Every once in a while a truly "beautiful spirit" enters this world, which is what happened on the day Kelsie Karpiak was born. She was joyfully welcomed into a loving family who cherished their “sweet baby girl.” Nurtured by two adoring brothers - one of them her twin - and her adoring parents, Kelsie flourished in her hometown of Palmetto Bay, Florida. Her parents brought Kelsie and her brothers up in the Christian faith at University Baptist Church. She was surrounded by a church family who nurtured her spiritually through Sunday School, camp, and the annual Miami Christmas Pageant in which she danced. Guided by her deep faith and supported by her family's unconditional love, Kelsie grew into a devoted, giving, and family-oriented young woman who was passionate about dance.
Tragically, her life was taken in a boating accident in 2014.
She was just 24.
Kelsie's friends - and there were many, remember her as a beautiful girl - inside and out, with a kind and loving "heart of gold". She never had a bad word to say about anyone and quickly intervened when others were passing judgment. Kelsie was also beloved by her classmates who voted her 'Homecoming Queen' in her senior year at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
Kelsie always had room in her heart for people, animals, and the environment. She wanted to make the world a better place and her actions spoke louder than her words; Kelsie led by doing. She was known to organize beach clean-ups, rescue turtles on roadways, and avoid stepping on insects. She frequently fostered puppies and kittens, nursing them back to health so they could be adopted to forever homes. In the year before her tragic death, she was gifted a puppy - a best-friend which she named Sandy for her beachy coat (see photos below).
Kelsie also believed in the power of service; volunteering to help at community events and with her church. Before graduating from the University of North Florida with a major in Public Relations and Sports Management, Kelsie chose to intern with Girls Inc. - a non-profit organization that inspires and empowers girls to succeed.
Kelsie began dancing as soon as she could stand! Kelsie's mother Rosanna - a much-loved dance teacher, taught her to embrace, find, and share joy through dance.
While a student at the Southwood Middle School Center for the Arts, Kelsie was accepted into the magnet dance program. Under the direction of dance teacher Hilda Jimenez, she blossomed into a confident and beautiful dancer who was dedicated to her craft. In high school, she shared her dance skills as Captain of the Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squad, member of the Varsity Cheerleading Squad, and Co-Captain of the Variations Dance team. Her high school dance teachers remember Kelsie as a dedicated dancer who was "a joy to work with" and was voted "Outstanding Sophomore Dancer".
While attending college, Kelsie began working for the American Dance Alliance (ADA) - the premiere dance authority in Florida. Her desire to help others motivated her to find a way for the ADA to begin offering low or no-cost dance lessons to underprivileged children. After college, Kelsey became the President of the ADA and quickly made it her goal to extend the company's reach and impact. At the time of her passing, Kelsie was working to create a scholarship program for dancers.
The Kelsie Karpiak Memorial Scholarship Foundation honors her legacy by awarding post-secondary scholarships to deserving dancers every year!
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Kelsie Karpiak Memorial Scholarship Foundation is a Florida nonprofit corporation
exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Federal Identification Number (EIN): 83-2429911
Financial Information is available here or by email request.
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