ANNA MARIA – Courtney Schultz and Jack Love are this year’s Pat Copeland Scholarship award winners.
On Thursday, April 23, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society awarded Schultz and Love $2,000 scholarships. The scholarship winners were announced during the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s monthly business card exchange gathering, held this month on the AMI Historical Museum grounds in Anna Maria.
Before announcing the recipients, historical society member Liz Hager noted the long-awarded annual scholarships are named in honor of Pat Copeland, the historical society and museum co-founder (and AMI Sun reporter) who passed away in 2023.
Pat’s husband, Doug Copeland, attended the chamber event and helped serve the complimentary beer and wine provided by the Anna Maria General Store. The complimentary pizza was provided by Double Deez and Pizzano’s.
When addressing the attendees, Hager noted the scholarships date back many years and several past winners remain active in the Island community.
“That’s why it’s so special to be here tonight,” she said.
Hager said the historical society received eight scholarship applications this year, which is more than usual, and all the applicants were well-qualified.
JACK LOVE
Hager said the selection committee initially selected one scholarship winner, but the committee also had another applicant, Jack Love, who’s a history major – which ties right in with the historical society’s mission to preserve and promote Anna Maria Island’s history.
“We were so impressed with what he’s done, what he’s doing and what’s he’s going to do that we had to go ask to have more scholarship money made available so we could give two scholarships this year. And a very generous donor has made that happen,” Hager said.
She noted Jack grew up in the village of Cortez, attended Anna Maria Elementary school and is now pursuing a degree in public history at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
“Public history is about making history accessible and relevant to the public, whether through national parks, museums or community programs,” Hager said.
She said Jack was unable to attending the scholarship award ceremony that evening because he was in Orlando working on a paper and studying for an important exam the following morning.
Citing his scholarship application letter, Hager said one Jack’s favorite duties while working for the National Park Service at De Soto National Memorial in west Bradenton was working with the children in the Junior Ranger program.
In his application letter, Jack wrote, “My long-term goal is to become a National Park Ranger, ideally working in a setting like the New Orleans Jazz Historical Park.”
In his recommendation letter, De Soto National Memorial Superintendent Scott Pardue wrote, “I first saw Jack’s genuine interest in history and culture way back when he was very young. If memory serves me correct, we made an exception for Jack, too young to attend the camp, to join his older sister in our Junior Ranger summer camp.”
Pardue noted the scholarship would Jack accomplish his goal to be a park ranger
Hager called Jack’s mom, AMI Beach Weddings owner Karen Riley-Love, up to say a few words on Jack’s behalf.
Karen said her mom, Mary Wood, helped instill a love of history in Jack, and his sister, Isabella, who will soon graduate from Columbia University with a master’s degree in oral history.
“He’s a delightful person. He has wanted to be a national park ranger since he was four,” Karen said of her son.
When expressing her appreciation for the museum and the historical society, Karen said historians need places like that to do their work. Hager said the unnamed person who made the donation that provided Jack’s scholarship hopes Jack can someday get involved with the Anna Maria museum too.
COURTNEY SCHULTZ
Hager then called Courtney to the makeshift stage on the Belle Haven Cottage steps. Hager listed some of her many accomplishments and activities, including serving as the captain of the Manatee High School Sugar Canes dance team, for which she was honored as an All-American dancer.
“Dance has taught me discipline, confidence and leadership skills that I carry with me into every part of my life,” Courtney stated in her application letter.
Hager read aloud a portion of Courtney’s application letter, which said, “I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease when I was seven years old. Living with these conditions has taught me responsibility, time management and resilience.”
Her letter also says, “Because of my experience, organizations that support diabetes research are especially meaningful to me. One organization that is particularly important to me is JDRF (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), where I have organized walk teams and raised over $2,000 to support diabetes research.”
Her letter notes she taught dance to Girl Scouts, fostered kittens, read to elementary school students and volunteered at various school and community events.
“These experiences have shown me how meaningful it is to use my time and skills to help others,” she wrote.
“Balancing my health with work, academics, activities and leadership roles has challenged me, but it has also made become more organized, determined and focused,” she stated in her application letter.
“As I pursue a degree in finance (at Florida State University), I hope to use my education and experiences to make a positive impact in my community and beyond. After I graduate, I hope to work in the business field. My goal is to provide support, guidance and information to people who may not have the resources or opportunities to access financial education,” her letter says.
After rejoining her parents, the reserved young lady said, “I’m truly humbled. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and to be acknowledged by these amazing people.”
Her mom, Kim, said, “We’re super proud of her. She’s an amazing kid. She’s battled health issues and through it all she stayed in the top 4% of her class and kept straight A’s while going to Manatee High and SCF (State College of Florida). She’ll graduate with an AA (associate’s degree) and her high school diploma at the same time. And she made the dream of going to FSU come true.”
Her dad, Curt, said, “We’re extremely proud of her. She was born in Bradenton. She grew up on the beaches. She’s been coming here her whole life and we’re proud that the community’s supporting her.”
