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Knights to the rescue at local Catholic schools

Knights of Columbus scholarship program assists Sacred Heart and St. Luke students when their families hit hard times

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 02.22.08

LAKE WORTH | A Knights of Columbus council in the Diocese of Palm Beach is helping families faced with significant financial challenges who pay tuition at local Catholic schools.

According to Jim McVey, grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Lake Worth Council 3393, the council established an annual scholarship program for students attending Sacred Heart School in Lake Worth and St. Luke School in Palm Springs, the two schools in the council’s jurisdiction. Twelve students, six at each school, will receive $1,000 scholarships.

The group’s new scholarship initiative “is a good investment for the future — helping our children,” said Brian Donovan, council treasurer.

“Helping families is one of our missions. Some of the families are having difficult times now, with the economy. Everything is going up in price. Everything is expensive,” Donovan said.

“We are really grateful to the Knights for their support of Catholic education,” said Candace Tamposi, principal of Sacred Heart School.

McVey delivered flyers and application forms Feb. 5 to St. Luke and Sacred Heart. Families hoping for assistance filled them out, and the scholarships will be given next month to 12 students selected by a committee. Each applicant is being carefully reviewed and considered according to a set of guidelines, including scholastic achievement, character, and parent or guardian involvement in school and church are considered.

To be eligible for assistance from the Knights’ scholarship, the parents or guardians of the applicant must be registered parishioners at either Sacred Heart or St. Luke.

The father or male guardian of the child must be a member in good standing with Council 3393, or the child must be sponsored by a Knight.

An essay focused on the importance of receiving a Catholic education must accompany applications if the applicant is 7 years or older. The applicant’s family must also include an explanation of the family’s situation, demonstrating a financial need. Winning applicants may reapply the following school year.

“The total scholarship program fund is $12,000. We will grow the fund every year,” he said.

The scholarship money will be equally divided: $6,000 to Sacred Heart, and $6,000 to St. Luke.

“We plan to limit it to $1,000 per family during a school year,” said McVey.

“We feel like it will be a good program,” said Angelo Ojeda, deputy grand Knight. “Some people have sudden financial hardships. We see people loose their jobs. They go through a crisis. Catholic school tuition is not cheap.”

In the Diocese of Palm Beach, tuition varies from school to school.

“Tuition is $4,650 at our school,” said Suzanne Sandelier, principal of St. Luke School. “Some other schools are more. When Jim McVey brought this program to my attention, I thought it was a wonderful way for the Knights to help some parents.”

“It is nice being able to tell someone that they can have help sending their child to elementary school,” said McVey. “We are hoping a couple of councils will follow and create their own scholarship programs.”

For information about the scholarship program, call 561-714-0243.

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Knights to the rescue at local Catholic schools

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