News Release

Ricardo Sabater Wins Governor's Recognition Scholarship From Florida Prepaid College Foundation

Hernando County Student Awarded 4-Year University Scholarship

While many teens may look to the stars of entertainment and athletics for their role models, seventh-grader Ricardo Sabater looks back to a recent Florida governor to find his inspiration.

"Lawton Chiles was a middle class child, and went to public schools just like me," Sabater, 13, wrote in the essay that won him a Governor's Recognition Scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. "He has inspired me to be the best that I can be and make the best of what I've got."

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. Sabater will receive his scholarship at a May 29 awards assembly at Fox Chapel Middle School in Spring Hill.

"Chiles stood for Florida's children and families for more than 40 years," Sabater wrote. "He is well known for starting Florida's Healthy Start program in 1992. This program focused its attention on prenatal care for mothers and babies. Since the program began, the infant mortality has dramatically been reduced." Governor Chiles also "prevailed against the tobacco companies, suing them for billions of dollars," Sabater wrote.

First Lady Rhea Chiles said, "Ricardo has given us a very interesting narrative of the legacy of U.S. Senator and Governor Lawton Chiles. He said, 'He died in 1998, but his legacy shall live on through the programs he created.' Yes. And I would add that it will live on through young people like Ricardo who, inspired by him, choose to serve our people and our planet."

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 Florida Legislature.

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

Sabater is excited and grateful: "The scholarship is the best opportunity I have of being able to attend college after high school. I would love to go to college, and be the first one in my family to graduate."

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

Read Ricardo'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