$853,000 goes to 227 students
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently selected 227 students in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties to receive a total of $853,000 in scholarships, “boosting their educational opportunities and helping set them up for future career success,” the Foundation has announced.
The amount of money that the Community Foundation awarded this year is up 8%, compared to the figure for the previous year, while the number of recipients marks a 10.2% increase year-over-year, with the 2024 total having been 206, a news release points out.
“Postsecondary education leads to greater career opportunities and a higher quality of life for the learner,” said Michelle Croft, a director of community impact at the foundation, in the release. “This is important in the long run because educational attainment is a key indicator of intergenerational family success,” she added. “These recent scholarships are intended to expand opportunities for students who may be overlooked by other financial aid programs, and they provide incentives for them to stay in school until they earn their diploma.”
The scholarships were awarded through the foundation’s traditional program, which serves students under the age of 24, the release explains. Students were able to apply for nearly 80 scholarships “whose benefactors entrust scholarship administration to the foundation,” the release says. The applications “were reviewed by a group of 88 volunteers from across the region,” the release points out.
“The average scholarship this year totaled $3,510,” up 34.2% from the figure two years ago, the release adds.
“Young people in our region lag behind their peers in the rest of Florida and in the nation in educational attainment, according to data compiled by the Florida College Access Network,” the release says. Just under 40% of people between the ages of 25 and 34 in Sarasota County have a two-year degree or higher, while 33.8% in Manatee County, 22.5% in Charlotte County and 18.5% in DeSoto County do, the release points out. The statewide rate is 46.6%, the release notes, while the national figure is 48.9%.
“Scholarships broaden opportunities for students by lessening their need for burdensome loans and act as incentives for them to remain enrolled until graduation,” Croft said in the release.
Scholarships for adults 24 and older who are pursuing a certification, credential, or degree program are offered on a different schedule, the release notes. Deadlines and criteria are available at cfsarasota.org.