ICCFA Educational Foundation Awards 101 Scholarships to the 2024 ICCFA University

STERLING, VA (June 3, 2024) – The International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association’s (ICCFA) Educational Foundation proudly announces the award of 101 scholarships, thanks to the generosity of donors who value educational opportunities for deathcare professionals. These scholarships will enable recipients to attend the 2024 ICCFA University at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 19-24. Scholarship recipients, representing ICCFA members from 26 states as well as Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Jamaica, will have the opportunity to learn from deathcare innovators and experts.

The following ICCFA members will be attending the 2024 ICCFA University on scholarship thanks to the generous contributions of our supporting donors:

1. Clay Adams / Greenlawn Funeral Home / Springfield, MO
2. Samantha Alexander / Van Orsdel Funeral and Cremation Services / Miami, FL
3. Liza Altenburg / Oakview Cemetery / Royal Oak, MI
4. Laurena Anderson / New Tacoma Cemeteries, Funeral Home and Crematory / University Place, WA
5. Hannah Ashley / Smith Family Funeral Homes / Sherwood, AR
6. Scott Behan / Rocky Mountain Providers / Fountain, CO
7. Grace Birdwell / Greenlawn Funeral Home / Springfield, MO
8. Mark Bodicky / Global Atlantic Financial Group / St. Joseph, MO
9. Dave Boyle / Town of Chelmsford Cemeteries / Chelmsford, MA
10. Anthony Bracy / Bracy Funeral Service Group / Camden, SC
11. Cassandra Bracy / Bracy Funeral Service Group / Camden, SC
12. Alecia Braddock / The Arlington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home / Cincinnati, OH
13. Alison Brettnacher / Baue Funeral Home / St. Charles, MO
14. Gydell Brooks / Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Cemetery / Bossier City, LA
15. David Brooks / Morris Funeral Cottage and St. Joseph’s Cemetery / Cheraw, SC
16. Virginia “Jenni” Bryant / Smith Funeral & Cremation Service / Maryville, TN
17. Jessica Burke / Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery / Chandler, AZ
18. Mandy Butler / Smith Little Rock Funeral Home / Little Rock, AR
19. Elizabeth Capetillo / Inglewood Park Cemetery / Inglewood, CA
20. Mario Carder / Gate of Heaven Cemetery / Cincinnati, OH
21. Anthony Carpinello / Diocese of Providence RI Catholic Cemeteries / Cranston, RI
22. Frances Carrasco-Leyerle / Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary / Santa Clara, CA
23. Nancy Chapa / Serenity Fields / Mission, TX
24. Lauren Christakos / Arlington Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home / Cincinnati, OH
25. Karen Christon / Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home-Westland / Westland, MI
26. Gordon Chuck / Sam Isaacs & Son Ltd / Kingston, Jamaica
27. Dorinda Cobb / Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations / Blue Ridge, GA
28. Benjamin Cohn / Lone Tree Cemetery Association / Hayward, CA
29. Nicholas Colhoff / City of Post Falls / Post Falls, ID
30. Josh Crank / Gate of Heaven Cemetery / Cincinnati, OH
31. Jason Dalenberg / Mt. Elliott Cemetery Association / Clinton Township, MI
32. Peyton Davis / Smith Little Rock Funeral Home / Little Rock, AR
33. Mac Dempsey / Leaf Cremation / Kennesaw, GA
34. Joseph Dinkins / Leaf Cremation / Kennesaw, GA
35. Rafael Domenciano Silva / Parque Memorial De Goiânia / Goiânia, Brazil
36. Shasta Ellis / Discount STL Cremation / St. Louis, MO
37. Joshua Fleissner / Mount Calvary Cemetery / Cheektowaga, NY
38. Raquel Flores / Park Lawn Cemetery / Commerce, CA
39. Cherie Fountain / Greenlawn Funeral Home / Springfield, MO
40. Denise Goodwin / Curlew Hills Memory Gardens / Palm Harbor, FL
41. Michael Greene / Chapel of the Chimes Westland / Westland, MI
42. Nicholas Guthrie / Salem Stones / Columbus, OH
43. David Gutierrez / Parques y Jardines Cuscatlan / San Salvador, El Salvador
44. Larry Hawkins / Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Cemetery / Bossier City, LA
45. Bailee Helton / Mt. Elliott Cemetery Association / Clinton Township, MI
46. Heidi Hickman / Harper-Talasek Funeral Home / Temple, TX
47. Brookle Hicks / Leaf Cremation / Kennesaw, GA
48. Shantelle Holts Joseph / Sid Roberts Funeral Home / Nacogdoches, TX
49. Gail Jameson / The McDougald Funeral Home / Anderson, SC
50. Peter Johnson / Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home and Crematory / Pittsburgh, PA
51. Marcus Julian / Mt. Elliott Cemetery Association / Detroit, MI
52. Cheryl Kelly / Gate of Heaven Cemetery / Cincinnati, OH
53. Joelle Kerfoot / Heady-Radcliffe Funeral Home & Cremation Services / LaGrange, KY
54. Tanner Kerr / Hansen Mortuary / Phoenix, AZ
55. Jonathan Kind / Mt. Elliott Cemetery Association / Clinton Township, MI
56. Abigail Lemley / Springfield Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home / Springfield, TN
57. Emory Martin III / Smith Family Funeral Homes / North Little Rock, AR
58. Lynn McClain / Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, Funeral Home & Cremation Center / Nashville, TN
59. Mailey McLaughlin / H.M. Patterson Arlington Chapel / Sandy Springs, GA
60. German Mejia / Parques y Jardines Cuscatlan / San Salvador, El Salvador
61. Marcelo Minatel / Grupo Jardim da Saudade / Curitiba, Brazil
62. Victoria Monforte / Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home / Lodi, CA
63. Ana Nocon-Morales / Forest Hills Cemetery / Boston, MA
64. Robert O’Gara Jr. / Diocese of Providence RI Catholic Cemeteries / Cranston, RI
65. Yolanda O’Neal / Allen Dave Funeral Homes and Crematorium / Houston, TX
66. Cheryl Pellow / Mission Hills Memorial Gardens and Crematory / Niles, MI
67. Claudia Pereda / Eternity Servicios Exequiales / Guatemala, Guatemala
68. Kimberly Price / Johnson Consulting Group / Scottsdale, AZ
69. Nick Rainone / Catholic Cemeteries Diocese of Providence / Cranston, RI
70. Jennifer Rebollar / Roosevelt Memorial Park Cemetery / Gardena, CA
71. Melinda Redding / Baue Funeral Homes and St. Charles Memorial Gardens / St. Charles, MO
72. Tracy Ann Ricketts / Delapenha Funeral Home Ltd. / Kingston 10, Jamaica
73. Megan Sandoval / Priority Cremation, Inc. / Colton, CA
74. Adam Schutt / Professional Cemetery Services / Carpentersville, IL
75. Branden Seid / Resurrection Memorial Cemetery / Oklahoma City, OK
76. John Sennhenn, Jr / Floral Hills Funeral Home / Taylor Mill, KY
77. John Silvestri / Cherokee Memorial Park and Funeral Home / Lodi, CA
78. Ashlyn Smith / Greenlawn Funeral Home South / Springfield, MO
79. Jackie Spainhour / Congressional Cemetery / Washington, DC
80. Nick Startup / Leaf Cremation / Kennesaw, GA
81. Kadi Strednak / Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. / Pittsburgh, PA
82. Lindsey Stuffle / Cole and Garrett Funeral Home / Goodlettsville, TN
83. Liam Tomsic / Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. / Pittsburgh, PA
84. Lisa Vaeth / Association of Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Hartford / West Hartford, CT
85. Veronica Van Hof / Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park / Reisterstown, MD
86. Vercell Vance / Eden Terrace Memorials, LLC / Jackson, MS
87. Heather Vandegejuchte / Roberts of Ocala / Ocala, FL
88. Ibsen Vila / Serpos Serviços Postumos / Natal, Brazil
89. Abigail Weidel / New Cathedral Cemetery / Baltimore, MD
90. Kathi Wells / Global Atlantic Financial Group / Batesville, IN
91. Michael Welsh / Gary Diocesan Cemeteries / Hammond, IN
92. Molly Wilson / Resurrection Memorial Cemetery / Oklahoma City, OK
93. Calvin Witcher / Inglewood Park Cemetery / Inglewood, CA
94. Jenna Wolfgang / Williams Funeral Home / Columbia, TN

Seven deserving students enrolled in the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABSFE) accredited funeral service and mortuary science programs will join deathcare professionals in Atlanta. The initiative, continued by Educational Foundation president Gino Merendino, offers scholarships for these students to attend ICCFA University. This opportunity allows them to learn from experienced colleagues and leaders, providing invaluable insights and connections to enhance their education and future careers in mortuary science.

Congratulations to the following students:

1. Holly Benavides / Lake Washington Institute of Technology / Kirkland, WA
2. Kelsey Gordon / Cape Cod Community College / Barnstable, MA
3. Jamie Heath / North Shore Community College / Danvers, MA
4. Alexia Parapar / Miami Dade College / Miami, FL
5. Jerri Reed-Taylor / Malcolm X City College of Chicago / Chicago, IL
6. Allen Siverls / Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science / Pittsburgh, PA
7. Alisa Von Thaden / Northwest Mississippi Community College / Senatobia, MS

Gino Merendino, President of the ICCFA Educational Foundation, expressed excitement about the scholarship program and how it helps those called to this profession. He said, “We’re focused on supporting the education of career professionals, giving them what they need to succeed. The scholarships we’re giving out this year show how committed the ICCFA Educational Foundation is to developing future leaders in our field. We’re thankful to our donors for their generosity and look forward to seeing how these scholarships make a positive difference for the recipients and the communities they serve.”

###

The ICCFA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity, established to make education accessible to future leaders in the deathcare profession and thereby raise the standards of professionalism within the industry. To learn more about the work of the Foundation and upcoming educational opportunities, please visit iccfa.com/educational-foundation. 

Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral and memorialization profession. Its membership is composed of more than 9,100 rooftop locations and 18,000 professionals in the cemetery, funeral home and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.