The board of directors of the Foundation of Collier County Medical Society is pleased to announce the winners of its 2025 Foundation Healthcare Scholarship awards: Ronasia Duprat, Hailey Mathieu, Arnold Morales Loyola, Alejandro Aguilar, and Kayla Miranda. Each student will receive a scholarship ranging from $2,500 to $6,500.

The final tally of 2025 scholarship awards given by the Foundation is $37,500, which also includes the $15,000 award given to Michael Grossi, recipient of the Foundation’s 2025 Dr. William and Nancy Lascheid Memorial Scholarship for Medical Students, announced in June. The Foundation has awarded over a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships since 2013.

The Foundation of CCMS healthcare scholarships are for students who are Florida residents enrolled or accepted into a healthcare degree program, with awards based on need, academic performance, and community involvement.

“The Foundation is delighted to recognize the five outstanding recipients of this highly competitive annual healthcare scholarship,” remarked Dr. Rolando Rivera, Chair of the Foundation. “This program is made possible through the steadfast generosity of our donors and sponsors, whose support empowers the next generation of healthcare leaders – students who excel academically and are committed to creating positive change in their communities.”

Ronasia Duprat graduated from Palmetto Ridge High School (Naples, FL) and is a medical student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “Medical school is a profoundly demanding journey academically and socially, but thanks to your generosity, one of the most pressing burdens has been lightened. This scholarship gives me the freedom to focus wholeheartedly on my studies, my clinical training, and my long-term goal of becoming a compassionate and skilled physician.”

Hailey Mathieu is a Gulf Coast High School (Naples, FL) and University of South Florida graduate and medical student at Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center. “I am deeply grateful and humbled to receive the support of the SWFL community, which nurtured my passion for healthcare. Thank you for your generosity and support in my dream of becoming a physician dedicated to service, empathy, and advocating for underserved communities.”

Arnold Morales Loyola is a graduate of Golden Gate High School (Naples, FL) and Florida Gulf Coast University, and a medical student at Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine. “This helps ease the financial burden of medical school as a first-generation student. Having spent so much time volunteering at the Neighborhood Health Clinic, this fuels my passion to continue my professional goals and be able to serve all patients, but especially those from underinsured, under-resourced communities.”

Alejandro Aguilar is a Barron Collier High School (Naples, FL) and Florida Gulf Coast University graduate and a physician assistant student at Nova Southeastern University. “I plan to stay local and hope to give back to the same community that has given so much to me. This scholarship will make a big difference in helping me reach my academic and career goals, and I’m sincerely thankful for this opportunity.”

Kayla Miranda is a registered nurse at NCH and studying for her MSN at South University. “This scholarship not only supports the final steps of my academic journey but also reinforces my commitment to serving our Collier County community. I plan to remain in the area and devote my career to providing accessible, compassionate healthcare to the residents who have shaped me into the person I am today.”

The Foundation’s signature fundraiser, the Docs & Duffers Golf Tournament on September 27, 2025 will help raise funds for its scholarship program and local healthcare programs in need. Also, the Foundation is partnering with Tix for Good sweepstakes again this year for the opportunity to win passes to the 2026 Masters Tournament. Learn more at ccmsfoundation.org/#golf.

The Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization launched by the Collier County Medical Society in 2012, with the mission to provide support and leadership to programs that address access to healthcare and promote health education. More information on supporting the Foundation and its scholarships is available at ccmsfoundation.org.