New Scholarship Trust to Benefit Collier County High Schools’ Graduating Seniors

Seniors in Collier County only have a few more days to take advantage of more than a million dollars in scholarship money from a new endowment.  

The late Harold (Hal) P. Bovenkerk changed the world through innovation and his generosity will continue to impact generations of local students. A 46-year employee of General Electric (GE), Mr. Bovenkerk retired in Naples after playing a key role in developing the synthetic diamond. Working decades on this unprecedented project, he showed determination, innovation, and perseverance—important qualities he exhibited throughout his life.

Mr. Bovenkerk loved being around young people with inquisitive minds who were eager to learn. His desire to continue the world’s advancements through future generations led him to leave a legacy gift worth more than $25 million to benefit and inspire students in Collier County.

“Nationwide, this incredible gift must rank at the top of any endowment donated to public school students of one county in the United States,” explained Lisa Morse, Senior Director of Strategic Engagement and Initiatives for Collier County Public Schools. “The impact of this endowment will be felt in perpetuity for scores of college-bound seniors and their families in the years to come.”

The goal of this newly created endowment is to provide approximately $1 million in scholarships annually to graduating seniors from Collier County that have demonstrated excellence in advanced math, science, or engineering and plan to pursue a four-year college degree in one of these fields.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Harold P. Bovenkerk Scholarship for Engineering and Natural Sciences. Preference will be given to students accepted at the University of Michigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, California Institute of Technology, or Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but will not be limited to those schools. Scholarships may be awarded up to a four-year, full-ride amount, which can include tuition, room, board, required academic fees, and textbooks or materials. One-time scholarships may also be given and may be renewable for up to four years of education based on academic performance (maintaining good standing and 3.0 cumulative GPA).

More information regarding this scholarship opportunity may be found by visiting www.collierschools.com/scholarships. Applications are due on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, by 3:00 p.m. and must be submitted to the High School Counselor’s office. For more information about this amazing scholarship, or to schedule an interview, please reach out to the CCPS Communications department at [email protected]  or call 239-377-0180.