Tina Stetson and Jamie Bateman holding a big check

Tina Stetson, director of financial aid, and Jamie Bateman, VP for institutional advancement and external affairs

May 15, 2023 – A $90,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been awarded to the South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation, Inc. to benefit part-time students and student-parents who are attending SFSC in summer 2023, fall term 2023, and spring term 2024.

The grant comes from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund, which was established by Roberts as a legacy to support Florida’s community colleges and other charitable organizations. Managed by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the fund continues Roberts’ vision of making higher education a priority, particularly for those motivated to seek better lives for themselves.

SFSC’s grant funds are designated to aid students who attend college part-time and may not qualify for other forms of financial aid and students who are parents, whether single or married. Individual students may receive up to a maximum of $2,500 through the end of the grant period, March 2024. The grant covers tuition, housing, books, childcare, transportation, and needs that would otherwise prevent students from attending college.

At least $30,000 of the $90,000 will be allocated for students at the SFSC DeSoto Campus in Arcadia. It will provide scholarships for parents referred through the Parent Resource Center at the DeSoto County School Board, for graduates of DeSoto County High School who participate in the Links2Success program, for recent dual enrollment high school graduates in need of summer session funding support, for Panther Prep participants to cover for-credit courses during the summer bridge program, and any other DeSoto Campus student following the general criteria of the grant.

Scholarship recipients are identified by SFSC’s Office of Financial Aid. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for any Pell Grant-eligible programs.

“Because of grants from organizations such as the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the SFSC Foundation can support the educational goals of SFSC’s students,” said Jamie Bateman, SFSC vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs. “The funds from this grant allow our students to concentrate on their studies and prepare for personally and financially rewarding careers. This grant also addresses the needs of parents. With this financial support, students can achieve their higher education goals.”

For more information, contact the SFSC Foundation at 863-453-3133 or email foundation@southflorida.edu. To apply, see the Edward K. Roberts Scholarship Application.

For information about the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, visit cfsarasota.org.

Jan. 22, 2020 – At the annual South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation Christmas Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 5, Jacob O’Neil was surprised when he opened the letter that announced he had won a Take Stock in Children (TSIC) $40,000 Leaders 4 Life Scholarship from the Asofsky Family Foundation. The crowd gave O’Neil a standing ovation for his accomplishment and expression of gratitude.

O’Neil was one of six students statewide who received the scholarship, an award that covers non-tuition expenses such as housing, books, and transportation. His tuition will be covered by a separate TSIC scholarship. O’Neil was eligible for the scholarship because of his participation in the local TSIC program. The program matches students at-risk of not completing high school with mentors who guide them toward earning their high school diplomas and onto college with scholarships in hand.

The Leaders 4 Life Scholarship is an initiative of the Asofsky Family Foundation, which supports programs aimed at helping the state’s youth. The foundation awards the scholarship in partnership with TSIC. The SFSC Foundation is the lead agency for TSIC within the College’s service district of DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties.

“As Jacob read aloud to a room full of people that he was a 2020 Leaders 4 Life winner, his voice cracked, his eyes teared, and so did mine,” said Danielle Ochoa, student services coordinator for the local TSIC program. “Always gracious, he recognized his mentor’s weekly visits for the last five years and thanked the room for their support of the Take Stock in Children program. I could not be more proud of Jacob, his incredible work ethic, and awesome determination to chase his goals.”

 

“When I received the Leaders 4 Life Scholarship I was simply overwhelmed with emotion,” O’Neil said. “I was relieved, ecstatic, nostalgic, and most of all, grateful. I realized that having a purposeful and productive college life would be possible because I wouldn’t spend the whole time working to pay every bill I had. Leaders 4 Life has shown me kindness and given me opportunities I never thought I would have.”
 
O’Neil graduates from Sebring High School in May 2020 and plans to earn a bachelor’s degree through the University of South Florida’s (USF) MUMA College of Business. His ultimate goal is to join the U.S. Marines as an officer and become a member of the Marine Recon unit. Because USF offers an ROTC program for each of the armed services, O’Neil would like to enter its Marine ROTC program to prepare him for life in the military.
 
Since the inception of the Leaders 4 Life program, the local Take Stock program has had 13 finalists and, of those, seven have gone on to become winners of the $40,000 non-tuition scholarship. O’Neil is the 14th finalist and eighth winner.