The Van Wezel Foundation has named Julie Schwartz director of development. In this role, Schwartz is responsible for annual giving operations and fundraising initiatives. She comes to the foundation with more than 20 years of experience working at renowned arts and culture organizations, most recently at Carnegie Hall in New York as a senior project manager.

The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf has named Jenna Biggs as new nature interpreter. In her new role she will create outdoor experiences for adults and families that connect them to nature on land protected by Conservation Foundation, as well as their own backyards, underscoring the importance of nature.

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce has promoted Alyssa Barnsley to the role of communications manager. Barnsley previously served as the programs communications coordinator; in her new role, she will oversee all of the chamber's communications and support its brand.

Anela Ajkic (Riverview High School), Mya Fraser (Venice High school) and Megan Meese (Riverview High School)—recently graduated high school seniors who served as members of their schools' Coexistence Club—were awarded $1,000 four-year renewable scholarships by Embracing Our Differences.

The Education Foundation has announced 32 recipients of its new Jumpstart Your Future! scholarships. The students will receive one-year Florida Prepaid College Foundation scholarships, valued at more than $110,000, which will cover 30 credit hours at the Florida state college tuition rate. The students are Chloe Sebiro, Victoria Ventura-Toledo, Rheann Ward, Brittany Rork, Ericka Delva, Kaian Dougherty, Kayleigh Soler, Lauren Hetzer, Madison Christian, Nicholas Pacheco, Dasha Pushkanova, Evelina Khaybullina, Isabella Moreno, Janice Grantley, Julianna Syros, Kysmet Fiallo, Reyes Wilson, Riley Kuhn, Salvador Castaneda, Zarina Puppato, Ana De Luna-Aguinaga, Jesse Bogdanov, Joshua Etienne, Kailea Kuzma, Koby Truong, Maky Quimbaya, Michael Pierre, Jasiel Ramirez, Dmitry Kholyusev, Katrina Couch, MingLu Zhang and Sephena Jackson. 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties recently recognized 90 graduating seniors from local high schools and 17 graduating seniors who have been selected to receive scholarship awards, including the Shannon Staub Excellence in Leadership Award, The Club’s Post-Secondary Transition Scholarship, the Matthew A. Knight Foundation Scholarship, the Robert and Patricia Gussin Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties Endowed Scholarship at Duquesne University, the Steven and Marjolaine Townsend Scholarship, and Youth of the Year Scholarship.