Scholarship

Kiera WILLIAMS

Kiera Williams
2025 Scholarship Winner from Cape Coral HS

Adventures to museums and explorations of nature were the seeds planted in Kiera’s early years by her educator grandfather that set Kiera off on a lifetime of learning. Art is fulfilling to her soul. And now she is excited to foster this love in future generations through a career in art education.

Kiera is extremely active in school activities holding multiple offices and also volunteering and working part time at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Academically she is enrolled in the rigorous IB Diploma Program achieving a 5.32 GPA. Kiera is President of the National Honor Society, she participates in athletics through Varsity Weight Lifting and Volleyball, and she loves animals and the environment – volunteering at the Cape Coral animal shelter and at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge where her photography and research help raise awareness for the animals. Family discussions at home can center on education, how to improve it and the school environment. Both parents are teachers and Kiera is well versed in the value of practice and perseverance leading to success. She comes with both maturity and much to share as she looks forward to college classes.

Kiera’s hardworking, conscientious and kind nature includes positive interactions with both teaching staff and peers.  A southerner to the core, expect to see Kiera as a teacher sharing a love for learning and the arts with the next generation somewhere in the vicinity of SW Florida. She is excited to teach at the high school level and be the best educator she can be. The Dedicated Artists of Southwest Florida (DASF) is excited to help Kiera with her vision to make this world a better place with a $1,000 scholarship to Florida Atlantic University where she will major in Art Education!

Zachary Yoshida

Zachary Yoshida
2024 Scholarship Winner from Cypress Lake HS

Characterized as a critical thinker who can synthesize information in an organized manner, it is not surprising that Zachary is an avid reader. What is surprising is the size of his reading appetite! …Zachary read 259 books in the past year. All done while maintaining an A+ average in a class schedule packed with AP and dual enrollment classes!

In his AP Portfolio, the reader loses their own sense of identity as their personality merges with the literary character. He has a strong sense of fantasy portrayed in an impressionistic style.

Zachary comes with a supportive family background and parents both in healthcare related careers. Competition with an older brother has helped to shape who he is. Fashion Design and professional dance were first loves before he found acrylic, charcoal, graphite, oil pastel and colored pencils. His scholarship, leadership, dedication and creativity all point to Zachary being successful in his art career and life. Zachary has been accepted at multiple schools but plans to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) that is internationally regarded as one of the best art schools and top fine arts colleges in the U.S. The Decorative Artists of Southwest Florida (DASF) are happy to be able to award Zachary a $1,000 scholarship to help him along the road to success.

Ashley Van Tasell

Ashley Van Tasell
2022 Scholarship Winner from North Fort Myers HS

Determination and focus define this talented young lady who has had art as part of her life as long as she can remember. Ashley’s academics are outstanding as she has challenged herself with a variety of college-level courses, all while maintaining above a 4.0 GPA as she balances school, an extra online class, and a job. Community work including roles of teaching assistant in Sunday school and assistant in the music program at an elementary school have helped shape her into a caring individual.

Ashley is a well-rounded visual arts student and has participated in district and community juried art shows. Ashley loves a variety of media but currently favors pastels due to the saturated and vibrant colors they can produce.

Looking forward to teaching art and eventually opening her own art school, Ashley is also considering art therapy enabling expression of thoughts and feelings as another possibility. It could be a good match for this caring, concerned, and empathetic student who has the drive that will lead her to achieving the goals she sets. Ashley promises to do no less than her best possible performance for the next four years and you can trust that will be pretty outstanding. DASF wishes Ashley success as she enters Florida Gulf Coast University to work toward her Art B.A. major.

Elisa Williams

Elisa Williams
2021 Scholarship Winner from Cypress Lake HS

Family life revolves around both immediate and extended family for this socially conscious young woman who has distinguished herself by having an exceptional work ethic. Intellectually curious, Elisa’s interest in Model UN has been formative through her four years. She became a leader, aware of a wider world and is interested in other cultures, activism and politics.

Drawing daily, loving it and showing a natural artistic creativity recognized both in school and at local art shows got Elisa started on the road to a career in art. While starting with graphite and now a growing interest in watercolor and oil, Elisa’s main interest is digital and storytelling.

Enrolled at Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall with a double major (Sequential Art and Performing Arts), her ultimate career goal is to become a comic book or concept artist. Concept art is a form of illustration used to convey an idea for use in films, video games, animation, comic books or other media.

Madelyn Kellum

The Dedicated Artists of Southwest Florida Inc are happy we were able to award a $500 scholarship to Elisa to help her along the road to success. Thank you to our members and all those who support our community efforts.

Madelyn Kellum is a versatile artist who spends her time painting, drawing, and experimenting with mixed media techniques. She has enjoyed being a part of the Best Buddies Chapter at Estero High, and working with the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

Campbell Lackey

Campbell Lackey
2019 Scholarship Winner from Cape Coral HS

Family life revolves around competitive sports for Campbell who has been engaged in student government, Honor Society and community volunteerism. A French class trip to Europe afforded her the opportunity to visit the Louvre and National Gallery and helped form her passion for the arts, especially pencils, pastels, and charcoal.

The Dedicated Artists of Southwest Florida (DASF) are happy we were able to award Campbell a $500 scholarship to help her along the road to success. Thank you to our members and all those who support our community efforts.

Jennifer Capobianco

Jennifer Capobianco
2018 Scholarship Winner from North Fort Myers HS

Jennifer is a versatile artist who works in all media, but her favorite is pen and ink. Playing saxophone is another of her areas of expertise. With the support of a loving family who encourages her to follow her passions, Jennifer will be off to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) this summer.

Her goal is a degree in art and a career enjoying something that is dear to her heart. Jennifer is an art leader with hopes to share the kind of influence her art teachers provided for her. For four years they have not only been amazing teachers but also, great personal role models. Jennifer’s work ethic is such that she will be a positive addition anywhere she goes.

The Decorative Artists of Southwest Florida (DASF) are happy we were able to award Jennifer a $1,000 scholarship to help her along the road to success. Thank you to our members and all those who support our community efforts.