PENSACOLA, Fla. – Eleven Pensacola State College students and 24 University of West Florida students are beginning their freshman year as part of the inaugural class of Pensacola Pledge Scholars.
Established by Quint and Rishy Studer, the Pensacola Pledge Scholars program awards Pensacola State students $1,200 per academic year and UWF students $2,000 per year, totaling about $60,000 in scholarships this year. The Pensacola Pledge Scholars program was launched in January with a $1 million gift from the Studers.
“This scholarship is a total blessing to me; I am so thankful for it,†says Christian McCants, PSC freshman majoring in business. “I don’t know if I could even go to college without this scholarship. The cost of college – even an affordable one like Pensacola State – is so high that it is difficult for many students to afford tuition and books.â€
PSC freshman Emma McBride-Taylor says this scholarship is allowing her to pursue her dream.
“I have always dreamed of being a second grade teacher,†says McBride-Taylor, an Education major. “I am so proud to be a recipient of the Pensacola Pledge Scholarship. I received the call that I was getting the scholarship on my birthday. That was the best birthday present ever.â€
Pensacola State students in the 2012 scholarship program are Kelli Brock, Javante Butler, Molly Funck, Kata Kuch, Kendall Lee, Chelsea Mason, Emma McBride-Taylor, Christian McCants, Christopher Pahalek, Kayla Parazine and Anna Talamo.
For more information about the Pensacola Pledge Scholars program and application information for the 2013 academic year, go to www.pensacolastate.edu or www.uwf.edu/pensacolapledge.