Villagers announce 2023 scholarship winners

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Villagers announce 2023 scholarship winners
Pictured (l-r) are Villager 2023 scholarship recipient Sacha Braggs from the UM School of Architecture, Villager Scholarship Chair Mary Beth Burke, and scholarship recipient Caleb Arsenault, UF grad student in Historic Preservation. Not pictured, Grace Levy.

The Villagers historic preservation organization has awarded three $5,000 scholarships to students studying in the field of preservation. Two students from the University of Miami’s 5-year Architecture program and one student studying for a master’s in Historic Preservation at the University of Florida.

Students Grace Levy and Sacha Braggs have both been involved with preservation projects while at the University of Miami (UM). Levy, a stellar student with many honors, will be able to continue her final year of study at UM. Braggs was a previous Villager scholarship recipient who received many honors while at UM. The grant will allow her the opportunity to spend a semester studying preservation in Italy.

“The scholarship validates my desire to go into historic preservation and gives me the opportunity to explore preservation in other countries and bring ideas back,” said Braggs.

Caleb Arsenault from the University of Florida (UF) followed up a degree in history and a year of teaching to pursue his passion for working in historic preservation. From St. Augustine, he has interned at the St. Augustine Historical Society and is currently working on a survey and analysis of Opa Locka to have it added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Arsenault will spend the summer at the UF Preservation Institute in Nantucket, Massachusetts. During the Villager meeting where he was presented his award, he said, “This scholarship makes it a reality for me to have the opportunity to practice in the field.”

The grants were announced by Villager Scholarship Chair, Mary Beth Burke. Burke oversaw a committee that included Villagers Laura Anderson, Linda Manning, Anne Boynton Trigg, and Wendy Zepernick who sifted through applications, essays, recommendation letters and samples of work to select the winners. Over the years, The Villagers have awarded hundreds of university scholarships to deserving students who have a commitment to historic preservation.

Miami-Dade County’s oldest historic preservation organization, The Villagers, was founded in 1966 and has also given more than 200 grants to endangered sites and organizations. Through educating, advocating, fundraising, restoration, and documentation, The Villagers work to preserve the cultural and architectural heritage of local historic sites and neighborhoods. For information about membership opportunities, and the full scope of The Villagers’ legacy, visit www.thevillagersinc.org.

 

 

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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.