SCHOLARSHIPS

UNDERSTANDING SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are essentially gifts to students to help them fund their education. A scholarship recipient does not need to repay the amount provided to them by the scholarship-giver. There are thousands of scholarships available, offered by various sources, including schools, employers, government organizations, private companies, non-profits, professional organizations, communities, and social organizations.

College scholarships work similarly to grants in that they help you pay for your post-secondary education. However, it is important to understand the distinct difference between the two. While grants may consider merit as a factor in the decision-making process, scholarships are traditionally based solely on merit. As a college-bound student, you must meet or exceed certain requirements set by the scholarship-giver to qualify for the scholarship. Grants focus primarily on the financial need of prospective recipients.

Scholarships are typically granted based on academic achievements or artistic, athletic, or other extracurricular performances. Thousands of scholarships are available to applicants based on criteria ranging from GPAs to different special interests.

SCHOLARSHIPS IN FLORIDA

If you are a Florida resident, you should know that Florida offers plenty of options for scholarships you can secure to fund your college education. As a student living in Florida who wants to apply for the opportunities available to you, you must first fill out an initial student Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA). Completing this application will automatically put you in contention for several scholarships available in the Sunshine State, including merit-based and special interest scholarships.

Some of the scholarships available in Florida that you can use to fund your college education include:

FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program (FBFSP) is a merit-based scholarship available to high school seniors in Florida. The scholarship offers three tiers with varying requirements. High school seniors interested in applying for this scholarship should request the latest information regarding the prerequisites for this merit-based scholarship from their schools.

• The FBFSP Florida Academic Scholars Award: This scholarship is rewarded to high school seniors who graduate, achieving weighted GPAs of 3.5 or greater, a predetermined number of community service hours, earning an International Baccalaureate Diploma, or completing the curriculum and earning a predetermined ACT or SAT score, or be a National Merit or be a Hispanic Scholar, or Achievement Scholar or Finalist. Florida Academic Scholars receive complete tuition fees if they attend a public university or college in Florida or a set amount if they attend a private college or university in Florida.
• The FBFSP Florida Medallion Scholars Award: This scholarship is granted to high school seniors who graduate with a weighted GPA of 3.0 or higher, have completed the IB curriculum, earned a predetermined minimum ACT or SAT score that year, or completed the AICE curriculum and earned a minimum ACT or SAT score, or are National Merit or Achievement Scholar, or Finalist, or are a Hispanic Scholar. There is no prerequisite for community service hours. This scholarship tier’s recipients are given 75% of the tuition for their education if they attend a public college or university located in Florida or a specific amount if they attend a private university or college in Florida.
• The FBFSP Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award: This tier of the FBFSP is awarded to high school students in Florida who earn a weighted GPA of 3.0 and completed a program that includes at least three vocational preparation classes or tech courses. High school seniors applying for this tier must have gotten a 3.5 GPA for the three technology or vocational training courses and achieve a minimum ACT, SAT, or CPT score that year. The scholarship recipients are given 75% of the tuition for public universities or colleges in Florida or a specific amount if they attend a private college or university located in Florida.

JOSE MARTI SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE GRANT FUND

The Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund is a scholarship geared toward college-bound students from the Hispanic community. Aside from having Hispanic cultural ancestry, applicants have to be Florida residents, not be in default of other grants or loans, have earned a 3.0 GPA by the end of their seventh high school semester, and enroll as a student at a qualifying college or university located in Florida. Besides completing the FFAA, high school students applying for this scholarship must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to show their need for financial assistance.

ROSEWOOD FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Rosewood Family Scholarship Program is a unique scholarship geared to provide financial assistance to direct descendants of Rosewood families, the families directly impacted by the incidents that took place in January 1923. Students who are direct descendants of the Rosewood families and can prove their heritage can apply for this scholarship after completing the FFAA. Students applying for the scholarship must not be in default to other loans or scholarship programs, must enroll in a participating university or college, and must complete the FAFSA since this is a need-based scholarship.

MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship Program is another financial need-based scholarship in Florida. Applicants must complete the FAFSA to demonstrate their need for financial assistance. They must attend Edward Waters College, Florida A&M University, Florida Memorial University, or Bethune-Cookman University. Each participating post-secondary education institution will determine the application process and choose recipients of the scholarship. You must be a Florida resident, be in good standing with any other financial aid programs, not have received a baccalaureate degree, and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0.