As the flowers begin to bloom and the days grow longer, spring brings a sense of renewal and opportunity. In much the same way, scholarships symbolize this season of growth, offering students a chance to blossom and reach new heights in their academic and professional journeys. This kind of financial support allows students to thrive and achieve their dreams, and that is why so many Sertoma clubs choose to support local students through scholarship programs.

One of these outstanding organizations is Women’s Sertoma of Venice. This dynamic club partners with local guidance counselors each March to inspire high school senior girls to apply for their scholarship program. Applicants are chosen based on a combination of academic excellence, personal achievements, extracurricular involvement, and strong references. Once selected, these exceptional young women are honored at a special dinner with their families in May, where they’re celebrated for their hard work and are awarded with a $2,000 scholarship to help fuel their future success at the college of their choice.

The club’s scholarship program is largely funded by its flagship event, Sun Fiesta. The three-day event is held each fall in downtown Venice’s Centennial Park. The festival features local entertainment, food, arts and crafts vendors, raffles, youth activities, and of course, the bed races! It is also the host of the well-known Miss Sun Fiesta competition, whose winner is among the scholarship recipients.

Members work together to make this large event so successful. Each member is responsible for securing at least one sponsor, with packages ranging from as little as $75 to as much as $3,500. The club then works with the local newspaper to feature all the sponsors in a special event insert. Sun Fiesta has raised more than $1 million since 1994, with proceeds supporting more than 400 scholarships and many other local charities.

The club faced a challenging setback in 2024 when hurricanes struck Florida just ahead of their event. Womens Sertoma of Venice was able to pivot and work with the city to reschedule the event for January. The club still brought in nearly $50,000, and it was hoping to support 18 scholarships this spring.

Womens Sertoma of Venice has been serving the Venice, Florida, area since 1988. You can learn more about Sun Fiesta, as well as the club, at WomensSertoma.com.

A special thanks to Club Secretary Carol Sullivan for providing the background for this article.