By Kyle Coppola
Two Local High School Softball Players Awarded LuLu Scholarship Fund
Two local softball high school athletes were recently awarded with the Lulu Scholarship Fund. The award is named after local Lake County Coach Lulu Colas who tragically passed away last year. Colas meant a lot to the community and helped countless young women prepare for life on youth, high school, college softball fields and beyond.
Coach Stive Colas who was husband of the late Lulu Colas, invited senior athletes to submit personal essays on the theme, “What are you thankful for?” From the submissions, two athletes, Nevaeha Parra from Lake Minneola High and Lilly Land from East Ridge High, were selected as recipients of the 2025 Lulu Scholarship, awarded in memory of a coach who dedicated her life to empowering youth through sports and character development.
(Coach LuLu Colas “right” helped empower countless young women learn the sport of softball but also helped them on life’s journey after high school.)
Nevaeha reflected on the unwavering support of her parents in her essay, writing, “I’m thankful for my mom and dad. They are my biggest supporters, always encouraging me to chase my dreams no matter how far or hard the journey may be. From driving me to early practices to cheering from the sidelines at every game, they have made countless sacrifices to help me succeed.”
Lilly shared a similar message of appreciation, especially for her parents’ ability to juggle multiple responsibilities to support her homeschooling and athletic goals. “They made sacrifices that I didn’t fully understand at the time, but that I carry with me now in everything I do,” she wrote. “They showed me that success isn’t defined by a big house, but by the heart you put into your journey.”
(From left to right Lilly Land, Skylar Colas and Nevaeha Parra.)
Coach Colas said the essays reflect the values Lulu held dear: gratitude, humility, and heart. “Today, we honor Lu’s legacy by continuing what she started, investing in young athletes and celebrating their hearts as much as their talents,” he said.
The LuLu Scholarship Fund was created by MDCA Student-Athlete Skylar Colas to celebrate her mother Lulu Colas’ life and lasting influence on the lives of student-athletes. Though her passing left a void in the community, her legacy remains a source of light and inspiration to so many who were impacted by her kindness and teachings.
“We are thankful for the angel we had with us on Earth,” says Coach Colas, “and the angel we now have watching over us.”
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.
