Three high school seniors are stepping into the next stage of their lives with a special boost from Embracing Our Differences (EOD).
Alongside them, eight college students are seeing their scholarships renewed, recognition for their ongoing efforts to bring empathy, inclusion, and kindness to their communities. These students have played a part in EOD’s Coexistence Clubs, leading projects and conversations that make their schools more welcoming places.
This year’s scholarship winners include Madelyn Francolini from Venice High School, who’s headed to the University of Pittsburgh to study applied developmental psychology. Madelyn spent over two years with the Coexistence Club, and she points to Venice Elementary School’s Bucket Fillers Reading Day as a turning point for her. She says moments like these taught her that being a “bucket filler” means stepping up, sometimes out of her comfort zone, to spread kindness in real ways.
Taylor Humphrey, graduating from Booker High School, is Florida International University-bound, where she plans to study nursing. After four years with her school’s Coexistence Club, Taylor credits the group with helping her connect with different people and building her confidence to turn good intentions into real action.
The third high school recipient, Abigail Lauber from Riverview High School, will study psychology at the University of South Florida. Abigail spent four years with her Coexistence Club and says she witnessed firsthand how a single act of kindness can change someone’s entire outlook.
These three new scholars join eight others who are continuing their college journeys with EOD’s support:
Bryson Day graduated from Venice High and is now a junior studying mechanical engineering at the University of South Florida. Bryson says he’s learned to respect others’ perspectives, and that staying true to EOD’s ideals shapes how he interacts with those around him.
Kennedy Flatch (Riverview High School) and Melissa Graham (Riverview High School) are both juniors at Florida State University, one pursuing marketing, the other in biological sciences.
Max Hunter, a Venice High alum, is now a sophomore at FSU studying risk management.
Melora Saing from Booker High is studying biology as a sophomore at the University of Florida.
Kasey-Huong Nguyen, another Venice graduate, is now a senior at UF, focusing on nutritional sciences.
Lucia Warren, from Booker, is a senior at USF majoring in marketing. Lucia says walking among EOD’s public art exhibits still reminds her how vital it is to try understanding experiences different from her own.
Finally, Mateo Rizzo, also from Booker, is a senior at UF studying aerospace engineering. He shares that embracing differences has become a way of life for him, a practice that’s made him a better teammate, leader, and person.
Patrick Arthur Jackson, EOD’s vice president of learning and engagement, says the scholarship program celebrates students taking action to make their communities more compassionate. He sees a real impact: “These students don’t just carry EOD’s values—they turn them into everyday habits. Watching them carry this forward into college and beyond, influencing the people around them, is what inspires us most.”
Coexistence Clubs now exist at many local schools, including Booker, North Port, Venice, Sarasota, and Riverview High School, Imagine North Port, Suncoast Polytech, and Woodland Middle School. These clubs anchor EOD’s educational programs, with students leading service projects, sparking dialogue, and building more inclusive communities.
For over two decades, Embracing Our Differences has centered its work around an outdoor art exhibition that voices messages of respect and acceptance. This annual event is the heartbeat of a slate of year-round programs, using art to inspire new thinking and bring people together.
Embracing Our Differences is a nonprofit that celebrates and uplifts our individuality and common humanity through art and education. Their annual juried art exhibition and educational initiatives give teachers, students, and the community tools to build understanding and acceptance.
To learn more about Embracing Our Differences, visit their website or call 941-404-5710. More information is available at embracingourdifferences.org.
