FLORIDA — Deserving middle and high school students from St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee counties earned a valuable incentive for future success.
At a scholarship recognition ceremony held at Indian River State College, 40 students became the 2013 recipients of four-year tuition President’s Challenge/Take Stock in Children Scholarships. Recipients this year are all the first generation in their families to pursue a college degree.
The special award ceremony was held on Monday, May 13, at the McAlpin Fine Arts Center on the IRSC Main Campus in Fort Pierce. In addition to recognizing new recipients, IRSC recognized the accomplishments of 63 high school graduates and 23 IRSC graduates.
Since 1997, 835 President’s Challenge/Take Stock in Children scholarships have been awarded to students, with the provision that they meet the challenges and graduate from high school.
The scholarship program is designed to motivate and assist students who show academic promise and who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college. The scholarship recipients are matched with adult volunteer mentors from the community who provide guidance and encouragement.
All the selected scholarship recipients sign a contract agreeing to maintain good grades, to stay out of trouble, to stay away from drugs and alcohol, and to graduate from high school. Those who meet the challenge will receive a scholarship to attend IRSC for two years, followed by two years at IRSC or a Florida public college or university.
The President’s Challenge/Take Stock in Children Scholarship program is made possible through many program partners including: the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative, the Indian River State College Foundation, the Indian River County School District, the Martin County School District, the Okeechobee County School District, the Okeechobee Educational Foundation, the St. Lucie County School District, and the Take Stock in Children Foundation.
Scholarship partners include: Edwin and Iris Arnowitt, Bank of America “Dream Makers,” the Lawton Chiles Memorial Endowment, Pete and Susanne Clemons, José and Mary Ann Conrado, the Deerbrook Charitable Trust, the Estate of Marjorie Routt, the Florida College System Foundation, the Helios Education Foundation, James and Virginia Merrill Foundation, John’s Island Community Service League, Mallonee Family Foundation, Michael and Misty Minton, the Okeechobee Educational Foundation, the Robert “Bobby” Klein Memorial Endowment, the Sailfish Point Foundation, Wells Fargo, the Williamson Cattle Company, and the generous support of many local businesses, organizations, and individuals.
The President’s Challenge/Take Stock in Children program is coordinated locally by the IRSC Foundation and is offered in cooperation with the Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie County school districts.
For more information, to donate scholarship funds, or to volunteer as a mentor, please contact the IRSC Foundation at (772) 462-4786.