberly Jane Harris Endowed Scholarship in Long Term Care Administration: Lauren Gentry

  • Dick Rotsell Endowed Scholarship in Gerontology: Dayris Royer Reyes

  • Tollette Family Endowed Scholarship in Gerontology: Brisa Perales

  • Wolowec Scholarship: : Julianna Coura de Moura, Anna Robison

  • Harold L. Sheppard Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Gerontology: Girish Hemrajani

  • Kenneth E. and Peggy Sponagle Endowed Scholarship: Ethan Hassler

  • Kathryn Hyer Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Public Policy and Aging: Sierra Wickline

  • H. Edward Greely and Mildred Greely Endowed Fellowship in Aging Studies: Natalia Babenko, Layla Santana

The following faculty and staff received awards:

  • Sue V. Saxon Outstanding Teaching Award in the Field of Gerontology: Kendra J. Ferraro, DBA, MBA, RN-BC, NHA
  • Wiley P. Mangum Outstanding Service Award in the Field of Gerontology: Debra Dobbs, PhD, Rosa Diaz

Other Awards

Outstanding Alumni Award: Nasreen Sadeq, PhD
Community Partner of the Year Award: Empath Health, Florida Health Care Association
Kathryn Hyer Professional Mentorship Award: Brian McCoy, NhA, Tara Freibert, NHA

In addition, each year the School of Aging Studies recognizes leaders in community organizations who give their time and effort to provide School of Aging Studies students with experience in the field. We are deeply grateful for their help with our program:

Assisted Living/ Family Care Home

Rob Loomis - A Country Place
Glori Keithly - A Country Place
Joe Shaw - Blue Palms Village at Fletcher
Gloria Rink - The Crossings at Riverview
Ovia "Von" Stephens-Oatman -Von's Adult Family Care Home
Kelly Sciba -Westminster Communities

Health Care Provider/Hospital/Clinic

Laura Rosales - Advent Health
Theresa Velasquez, APRN, MSN, FNP-BC - HealTheLiving
Jordan Potts - Moffitt Cancer Center
Kyrielle Cunningham - Moffitt Cancer Center
Sabrina Hasan - Moffitt Cancer Center
Danielle Valery, BS, CDP - Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Yarelis Giammugnani, MPH, CPH - Suncoast Community Health Centers
Kristen Ramsay, MBA - Tampa General Hospital
Calli Fodor, Au.D, CCC-A - USF Hearing/Speech-Language Clinics
Charlotte Purcell, SLPD, CCC-SLP -USF Hearing/Speech-Language Clinics

Home, Community-based Care/Service

Raquel Pancho - City of Tampa
Kevin Gilds, MPA -  Senior Connection Center
Kim Kasper - The Generations Club

Hospice/Home health

Kristen Hopper, LCSW-QS - Chapters Health System
Layna France, BSN, RN - Chapters Health System

Medical service

Karina Perez, CCRC - K2Medical Research
Nicholas Gordon - One Source

Skilled Nursing

Rona Davis - Fairway Oaks Center
Zechariah Legendary, NHA - Fairway Oaks Center
Brian McCoy, NHA - Northdale Rehabilitation Center
Scott Allen, NHA - Sabal Palms Health & Rehabilitation
Tara Freibert, NHA - Tampa Lakes Health & Rehabilitation Center
Ryan Dulski, NHA - Trinity Regional Rehab Center
Alton Eliphar - Westminster Communities
Jessica Winton, NHA - Acts Retirement-Life Communities
Desteny Oliver, NHA - Aviata at Central Park
Jennifer Grimes, NHA - Bay Village of Sarasota
Daniel Charpentier, NHA - Brighton Bay Center for Rehabilitation and Healing
Elizabeth Donfila, NHA - Elon Manor
Michael Bowman, NHA - Heather Hill Healthcare Center
Christopher Grella, NHA - Plaza West Health Center
Kyle Wierzba, NHA - Sun Terrace Health Care Center

Current scholarships and awards include:

  • Victor Molinari, PhD, Aging Studies Scholarship was created to recognizing promising students in Health Care Administration in the School of Aging Studies.

  • The Wiley P. Mangum Endowed Scholarship was created to recognize outstanding upper-level  undergraduate students.

  • The Dick Rotsell Memorial Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior pursuing a career in Long Term Care Administration.

  • The Tollette Family Endowed Scholarship recognizes an upper-level undergraduate student who has demonstrated significant scholarly achievement and who shows financial need. 

  • Kymberly Jane Harris Endowed Scholarship in Long Term Care Administration provides support to a Health Care Administration student. It was established in the memory of Kymberly Harris, who exemplified commitment to providing outstanding long-term care for older adults.

  • Harold L. Sheppard Endowed Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student in an Aging Studies master's program who has demonstrated the highest level of academic performance and promise as a gerontologist.

  • The Kenneth and Peggy Sponagle Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Gerontology was established by the Sponagle family to encourage and reward promising graduate students in the field of gerontology at USF.

  • The Wolowec Scholarship was established to help support full- and part-time graduate students pursing a major in the School of Aging Studies.

  • Kathryn Hyer Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Public Policy and Aging provides support for first year PhD students committed to study public policy and aging.

  • H. Edward and Mildred E. Greely Endowed Fellowship in Aging Studies was established in the memory of H. Edward and Mildred E. Greely to encourage research in on aging.

  • The Aging Studies Fellowship is provided to full-time, first year PhD students in the School of Aging Studies as a generous base of support for their first year in the program.