Two former Parkway students are 2007-08 winners of The Richard L. Levis, Jr. Memorial Scholarship and The L. Allen Zorensky Fine Arts Loan Fund. The financial aid, which covers part of the cost of the students’ educations, is made possible through endowments administered by Jewish Federation.

Stephanie Fite, who attended Parkway North High School and DePaul University, is a student at the Barnes-Jewish College of Nursing. Last year she received the Barnes-Jewish College Institutional Scholarship Award and was a Horatio Alger Scholar. She is the daughter of Rhonda Fite of Creve Coeur.

The Richard L. Levis Jr. Memorial Fund, awarded to Missouri undergraduates pursuing higher education at a Missouri college or university, can receive scholarship money of up to $1,000. Started in 1972, the Levis Scholarship has been awarded to more than 50 students. The scholarships have no restrictions with regard to curriculum, but the applicant is required to demonstrate scholastic achievement and financial need.

Joel Portman attended Parkway West High School, where he was on the academic and citizenship honor rolls all four years, a member of the National Honor Society during 11 and 12th grades, on the National Forensics League his senior year and a member of Mu Alpha Theta the Math Honor Society.

Portman currently attends the University of Denver where he has been active in the University’s Programs Board and Student Senate. He is a leader at Hillel and Chabad and helped start a group for Holocaust and Genocide Awareness. His parents are Ron and Marsha Portman of Ballwin. This is the second year in a row that Portman received the loan.

About 30 students have received the Zorensky Fine Arts Loan since the fund was set up in 1983. The interest-free loans of up to $5,000 are available to any high school or college student pursuing a fine arts degree from a recognized institution or fine arts program. The loan is due five years after the student graduates or leaves the program.

For more information on these opportunities, or to learn about creating a new educational endowment through the Jewish Community Foundation, contact Wendy Rosenblum, assistant development director, at 314-442-3740.