News Release

Stephanie Gipson Wins Governor's Recognition Scholarship From Florida Prepaid College Foundation

"Governor Chiles thought that Florida's economic success depended upon our children's educational success," Stephanie Gipson, 12, wrote in the essay that won her a Governor's Recognition Scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

With a scholarship to college, Gipson now is on the road to contributing to Florida's success. "I have high hopes and big dreams of attending college and becoming a physical therapist," the seventh-grade student said. "With a scholarship in hand it will be so much easier for me to achieve my dreams."

Valued at nearly $16,000, the Governor's Recognition Scholarship is a prepaid scholarship covering four years of tuition and local fees at a Florida public university. The scholarship was established by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation in 2006 using private donations. It is granted annually to seventh-grade students who compose outstanding essays on the legacy of a past Florida governor. Gipson will receive her scholarship at a May 29 awards assembly at Vernon Middle School in Vernon.

Chiles "was able to raise standards for education, improve health benefits for mothers and children, and force tobacco industries to tell the truth about the side effects of using tobacco," Gipson wrote of the man who served as Florida governor from 1990-1998 and as a U.S. Senator from 1970-1989. "He opened the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies."

"Many mothers thank him for what he has done to help them and their children," she observed in her winning essay. "Like he once said, 'our children's future is in our hands.' "

The Governor's Recognition Scholarship is being awarded this year to seventh-grade students in Washington County and Hernando County. Each year, the Foundation chooses up to three Florida school districts to solicit essays from seventh graders for the competition. The Foundation is the scholarship arm of the Florida Prepaid College Board that manages the Florida Prepaid College Plan and Florida College Investment Plan. The Foundation has awarded 25,378 scholarships, including Project STARS Scholarships supported by the Legislature.

First Lady Rhea Chiles said, "My heartiest congratulations to Stephanie Gipson. Stephanie, by exhibiting her readiness to move forward to higher goals, expresses the ultimate mission of the public service of Lawton Chiles: that our children achieve their potential to become enlightened and productive citizens."

"This scholarship helps our students learn about our state through the eyes of our governors," Foundation Vice Chairwoman Sandra Murman said. "We're helping students pursue their dreams of a college education."

Please go to www.floridaprepaidcollegefoundation.com for more information.

Read Stephanie's Essay

Diane Hirth
Director of Marketing and Communications
Florida Prepaid College Board
1801 Hermitage Boulevard Suite 210
Tallahassee, FL 32308
850.488.8514
850.339.3151 cell

diane.murdock@myfloridaprepaid.com