June 29, 2023

The positive energy is palpable at the annual Helios/Dominick and Emelene Aripoli Scholars Luncheon. While the name sounds formal, this event more closely resembles a family gathering to share a meal and bolster the values most cherished by the scholarship’s founder, Don Aripoli.

A longtime supporter of the University of South Florida, he created the scholarship in his parents’ names as a way to help USF students achieve their academic dreams. Established with the help of Helios Education Foundation, where Aripoli is a founding board member, the program provides financial support for a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior student each year.

Since 2005, the Helios/Dominick and Emelene Aripoli program has provided more than $300,000 in scholarship support to 22 students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Alumni of this program boast an impressive 100% graduation rate and go on to achieve great success such as Farah Britto ’12, ’17, who won an Emmy for her work with PBS; Raquel Cancho, MD ’18, who is currently a surgical resident, and Monica Sleeter, ’06, ’11, who was recognized by Gov. Charlie Christ as one of the first recipients of the Excellence in Education Award.

The luncheon, which brings together Aripoli, representatives from Helios Education Foundation, and current and former scholarship recipients, is a tangible expression of Aripoli’s desire to provide support beyond financial resources.

Johnette Williams appreciates that. A recent graduate of the Judy Genshaft Honors College, she has attended the luncheons as a Helios/Aripoli scholar since her freshman year.

“It means the world to know that I have someone like Dr. Aripoli in my corner, supporting me and believing in me during my time at USF,” says Williams, a member of prestigious student organizations including the USF Ambassadors, the Order of the Golden Brahman and the Chancellor’s Leadership Council. Those opportunities, she says, would not have been possible without Aripoli’s invaluable support.

As with most family celebrations, the luncheons include beloved traditions. Each year, the freshman scholarship recipient receives a crystal globe, Aripoli’s reminder of their place in the global society.

“The world is becoming increasingly interconnected. The exchange of goods and services all contribute to a global culture,” he says. “The globe serves as a reminder that we no longer live in a country isolated by oceans, and it is imperative that students excel and learn about the world they inhabit.”

Each senior receives a USF class ring, a tradition stemming from Aripoli’s memories. As a student at Cornell College in Iowa, he walked downtown about three blocks from campus and bought his school ring.

“It was $36 in 1963. I think I've worn it every day since as a reminder that so much of what I have and who I’ve become is because of my experiences,” Aripoli says. “I want to make sure students have that ring as they go forward to always remind themselves of their past experience with USF and what that meant.”

Williams keeps her crystal globe prominently displayed in her home. She says it reminds her of the faith Aripoli and the Bulls family have in her and the support she has found as a Helios/Aripoli scholar. She credits both with sustaining her throughout her academic journey and helping her secure an internship in Washington, D.C. after she graduates this summer.

“Through the luncheons, I have been able to connect with people within my field and foster relationships and find new avenues for my career,” she says.

Other thoughtful touches at the luncheon include dessert, which alternates each year between a pineapple upside down cake, a favorite of Aripoli’s father, and a devil’s food cake with sour cream icing in honor of his mother. By sharing these memories of his parents, Aripoli demonstrates his focus on family values as part of his goals for Helios/Aripoli scholars.

“The most common thing families do is eat and share ideas,” Aripoli says. “It really is a way to share and learn together, a basis for a good conversation.”

An important aspect of that is including past Helios/Aripoli scholars.

“I think it is very interesting to see how the scholarship has impacted and helped transform the experience of students moving forward, not just during their USF journey, but also when they graduate and grow up,” Aripoli says.

As another Helios/Aripoli Scholarship Luncheon winds down, he looks around the room with a smile and says what he says after each one: “This year’s luncheon was the best one yet.”