James E. & Margaret M. Schwarz Scholarship

The Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida offers the James E. & Margaret M. Schwarz Scholarship, an academic scholarship made possible through the Catholic Legacy of Margaret M. Schwarz and her loving family. Through the Schwarz's generous gift to the Foundation, a one-time academic scholarship of approximately $8,000 is available to a graduating senior from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota, Florida who will be pursuing a career in education. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, fees and housing expenses. Eligibility requires completion of an online application and financial needs assessment, submission of an essay on why the student wants to pursue a career in education and what they hope to achieve in that field, acceptance into an accredited college or university, demonstrated academic performance in high school, volunteer activity, and description of extracurricular activities. Members or relatives of the Catholic Community Foundation staff, Board of Directors, the Office of Catholic Schools, the Scholarship Committee or James and Margaret Schwarz are ineligible to apply. Applications open December 4, 2025, with a deadline of March 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM.