Fifth-grader Patrick Kunkel awarded Carson Scholarship for his dream to shelter homeless
Patrick Kunkel has attended Pine Island Elementary School for his entire young academic life. In addition to his role on the school’s Safety Patrol and broadcasting the school news every day, Kunkel also volunteers at the local St. James City animal shelter, Helping Paws.
For the past year, homeless people and animals have weighed heavy on his young heart. He said, that’s the reason he came up with, “Home for Life,” his idea for a possible future altruistic endeavor that would end up winning him a $1,000 Carson Scholarship to go toward college.
“When I get older I’m going to start a homeless shelter to help people in need,” Kunkel said.
After high school, Kunkel already has his eye on the University of Central Florida for his continuing education. His plan to continue on in school comes as no surprise to his current teacher, Amico Dodig, who describes Kunkel as, not only mathematically adept, but also a kind and compassionate young man with a deep concern for animals.
Dodig pointed out that each student has to have experience as a volunteer and hold a 3.75 to a 4.0 GPA before they are considered for this particular scholarship.
“When the time came to write an essay on either something he fears most or a business he’d like to start, he was very diligent in his thinking, and said, ‘I really want to write about this Home for Life,'” said Dodig of her student.
He was able to articulate his plan in a way Dodig found very impressive, including helping both people and animals who might find themselves without a permanent home. During the summer months, she said, he often works with pets, such as adopting dogs and training them in order to find them families.
“He is quite capable. He’s a leader in the classroom and he’s extremely responsible, so when kids are questioning things or they’re not sure how to do things, Patrick will try to help them through it,” Dodig said.
Principal Tom Millins describes Kunkel as one of the brightest stars of the fifth grade. Millins said there were three students, in total, who submitted entries from Pine Island Elementary, and it was decided by the Ben Carson Scholarship committee that Kunkel had the winning essay for Pine Island.
“This is a really big deal. It’s important for Patrick to know that he did it, both from the perspective of the school, and also from the Ben Carson Scholarship committee,” Millins said.
There will be a celebration and an award ceremony, where all the recipients will be recognized, said Millins, adding that the award, hereafter, makes Kunkel a life-long member, recognized as a Carson Scholar.
“Patrick is a passionate young man. He comes from a very good family where he was taught to be moral. He has been able to carry these morals in his hard work ethic,” Millins said.
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