$1 Million in Scholarships to Benefit Florida College System Students
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$1 Million in Scholarships to Benefit Florida College System Students
Tallahassee, Fla., August 14, 2013 - Students in the Florida College System (FCS) will benefit from nearly $1 million in scholarships thanks to the Florida College System Foundation. The FCS Foundation board of directors kicked off a scholarship tour yesterday at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Over the next several weeks, all 28 colleges will receive checks for student scholarships totaling $905,999."The Florida College System Foundation's endowed scholarships help make a difference in the lives of thousands of students across the state," said Dr. Thomas E. Furlong, Jr., chairman of the foundation's board of directors. "We are proud to support first-generation college students as well as students in the nursing and allied-health fields."
More than $575,000 in scholarships will be allocated to first-generation students. Research shows that students are influenced by whether or not their parents attended college when deciding on attending. First-generation students face unique challenges, including less academic preparation, limited access to information about the college experience and lack of support. Scholarships can help alleviate financial struggles for many of these students. Funds for first-generation student scholarships were provided by endowments made by Bank of America and the Helios Education Foundation.
The FCS Foundation is awarding more than $330,000 in scholarships to students in the nursing and allied health fields with endowed funds from Florida Blue. These programs are among the most expensive degrees for students to pursue given the costs of laboratory courses, books, national board exam fees, uniform fees and equipment. Scholarships will help add more nurses and allied health professionals that reflect Florida's diverse population while meeting critical workforce needs.
Students may apply for scholarships through their local college foundation and/or financial aid office. Criteria for scholarships are based on local college requirements.
For more information, visit the Florida College System Foundation.