Beverly & Denise Scholarship Fund awarding 5 scholarships

Keith Lawrence, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
·1 min read

A chance encounter at Nashville International Airport in 2022 will mean $500 college scholarships for five local high school students.

Travis Owsley, who founded Beverly’s Hearty Slice in 2020 to help people struggling with food needs during the COVID epidemic, had his flight delayed in the summer of 2022.

A man came up and sat beside him.

And they got to talking about their lives.

Mark Gaunya of Boston, CEO of Captivated Health and a principal of Borislow Insurance, became interested when he heard about Beverly’s Hearty Slice.

He told Owsley that he wanted to hear more.

So, they corresponded for several weeks.

And then, Gaunya sent Owsley a check for $10,000.

The two decided to create a scholarship that would honor both their mothers.

And the Beverly & Denise Scholarship Fund was born.

Last year, it awarded its first scholarships.

And on June 7, five more $500 scholarships will be awarded at 5:30 p.m. at Kendall-Perkins Park during Beverly’s Hearty Slice’s food event.

Owsley said the money is for books and dorm expenses.

Recipients are Bailie Bentkowski, Emerson Academy, to attend Owensboro Community & Technical College; Mallory McClure, Daviess County High School, to attend the University of Kentucky; Alyrica Hughes, Owensboro High School, to attend Midway University; Tutt Carrico, Owensboro Catholic High School, to attend Hillsdale College; and Kaitlyn Richard, Apollo High School, to attend Brescia University.