Annual DEAFNA Foundation Scholarship Program

AFNA Scholarship Program

Each of the Six DEAFNA Regions grants a $2,500.00 scholarship to the selectee.

2024 Application period is: January 1, 2024 to April 1, 2024

The Scholarship is only open to children and grandchildren of the National DEAFNA Members. Go to www.afna.org for details.

The 2023 Awards

The 2023 AFNA Foundation Scholarship winners have been chosen.

Marty Maguire, AFNA Foundation Scholarship Coordinator, shared the following: Once again, the AFNA Scholarship Committee received an amazing group of applications from an outstanding field of candidates. We received submissions from college hopefuls whose majors were projected in biochemistry, the military, pediatric neurology, law enforcement, and everywhere in between. All candidates were truly inspiring in their work ethic, extra curricular activities, and community service. The committee chose to recognize the following candidates for their extraordinary accomplishments.

Marty Maguire
Foundation Scholarship Coordinator
maguiremga@gmail.com

Winners of the 2023 AFNA Foundation Scholarships are the following:
(photos below)

Northeast Region

Winner-Caroline Ann Kelly
Sponsor-Vin Kelly (Father)
Endowed by Larry McElynn
In Memory of LCPL Thomas J. McElynn, USMC

Mid-Atlantic Region

Winner- Kalina Frick
Sponsor- Tom Frick (Father)
Jerry Rinehart Scholarship
Endowed by The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation

Southeast Region
Winner- Tyler Kowitzke
Sponsor- Brian Kowitzke (Father)
Jerry Rinehart Scholarship
Endowed by The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation

North Central Region
Winner- Charlie Soltys
Sponsor- Chuck Soltys (Father)
Endowed by Bob and Margaret Nieves
In Memory of Harold and Margaret Wilfert

South Central Region

Winner-Ryan Furay
Sponsor – William Furay (Father)
Endowed by the DEA Educational Foundation

Western Region

Winner- Keira Adams
Sponsor- Kevin Adams (Father)
Gary Elliot Scholarship
Endowed by Tom Raffanello

The 2022 Awards

The 2022 AFNA Foundation Scholarship winners have been chosen.

Marty Maguire, AFNA Foundation Scholarship Coordinator, asked to share the below:The 2022 AFNA Foundation Scholarship winners have been chosen. Again this year, we had an outstanding group of applicants nationally. All the applicants were amazing students, athletes, and community service leaders. Their parents and grandparents can truly be proud of having raised such fine future leaders of our communities. It is also worthy to note that this year the scholarships have been endowed by many generous donors who are recognized below.

Marty Maguire
Foundation Scholarship Coordinator
maguiremga@gmail.com

Winners of the 2022 AFNA Foundation Scholarships are the following:
(photos below)

Northeast Region
Split scholarship
Endowed by Mark Goldstein
In Memoriam: Joseph and Rose Goldstein

Isabelle Hoffman
(Sponsor Andrew Hoffman, Father)

Endowed by Mark Goldstein
In Memoriam: Raymond G. Boglioli

Kerry Guinee
(Sponsor Paul Doyle, Grandfather)

Mid-Atlantic Region
Jerry Rinehart Scholarship
Endowed by The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation

Simonne Lenseigne 
(Sponsor Joe Lenseigne, Father)

Southeast Region
Jerry Rinehart Scholarship Endowed by The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation

Sabrina Bonavita
(Sponsor John Costanzo, Grandfather)

North Central Region
LexisNexis Scholarship
In Honor of Howard Safir
For 40 years of Dedicated Service

Danny Wood
(Sponsor Don Wood, Father)

South Central Region
Split Scholarship
Endowed by John Varrone
SAIC (Ret.)
US Customs Service

JD Nattinger
(Sponsor John Nattinger, Grandfather)

Endowed by Robert Nieves
Chief (Ret.)
International Operations
USDEA
In Memoriam
Randolph Nieves and Maria Arvonio

Rachel Seay
(Sponsor James Seay, Grandfather)

Western Region
Rich Gorman Scholarship
Endowed by Tom Raffanello
SAIC (Ret.)
Miami Division
USDEA

Brandon Wiebold
(Sponsor Richard Wieboldt, Father)

The 2021 Awards

The 2021 AFNA Foundation Scholarship winners have been chosen.

Once again we had an outstanding pool of candidates from around the country. We had a record number of 37 total applicants this year for the six AFNA regional scholarships ( MA-8; NE-8; W-5,SE-7,C-3;SC-6). All the applicants were truly fine young men and women and their families are to be congratulated for raising such amazing and hard working individuals.

Two of the 6 awards are now named in honor of Jerry Rinehart through a benefactor. AFNA Foundation President John Costanzo asked to include the following:

The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation, a family-run charitable organization dedicated to creating a generational legacy of giving has contributed to the AFNA Foundation Scholarship Fund.The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation’s recent contribution to the Foundation was made on behalf of Mr. Jerry Rinehart, a retired DEA Special Agent and a close friend of the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation founder and director Dr. Lazar “Lonya” Finker. Mr. Rinehart passed away after a battle with brain cancer in late 2020. Using the funds donated by the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation, AFNA has established two Jerry Rinehart Scholarships in Mr. Rinehart’s honor. These scholarships are awarded to the applicants submitted from the AFNA Mid Atlantic and Southeast Regions* as Mr. Rinehart is originally from West Virginia and served numerous years in the Jacksonville RO.

The AFNA 2021 Scholarship Award Winners

(photos below)

Northeast Region Winner
-split $2500-
John Deignan (sponsor Thomas Deignan, Father)
and

Aaron Kelly (sponsor Vincent Kelly, Father)

Mid Atlantic Region Winners
Brooke Hewitt (sponsor Earl Hewitt, Father)

*Jerry Rinehart Scholarship

Southeast Region Winner
Tessa Hansen (sponsor Don Hansen, Father)

*Jerry Rinehart Scholarship

North Central Region Winner

Katianne Soltys (sponsor Chuck Soltys, Father)

Western Region Winner

Natalia Vasquez Pavichevich (sponsor Daniel Pavichevich, Father)

South Central Region Winner
-Split $2500-
Savannah Orton (sponsor Michael Orton, Father)
and

Alaina Donovan (sponsor Greg Donovan, Father)

The 2020 Awards

The 2020 AFNA Foundation Scholarship winners have been chosen.

Once again we had an outstanding pool of candidates from around the country. We had 23 total applicants for the six AFNA regional scholarships ( MA-10; NE-5; W-4,SE-2,NC-1;SC-0). NC region had a repeat winner from 2019. Since the South Central region had no applicants, we transferred that slot over to the Mid Atlantic region where they had 10 applicants, so it was put to good use and awarded to a well deserving student.

Northeast Region Winner
Benjamin HOFFMAN (Sponsor- Father, Andrew Hoffman)

Mid Atlantic Region Winners
1- Caroline CAREY (Sponsor- Grandfather, Jerry Carey)
2- Kenna REICHNER (Sponsor- Father, Larry Reichner)

Southeast Region Winner
Juliana BONAVITA (Sponsor- Grandfather John Costanzo)

North Central Region Winner
Hanna VARENHORST-JOHNSON (Sponsor- Grandfather Harvey Varenhorst)

Western Region Winner
Abby HOYAL (Sponsor-Grandfather Ken Hoyal)

South Central Region Winner
No applicants; slot rolled over to the Mid Atlantic Region

The 2019 Awards

Below are the 2019 AFNA Foundation Scholarship winners. Each of the Six AFNA Regions granted a $2,500.00 scholarship to each selectee.

Western Region
Mary Kohaut (Granddaughter of George Halpin)

North Central Region
Hannah Varenhorst- Johnson (Granddaughter of Harvey Varenhorst)

Northeastern Region
(which had two $1250 winners since the winning applicants were so similar in scholastic and community service achievement)
Madison Pasterchick (Daughter of Mike Pasterchick) and Ryan Boyle (Son of Brian Boyle SAC of New England FD)

Mid Atlantic Region
(which had two $1250 winners since the winning applicants were so similar in scholastic and community service achievement)
Taylor Kibble (Granddaughter of Jimmy Kibble) and Kelli Hodnett (Daughter of Tom Hodnett, ASAC Philadelphia FD)

South Central Region
Hannah Nieves (Granddaughter of Bobby Nieves)

Southeast Region
Brianna Jordan (Granddaughter of John Mudri)

The 2018 Awards

Martin Maguire, AFNA Scholarship Chairman, asked to share the below:

AFNA is proud to announce the awardees of the Second Annual AFNA Foundation Scholarships. These scholarships are given to the deserving sons, daughters, and grandchildren of AFNA National members. This year marked the increase of the scholarship amount to $2500. It was no surprise that the amount of applications increased dramatically making the decisions for the AFNA Scholarship Committee very difficult because of the outstanding applicant pool of talent, ability, and high level of  community service.

This year’s awards were given to an outstanding group of young men and women. The awardees have exhibited superior academic achievement, as well as giving of their time to assist others and supporting causes consistent with AFNA values.

The following is an excerpt from what one scholarship winner communicated to the committee which highlights the meaning of the award:

I am so excited and appreciative about being awarded the 2018 AFNA Scholarship.
I can’t tell you how valuable this scholarship is in financially helping me to make my educational dreams come true.  If possible, please forward my sincere appreciation to all of the directors of AFNA and all those who were involved in the selection process.  I promise I will be a good steward of this gift and thank you for your commitment in making our country safer and more drug free.

These are the awardees of the Second Annual AFNA Scholarships! All outstanding young men and women worthy of our applause!

-Marty Maguire
AFNA Scholarship Chair

Awardees

Western Region

Sierra Nagle, daughter of Former Special Agent Scott Nagle- Barkersfield, California

North Central Region

Mark O’Reilly, son of Acting G/S Special Agent Chris O’Reilly- Chicago FD

Mid Atlantic Region

Jenna Wilkerson, daughter of  Former Special Agent David Wilkerson- Kentucky

South Central Region

Faith Courville, granddaughter of Former Special Agent John Nattinger- Texas

Southeast Region

(which had two $1250 winners since the winning applicants were so similar in scholastic and community service achievement)

Talia Bagley, granddaughter of Former Special Agent Mike Powers- Florida

Madeline Andrews, granddaughter of Former Special Agent Pete McVean- South Carolina

The 2017 Awards

The 2017 awards were given to an outstanding group of young men and women. The awardees have exhibited superior academic achievement, as well as giving their time to assist others and support causes consistent with AFNA values.