IRSC Digital Media student receives Paulie Strong Scholarship

news release

Vanessa Medina is a digital media major with a concentration in animation, gaming, and modeling.

Indian River State College Senior Vanessa Medina has been awarded the Paulie Strong Scholarship for academic year 2022–2023.

The $500 scholarship is named after Paul Lefavi, a beloved long-time employee of Indian River State College who died in 2019 due to complications from Mantle Cell Lymphoma, an aggressive and rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lefavi was an accomplished videographer and served as the College’s Director of E-Learning.

The Paulie Strong Charitable Foundation was created by Lefavi’s friends and family as an endowed scholarship awarded annually to a student enrolled in the IRSC Digital Media program. Medina, age 19 and from Vero Beach, is a senior studying digital media with a concentration in animation, gaming, and modeling. She plans to pursue a career in animation after she graduates in Spring 2023.

“Paul LeFavi’s life and career were dedicated to helping students learn through the best application of digital and media arts,” said Dr. Bob Lefavi, Paul’s brother. “Paulie loved IRSC and all the faculty, staff and students he encountered in his 20-plus years on campus. There could be no better tribute to Paulie than to use the scholarship in his name to help IRSC students in the IRSC Digital Media program.”

Last year’s winner of the scholarship was Erick Osorio, a student in the graphic design program focusing on 3-D animation. Osorio used the money to help buy a new computer for his schoolwork.

Students interested in applying for the scholarship can complete the application by signing into MyPioneer Portal and clicking on the “IRSC Scholarships” box. The application deadline for the 2023–24 academic year is January 31, 2023. For questions regarding the scholarship, contact Sherri Monds, Scholarship Development Coordinator, in the IRSC Foundation office at 772-462-4786 or visit https://www.irscfoundation.org.

The Paulie Strong Charitable Foundation hosts various fundraising events during the year to raise money for scholarships. For details visit https://www.paulie-strong.com.