We congratulate DHS Class of 2023 graduates Elisa Lopez-Espine and Janna Rivera on each being presented with a $5,000 Pinellas Education Foundation award on behalf of 1962 graduate Marie Cono Kennedy through the Lydia Marie ‘Ree’ Cono Kennedy Scholarship Endowment.

This scholarship each year financially assists two female Dunedin High School seniors who plan to pursue a degree in the fields of education or medicine. 

Elisa plans to enroll in and complete a Bachelor of Nursing program, then go on to graduate school to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Janna plans to enroll in and complete St. Petersburg College’s Radiography Associates in Science program, then attend USF Tampa to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. 

Background: The Lydia Marie ‘Ree’ Cono Kennedy Scholarship Endowment was established in Marie's honor by her husband, Gerald Kennedy, in 2018. Her scholarship has so far benefited 12 students.

Basic qualifications to be considered for Ree's scholarship are as follows: (1) Be a graduating Dunedin High School Senior; (2) Be female; (3) Maintain a 3.0 GPA; (4) Be pursuing a career in education or the medical field; (5) Be planning on attending a Florida college or university. The applicant must also write and submit an essay on a specific assigned topic.

There are two awards each year. The scholarships are in the amounts of $5,000 per awardee per school year.

If you wish to contribute to Marie's endowment, contact the Pinellas Education Foundation at (727) 588-4816. Mention the “Lydia Marie ‘Ree’ Cono Kennedy Scholarship” and the staff will help you.

The PEF Web site is www.pinellaseducation.org. 

You can email them at info@pinellaseducation.org.

For more information, contact Gerald Kennedy at jbkennedy500@gmail.com.

(We are publishing this announcement as a service to our alumni. This scholarship endowment is not a sanctioned or sponsored project of the DHS Class of 1962 reunion committee, and the committee has no affiliation with it other than posting this notice. The endowment sounds wonderful, and we hope it will stand as a lasting tribute to Marie. We encourage all our grads to check out this endeavor and donate generously if possible.)