Tommy Murphy ‘25 Awarded Kiwanis Service Scholarship

Congratulations to Shorecrest senior Tommy Murphy ‘25, who won a Kiwanis Club service scholarship from the Kiwanis Club of Pinellas Park. 

The merit scholarship is based on academic performance and extracurricular involvement, but the largest criteria for selection is the candidate's involvement in community service.

Tommy was selected as a Finalist by Kiwanis based on his long-term commitment to service and leadership. He is also a member of the Shorecrest Key Club, a division of Kiwanis International. Finalists were invited to an in-person interview to explain their commitment to service and how they would like to expand their service in the future as a college student and beyond. 

“During his interview, Tommy spoke fondly of the service he has done through Shorecrest, and the Kiwanis members learned a lot about Shorecrest's commitment to service in the community,” said club member and Shorecrest alumni parent Sydney Legakis.

A $1500 scholarship is awarded annually by the service club to one high school senior in Pinellas County who will attend a 4-year college or university starting in the summer or fall of that same year.

Many students aim to leave their mark at Shorecrest; Tommy’s energy and dedication will leave several legacies. As a sophomore, Tommy was selected by Shorecrest to attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference and charged with bringing back what he learned. He attended HOBY’s World Leadership Conference in Chicago and during the following summer, returned to HOBY as an Ambassador. Through this experience Tommy established a “First Year Family” experience to support 9th graders during the first few weeks of school

Tommy was also a proven leader in Shorecrest Student Council over four years (he was on the Exec Board for three and he currently serves as the Vice President). He established the Shorecrest Christian Fellowship which last year neared 60 members at its peak. Tommy carried the skills he honed as a leader in his own Youth Group at St. Raphael’s Parish. 

As a Varsity Baseball player since Middle School, Tommy was first noticed for his skill and invited to play at our highest level at a young age. However, it was Tommy’s teamwork, positive attitude and leadership on and off the field that earned him the Charger Award again and again.

As a Teen Leader with the Teen Advisory Council at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, he collaborated with hospital staff and administrators to improve healthcare experiences for young patients across Florida. He presented to the Johns Hopkins All Children's Foundation Board of Trustees, advocating for policies that would better support teen patients’ needs. 

During his tenth grade year, Tommy was awarded the Outstanding Citizen Award,reflecting the admiration of both his peers and faculty for his integrity, kindness, and dedication to helping others. For these reasons and more, notwithstanding his joyful presence, Tommy was named Mr. Spirit at the 2024 Homecoming Game. Furthermore, other students have witnessed through Tommy the power they hold to make change at Shorecrest. 

Tommy attended a recent Kiwanis meeting to receive his scholarship and as the guest speaker he speak about one of his favorite community service projects.    

Students can apply for next year's scholarship starting in the fall. Applications will be distributed through the College Counseling Office or can be found on the Kiwanis website - https://kiwanisclubofpinellaspark.org. 

Read more of what Tommy had to say about his service experiences here.