Wites & Kapetan's Second Annual Dream Scholarship Awards to Brazilian and Hispanic Students

Brazilian Student Winners				Hispanic Student Winners
Giulia Placucci	Fernanda Coutinho	Stefano Tozzi		Laura Rendon	Alfonso Villegas	Carolina Piaggio

Every penny counts when it comes to saving for tuition, books and living expenses at America's universities. For three outstanding Brazilian and Hispanic high school students, college just became a little easier thanks to Wites & Kapetan. The law firm, which is well known for supporting the Brazilian and Hispanic communities, just awarded $10,000 in scholarship funds to six Brazilian and Hispanic students.

In the category of students of Brazilian heritage, the first place winner is Giulia Placucci. She is a graduate of Piper High School, and is attending University of Florida. Second place went to Fernanda Coutinho a graduate of Colegio LAF located in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Fernanda is currently a student of Miami Dade Community College and will transfer to Florida International University next year. The third place winner is Stefano Tozzi, a graduate of Forest Hill High School now enrolled at Florida Atlantic University.

For students of Hispanic descent, the first place winner is Laura Rendon. She is a graduate of Coral Springs High School, and is attending University of Florida. Second place went to Alfonso Villegas of Cardinal Gibbons High School, who is now a student at Dartmouth, and the third place winner is Carolina Piaggio, a graduate of Monarch High School now enrolled at University of Florida.

The student winners in each category received $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000, respectively, which must be used for tuition or books during the fall 2008 semester.

Applicants were required to complete a detailed application, and submit their transcripts, test scores, and teacher recommendations. In addition, the scholarship required the submission of an essay on the topic of "What It Means to Me to Live in the United States of America."

Wites & Kapetan received many applications for what the firm calls the WKPA Dream Scholarship. "We spent hours pouring over the applications, and in particular the essays and teacher recommendations," said Alex N. Kapetan, Jr., a Wites & Kapetan partner. Marc Wites added that the firm "received so many wonderful essays from students that also had great academic records and recommendations that it made picking a winner very difficult."

The scholarship title is modeled after The DREAM Act, which is short for The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, is a bipartisan bill first proposed in 2001. The Act would allow students who graduate from high school in the US to apply for conditional legal status, and remain here for 6 years to complete additional college or military service. Upon completion of college or military service the student could then apply for permanent residency status. The Act has yet to become law, but it may be considered yet again this fall by the United States Congress.

Marc Wites and Alex Kapetan are no strangers to big dreams, and the opportunities available in the United States. Both Wites' and Kapetan's grandparents immigrated to the United States from Europe, and through hard work and education their families have prospered in America. Now, Marc and Alex want to give back to the community, and help others achieve the very same dream that their families had when coming to this country years ago.

Information about the WKPA Dream Scholarship, including photographs of the winners, the winners' essays, and the application, are available at http://www.wklawyers.com/scholarship/scholarship.php.

Information about The DREAM Act is available at http://www.nilc.org/.

For further information please contact Alex Kapetan of Wites & Kapetan, P. A. at 866-277-8631 or at mwites@wklawyers.com.

Essay Topic: What It Means to Me to Live in The United States of America   Brazilian Student Winners Name High School College Amount Awarded Giulia Placucci Piper High School University of Florida $2,500 Fernanda Coutinho Colegio LAF (Brazil) Miami Dade Community College & Florida International University $1,500 Stefano Tozz Forest Hill High School Florida Atlantic University $1,000 Hispanic Student Winners Name High School College Amount Awarded Laura Rendon Coral Springs High School The University of Florida $2,500 Alfonso Villegas Dartmouth Florida Atlantic University $1,500 Carolina Piaggio Monarch High School The University of Florida $1,000