The College of the Florida Keys Foundation celebrated scholarship recipients and donors at its 14th annual Scholarship Social in the Tennessee Williams Theatre last week. The CFK Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $229,252 to 121 students in the most recent funding cycle.
At the dinner, students shared personal stories about the life-changing opportunities that the CFK Foundation scholarships made possible.
Lauryn Robinson traded the plains of Nebraska for the reefs of Key West, following a passion for the ocean and a dream of protecting coral reefs. Now pursuing a bachelor of science in marine resource management, she received the 2026 AJ Hally Marine Scholarship and the Dream STEM Grant Scholarship.
“I grew up about as far from the ocean as you can get, but I always knew that’s where I belonged,” Robinson said. “These scholarships let me focus on the reef instead of worrying about how to pay for school. I want to spend my career bringing coral back, here in the Keys and around the world.”
Dardell Morin is focused on healing people and is pursuing an associate in science degree in nursing. She has earned four scholarships during her time at CFK: the Hemingway Look-Alike Society Scholarship, the Lower Keys Medical Center Scholarship, the James Robert and Eleanor Ryan Parce Nursing Scholarship and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship.
“My own experiences showed me how much compassion matters when someone is at their most vulnerable, and I want to be that nurse for my patients,” Morin said. “This community has supported me every step of my journey, and I can’t wait to give that back.”
For Markens Dorestant, giving back is already part of everyday life. Born and raised in Haiti, he moved to the Florida Keys and overcame the challenges of learning a new language and adapting to a new country. Today he serves as a Monroe County Sheriff’s deputy while pursuing an associate in science in criminal justice technology. Dorestant received the 2026 Russel F. Sullivan Memorial Scholarship, the Sue & Albert Seeker First Generation in College Scholarship, and the Key West Masonic Lodge No. 64 Scholarship.
“When I came here from Haiti, people helped me every step of the way,” Dorestant said. “Now I get to serve the community that welcomed me. As a father, I want my daughter to see that you keep learning, you keep going and you always give back.”
Stories like these reflect how generosity opens doors, creates opportunities, and changes lives, said Brittany Snyder, CFK interim president.
“At CFK, we know education can change a life, but no student achieves their goals alone,” Snyder said. “Our supporters provide scholarships, strengthen academic programs and help ensure that financial obstacles never force a student to put their education on hold. When our students succeed, our Florida Keys community thrives.”
For information about how to support scholarships and other programs at CFK, contact Lana Gaspari, CFK vice president of advancement and CFK Foundation executive director, at 305-809-3214 or foundation@cfk.edu.
For assistance with scholarships, contact Shania Duarte-Vera, CFK coordinator of scholarships and donor relations, at 305-809-3153 or foundation@cfk.edu.
