FORT MYERS, Fla. - s4story -- Valerie's House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida dedicated to supporting children grieving the loss of a loved one, has awarded $37,000 in college scholarships for graduating high school seniors who have participated in its grief support program.

Now in its fourth year, the scholarship program offers awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 per student. Scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years, based  on each student's academic performance. The Valerie's House scholarship program is funded through community donations. This year, 14 local students were selected to receive Valerie's House scholarships.

The first $2,500 scholarship recipients are:

●          Brooke Burg of Fort Myers, graduated from Fort Myers  High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University;

●          Emily Calderon of Fort Myers graduated from Dunbar High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University;

●          Kealey Calderon of Fort Myers, graduated from Dunbar High School and plans to attend Florida SouthWestern State College;

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●          Catherine "Kitty" Hughes of Fort Myers, graduated from Hibernian Private School and plans to attend Florida SouthWestern State College and then University of North Florida;

●          Carter Koehler of Fort Myers, graduated from Cypress Lake High School and plans to attend Florida SouthWestern State College;

●          Jordan McKee of Fort Myers, is dually enrolled at Fort Myers Technical College and Fort Myers High School;

●          Haley McKinnon of Cape Coral, graduated from North Fort Myers High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University;

. ●       Caleb "Cal" Rimes of Fort Myers, graduated from Gateway High School and plans to attend Fort Myers Technical College; and

. ●       Emma Schulte of Cape Coral, graduated from Island Coast High School and plans to attend Florida SouthWestern State College.

Other first-time recipients are:

. ●       Molly Flynn of Fort Myers, graduated from Fort Myers High School and plans to attend Florida SouthWestern State College, $2,000 scholarship winner;

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. ●       Samira Ali of North Fort Myers, graduated from Riverdale High School and plans to attend University of South Florida, $1,000 scholarship winner;

. ●       Parker Eyre of Fort Myers, graduated from South Fort Myers High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University, $1,000 scholarship winner;

. ●       Alia Mercado-Lues of Fort Myers, graduated from Ida S. Baker High School and plans to attend Hillsborough Community College, $1,000 scholarship winner; and

. ●       Joseph Aaron Stenza of Naples, graduated from Barron Collier High School and plans to attend Flight School, $1,000 scholarship winner.

Valerie's House provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.