On May 25, Take Stock in Children and the Santa Rosa Education Foundation awarded $329,000 in scholarships to 26 graduating seniors who received four-year tuition scholarships. The event was held at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front. Local area students raised money to give each senior a Hewlett-Packard Laptop, a $750 value, and a North Face Backpack, a $230 value.
Along with senior recognitions, 27 new students signed contracts with their parent or guardian beginning their journey in the program. These students have agreed to remain drug/crime free, maintain a “C†or better in their classes, and meet with a mentor once a week at school.
Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida that provides an opportunity for deserving low-income students to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Scholarships are funded through a public-private fundraising model in which local scholarship donations are matched by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation when the scholarships are purchased.
Santa Rosa County has 102 students between sixth and twelfth grade in the program and over 100 students in college. Special thanks to the following event sponsors: Julian and Kim MacQueen, Innisfree Hotels, Wells Fargo Foundation, Jo-Ann and Michael Price, Price Family Private Foundation, and Wes Dannreuther, Intracoastal Outfitters.
Note: photo credit – Tina Lovett Photography