Helen Segarra Gutierrez Butterfly Scholarship

Helen Segarra Gutierrez was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, family member, and friend, as well as an educator, mentor, community leader, and talented songstress. She believed deeply in young people and in the power of service. Helen spent her life supporting her community, including serving as Chair of the Board of a Tampa chapter of a national volunteer organization dedicated to underserved communities. She believed education should be rooted in dignity, access, and care, and she was known for stepping in—often quietly—when students needed support.

This scholarship honors Helen’s legacy by supporting students who give back to their communities while navigating financial challenges of their own.

The Helen Segarra Gutierrez Butterfly Scholarship is open to BIPOC and/or low-income students, including high school seniors and part-time or full-time undergraduate students. We encourage applications from first-generation college students, transfer students, night school students, adult learners, and those on nontraditional educational paths with volunteer or community service experience. Students pursuing education, human services, or music, and those balancing school with work, family, or other responsibilities, are especially encouraged to apply.

While primary consideration may be given to students from Tampa, Florida, Brooklyn, NY or the Lower East Side in New York, students from all backgrounds are welcome.

Helen loved butterflies because she believed they represent transformation. There is no single path to success and lived experience matters. If you care about others, show up for your community, and are working toward your goals despite challenges, we encourage you to apply.

Any BIPOC, low-income high school senior in New York or Florida who will be a first-generation college student may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they have volunteering experience. However, applicants pursuing education, human services, or music are preferred, as are those balancing work, school, or family schedules. Students from Tampa, Florida, or from Brooklyn or the Lower East Side in New York are also preferred.

To apply, tell us about a time when you helped someone else while managing your own responsibilities, what motivated you to do so, and how that experience impacted you and how you approach your education or your community. Additionally, you may submit a personal letter, image, song, or video that tells a part of your story that you want us to know. If you submit a video, submit a link to it as a public YouTube link or a Google Drive link. Settings should be set to "public" or "anyone with the link can view." If we can't access your video, your application won't be considered.