June 3, 2024
Silhouettes of Criterions Present Scholarships To Local High School Graduates
By Kyle Coppola
Silhouettes of Criterions Present Scholarships To Local High School Graduates
Silhouettes of Criterions, an incredible group of women striving to make a difference, did just that when they awarded scholarships across Lake County.
The students who had their lives impacted with scholarships included East Ridge High School’s Yasmeen Ibrahim, who was very appreciative of the gesture. “Thank you so much! I am so blessed and thankful to you for the opportunity and I will utilize this resource for the good of us all,” says Yasmeen.
Local Eustis students were also presented with scholarships. Those students included Syriah Williams, who was the valedictorian of the class of 2024, Jamir Wilder, Alana Seward, and Janiyah Chambliss.
Lake Minneola High School students Deja Roberts and Kayla Longley were also presented with scholarships.
(Janiyah Chambliss was awarded a scholarship.)
Founded in 1988 as an extension of the Criterion Civic Club, this Eustis-based organization has become a vital force in the community, fostering academic excellence, social grace, and a commitment to community service.
“Our roots trace back to the Criterion Civic Club, established in the 1950s. It was a group of remarkable African American women who served as educators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders,” says Silhouettes of Criterion President Selina Bowers. “In 1988, we evolved into the Silhouettes of Criterion, expanding our reach to younger members.”
The club just celebrated their 25th anniversary, and they continue to present young ladies to society while instilling essential life skills.
Cheryl Myers, one of the organization’s two charter members, has a personal connection to the organization. As a young lady, Cheryl was a debutante and her mother, a Criterion.
“Growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, I saw the Criterion Civic Club as a beacon of strength,” Cheryl says. “When the Silhouettes emerged, it was an opportunity to carry on the legacy and empower the next generation.”
The heart of the Silhouettes lies in their mentorship program, known as the Classic Collection.
“We mentor girls from 6th to 12th grade, guiding them through workshops on financial wellness, interview skills, etiquette, public speaking, self-awareness, and self-esteem,” Cheryl explains. “Our aim is to equip them with knowledge not always taught in traditional education.”
Congratulations to all the seniors for earning scholarships, and we wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
