Press Release

October 1, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAT KING COLE GENERATION HOPE AWARDS 2022 NAT & MARIA COLE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP TO EXTRAORDINARY BOCA RATON HS GRADUATE

Remarkably Dedicated, Driven and Accomplished Winner Earns Four-Year College Subsidy on Path as FSU Dual Major and Aspiring Band Director

BOCA RATON, FL — October 1, 2022

Nat King Cole Generation Hope proudly announces the 2022 recipient of the Nat & Maria Cole Memorial Scholarship, Ms. Dana Wolfe, a graduate of Boca Raton Community High School. The extraordinary, highly accomplished young woman has been awarded the four-year college scholarship and now studies at Florida State University with a dual-major in music education and biomedical engineering, and aspires to become a band director.

Wolfe personifies the ideals of this program, designed to financially support deserving and excelling high school students who wish to further their education and pursue their dreams in the field of music. Ranking in the top 15% of her class with a 5.23 weighted GPA, Dana was Brass Captain of her high school marching band, participated in the Palm Beach All-County Jazz and Concert Band, and Solo & Ensemble Brass Choirs. She impressed the committee with her positive attitude, academic achievement, talent, leadership qualities and her will to overcome difficult life challenges, praising her single mother for her sacrifices to raise her daughter alone.

Co-founded in 2008 by Timolin Cole and Casey Cole, twin daughters of legendary music artist Nat King Cole, Nat King Cole Generation Hope builds on the storied Cole family legacy to create opportunities and expand access to music education for children with the greatest need. The Palm Beach County charity conducts programs such as Nat & Maria Cole Memorial Scholarship to bring special, thoughtful young talents to the spotlight by nurturing their creativity and perseverance. The George Snow Scholarship Fund was selected as administrator to identify candidates, manage the application process and mentor the student recipient.

DOWNLOAD PHOTOS

• Scholarship Presentation – 2022 Nat & Maria Cole Memorial Scholarship winner Dana Wolfe with (L-R) Nat King Cole Generation Hope Executive Director Shanna St. John and Co-Founders Timolin Cole & Casey Cole, twin daughters of Nat King Cole
• Dana Wolfe, Recipient (Head Shot) – 2022 Nat & Maria Cole Memorial Scholarship
• Nat King Cole & Maria Cole

Past recipients of Nat & Maria Cole Memorial Scholarships, such as those below, have embarked on successful and productive careers after college, serving as great role models for their peers.

John Paul Nesheiwat
Graduated Nashville State Community College, lives in Nashville performing music, former American Idol contestant and member of 5 West (boy band)

Caleb Miller
Graduated FSU, Band Director at Monarch High School Coconut Creek, FL

Rachel Gebeloff
Graduated FSU; employed with Primo Artists – working on logistics for their roster comprised of Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Bell, Valerie Coleman, and other world-renowned musicians

Aidan Dixon
Attends Stetson University as music education major; currently interning at the Kennedy Center in DC

Matthew Velilla
Attends University of North Texas – majoring in Music Education & Tuba Performance, interning at NKCGH, Boca Raton, FL

Sam Soliz
Attends University of Central Florida – majoring in Instrumental Music Education