August 25, 2009 – The Governor's Recognition Scholarship Program essay contest, hosted by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, will begin accepting essays and applications starting September 8th for a four-year college tuition and local fees scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Plans. The scholarship is currently valued at $18,428. This year, the Foundation has extended the deadline to October 28th, 2009.
The Foundation is the scholarship arm of the Florida Prepaid College Board, which operates the Florida Prepaid College Plans; the largest and most successful prepaid college plan in the nation. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than 29,100 scholarships, including more than 22,400 Project STARS Scholarships supported by the State Legislature.
"This scholarship helps our students learn about our state through the eyes of our governors," Foundation Vice Chairwoman Sandra Murman said. "With it, we're helping students pursue their dreams of a college education."
Eligibility
The scholarship is awarded to students who most successfully answer the essay question "WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE LEGACY OF A FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA?" All Project STARS Scholarship eligible seventh and eighth grade students (those whose family qualifies for the free or reduced lunch program) in your County can enter to win the Florida Prepaid scholarship.
To enter, just complete a student/parent consent entry form and compose an essay of 500 words or less. Forms can be requested from any middle school English teacher, or go to myfoundationessay.com to fill out an electronic form and enter now.
Paper essays and entry forms can also be submitted to the Prepaid Foundation office:
Winners will be announced by the end of November and awarded at the beginning of December.
History
The Governor's Recognition Scholarship initiative began in 2006, using private donations, with the goal of providing a college scholarship to at least one child in each county in the state. It is granted annually to middle school students who compose outstanding essays on the legacy of a past Florida governor. Each year the Foundation selects a group of counties to participate in the essay contest. This year, Glades, Indian River, Liberty, Okaloosa, Orange and Palm Beach counties were selected. The Governor's Recognition Scholarship is a Florida Prepaid scholarship covering four years of tuition and local fees at any 529-eligible Florida college or university.
For more information on the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, please visit floridaprepaidcollegefoundation.com and for more information on the Florida Prepaid College Plans, please visit myfloridaprepaid.com or call 1-800-552-GRAD (4723).
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About The Florida Prepaid College Foundation:
The Florida Prepaid College Foundation is the 501(c)(3) direct support organization for the Florida Prepaid College Board. Foundation scholarships provide a way for students who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to go to college, a guarantee of tuition to help them along the way. Many of the recipients are the first in their family to attend college. The Foundation was created in 1990 as a public/private partnership. Businesses, organizations and community groups may purchase contracts through the Foundation, allowing scholarship recipients to benefit from the advantages and guarantee offered by the Florida Prepaid College Plan. The Foundation provides prepaid college scholarships to economically disadvantaged students who are at risk of dropping out of school and to other deserving students in need of assistance.