Sofia Bornia, Avery Garfinkel And Matthew Aidan Sanchez Named 2026 Carbonell Scholarship Winners
Jack Zink & Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarships awarded to South Florida students,
The Carbonell Awards has announced the winners of the 2026 Jack Zink & Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarships. The awards recognize graduating high school seniors from Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties who plan to pursue college studies in theater or journalism.
Each recipient will receive a total of $3,000 upon enrollment in college, with funding drawn from both the Jack Zink and Hap Erstein scholarship funds.
WINNERS
Sofia Bornia of Palm Beach County is a senior at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Her performance credits include A Chorus Line, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, along with productions at Delray Beach Playhouse and Lake Worth Playhouse.
Avery Garfinkel of Broward County is a senior at Cooper City High School with a focus on technical theatre. She has worked in stage management and lighting design on productions including The SpongeBob Musical, Sweeney Todd, Six, and Descendants, and plans to pursue a BFA in Stage Management.
Matthew Aidan Sanchez of Miami-Dade County is a senior at Miami Arts Charter School. His stage credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia, Into the Woods, and Legally Blonde, as well as appearances at Area Stage and a recent leading role in The Phantom of the Opera.
RUNNERS-UP
For the first time, three runners-up will also receive $500 Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarships: Maya Beaufort (Miami-Dade County), Jay Hendrix Boegem (Broward County), and SkyLynn Silver (Palm Beach County).
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIPS
The scholarships are named in honor of theater critics Jack Zink and Hap Erstein, both of whom contributed significantly to arts journalism in South Florida. The awards support students pursuing higher education in theater or journalism.
ABOUT THE CARBONELL AWARDS
The Carbonell Awards recognize excellence in professional theater across South Florida and support arts education through scholarship programs. The 49th annual Carbonell Awards ceremony will be held November 16 at FAU’s University Theatre in Boca Raton.
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