Local entertainer Petrina is also the leader of the iSPARKLE Scholarship Fund. She and her team have raised more than $9,000 and now it is time to give the money to selected students.
Petrina describes the scholarship as an anti-bullying scholarship. iSPARKLE is an acronym for the words Inclusive, Support, Protect, Act, Respect, Kindness, Lift spirits and Encourage. Petrina is looking for applicants that have used these qualities to do good in the world.
The application process is still open. The requirements are that the applicant be a 2016 graduate of high school and be a grandson or granddaughter of a Village resident. The applicant may reside anywhere in the United States.
In order to apply applicants must make a selfie two to three minute video using a smart phone, video camera or laptop camera. Applicants should use the words that make up iSPARKLE to describe how they have made a difference for their peers who have experienced bullying or exclusion in their school or community. Send the video link to iSparklescholarship@gmail.com. It is recommended that the applicant use You Tube or Vimeo, there is a non-public setting if the applicant prefers their video application remain private.
Petrina and her team started the scholarship fund in 2014. Money is raised by ticket sales, Petrina donates a dollar of every ticket sold to the fund, and also fundraisers held throughout the year and also by personal donations.
The first scholarships were awarded in 2015 to three students from the Villages Charter School. This year they wanted to cast a wider net and opened the scholarship to grandchildren of Villages residents.
Petrina started this scholarship as a way to give back.
“As an entertainer I am asked to support a lot of charities; I decided it was time to do something that was close to my heart,” says Petrina.
She referenced being bullied as a child, but said instead of dwelling on that part of her life, she said she would rather concentrate on the children doing good in the world and using iSPARKLE to support them.
For more information about the scholarship program and to apply go to www.petrina.biz.
