We are proud to recognize Anna Smith and Kathryne Walters as the recipients of the Dineen Paris Scholarship and the Rotary Scholarship, respectively. Both earned nationally recognized certifications, paving the way for rewarding careers in their chosen fields.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the New Tampa Rotary Club for generously sponsoring Katherine’s journey. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the donors who make the Dineen Paris Scholarship possible.
Congratulations to Anna and Katherine on this outstanding achievement!
ANNA SMITH: This year’s Dineen Paris Scholarship was awarded to Anna Smith, a bright young woman referred to Hope Services by her high school social worker. As graduation approached, there was concern that Anna did not yet have a clear plan for her future.
Anna expressed a strong interest in pursuing a career in culinary arts and was excited about the Hope Services Culinary Program. We assisted her with a referral to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and helped her through the initial application process. Unfortunately, due to transportation challenges, Anna was unable to attend the required in-person VR appointments.
Without the generosity of Dineen Paris and the Hope Scholarship Fund, Anna’s journey may have ended there.
This story is a true reflection of Dineen’s legacy. She had a deep passion and a heart for helping young women become confident, independent, and prosperous adults. She would have absolutely loved Anna and been proud to see the bright future ahead of her.
KATHRYNE WALTERS: Kathryne was the 2025 recipient of the New Tampa Rotary Club scholarship which was possible thanks to the invaluable cooperation of Karen Frashier.
Kathryne enrolled in the Basic Retail Certification Program and excelled throughout the duration of the curriculum. At graduation she received her National Certification that will allow her to begin a professional career journey.
Recently, we received a message from a grateful parent that touched our hearts:
“Yesterday, Kathryne came home and said she made a friend. This has not happened since she was a small child, if ever. … Her having an opportunity to develop social skills at the level she calls someone a friend is as important as every other skill she is learning over the course of the class.”
For Kathryne, this wasn’t just a friend, it was a milestone. At Hope Services, we believe that friendship is a life skill, just as important as any certification we teach. Thank you to Karen Frashier and the Rotary Club of New Tampa for making stories like this possible.
