The Wellington Community Foundation recently awarded its prestigious Arle & Ken Adams Scholarship to three outstanding members of the Class of 2025: Jennifer Han, Shay Pfendler and Lucas Saenz. The scholarship recipients were celebrated at a gathering held Tuesday, May 20 at Village Music Café in Wellington.
These three remarkable students have not only excelled academically, but have also demonstrated a deep commitment to service and leadership — values that reflect the enduring legacy of Arle and Ken Adams.
The scholarship honors the memory of Arle and Ken Adams, visionary community leaders whose tireless work helped shape Wellington into the vibrant community it is today. Ken Adams, a Wellington pioneer and former Palm Beach County commissioner, was passionate about investing in future generations, and the scholarship named in his and his wife Arle’s honor continues to support that mission.
Though Arle passed away in 2017, and Ken in 2020, their legacy lives on through the young leaders who receive this scholarship. The Wellington Community Foundation is proud to continue fostering excellence, integrity and a spirit of service in their name.
Many impressive scholarship applications were received this year, but these three students really stood out. The WCF Scholarship Committee of James Seder, Don Gross and Joanna Boynton enjoy reviewing all the applications and seeking out the top candidates to recommend to the board of directors for consideration.
The Wellington Community Foundation congratulates Jennifer Han of Palm Beach Central High School, Shay Pfendler of Cardinal Newman High School and Lucas Saenz of Wellington High School for their well-deserved recognition.
Han will be attending Rice University to study neuroscience with a minor in medical humanities. At PBCHS, she achieved a weighted GPA of 5.43 and completed nearly 810 hours of community service. She was also the valedictorian of her graduating class and served as president of the National Honor Society.
Pfendler is set to attend Auburn University to pursue a degree in biomedical Science. She aims to become a physician assistant, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to improve lives. During her time at Cardinal Newman, she achieved a weighted GPA of 4.78 and completed 246 hours of community service. She also played a pivotal role in the Pre-Med Club leadership, where she increased membership and organized CPR certification programs.
Saenz will be attending the University of Florida to major in mechanical engineering. He graduated with a weighted GPA of 5.40 and has dedicated 337 hours to community service. During his time at WHS, Saenz tutored in the math lab and was in leadership in the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. He was also president of Latinos in Action.
These young scholars embody the spirit of excellence and compassion that defines the Arle and Ken Adams legacy.
As the 2025 recipients set forth on their academic and professional journeys, the foundation remains committed to “building a stronger community” by empowering the next generation of leaders.
To learn more about supporting the Arle & Ken Adams Scholarship program or becoming involved in the work of the Wellington Community Foundation, visit www.wellingtoncommunityfoundation.org.
The Wellington Community Foundation is a charitable organization committed to benefiting Wellington seniors, children and veterans in need by supporting and improving their quality of life.
