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Education Foundation Distributes Thousands In Scholarships

Tribune photo by ROBERT BURKE

Tanay Tatum, left, and Lauren Der, both 18, are grateful for the helping hand. "You don't have to lose your focus," Tatum said.

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

TAMPA - Hundreds of Hillsborough County families can rest a bit easier now about the rising costs of a college education, thanks to the generosity of others.

On Saturday, the Hillsborough Education Foundation awarded more than $875,000 in scholarships to more than 300 students. Recipients and their families celebrated with donors at Nature's Classroom, with some meeting their benefactors for the first time.

Scholarships were awarded for Florida Pre-Paid Scholarships, matching scholarships for Hillsborough Community College and cash scholarships for graduating seniors.

"We had over 500 applications," said foundation president Bill Hoffman. "It was a very, very difficult process to determine the cream of the crop."

For the past 20 years, the Hillsborough Education Foundation has, through the support of business partners and volunteers, served students, teachers and schools by giving away more than $61 million in scholarships and through its programs, Hoffman said.

Looking over the crowd, Hoffman said it felt amazing to help provide the students with a chance to pursue their dreams.

"These are just some talented, focused young men and women," he said. "They're going to do just great."

Justin Lewis graduated from Wharton High School on Friday and will be the first member of his family to attend college, he said.

"If it weren't for scholarships, I probably wouldn't be able to go to college," he said.

Lewis received scholarships from the Florida Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, the Lazydays Partner Foundation and the Florida Association of Restaurants and Logging.

The money will go toward his tuition, books and school fees, freeing him to focus on classes rather than costs, Lewis said.

The 19-year-old plans to attend Johnson and Wales University in Miami to study culinary arts. He hopes to one day open a café specializing in American Southern "comfort food," he said.

Lewis said he will miss his friends at Wharton but is excited about the future for them and himself.

"It's going to be hard to leave it, actually," Lewis said. "But it's great to see young people the same age as me achieving their goals and dreams."

Plant City High School graduates Lauren Der and Tanay Tatum, both 18, said they were grateful for their scholarships, too.

"It's neat that people we don't know are helping us," Der said.

Der received the Joe and Eloise Kuhn Scholarship and the Hillsborough Community College Agriculture Scholarship and plans to attend Hillsborough Community College for two years and transfer to the University of Florida.

"Your whole point in going to college is to get an education," Tatum said. "With getting it funded, you don't have to lose your focus. … Some people shy away from higher education because of the cost."

Tatum received scholarships from Chik-fil-A and the George Edgecomb Bar Association and plans to attend Vassar College in New York.

More than 150 donors participated this year, ranging from individuals to civic organizations and corporations, Hoffman said. Students had an opportunity to spend time with donors at the event, allowing the students to meet and thank them in person.

Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Carman and his mother, Faith Carman, presented the Eric W. Herzberg Memorial Scholarship to Sickles High School student Jessica Ramirez.

The $2,500 scholarship is awarded each year to a deserving eighth- or ninth-grade student who is well rounded in academics and athletics and is dedicated to community service.

Justin Carman and Herzberg served in the same platoon in Iraq. Herzberg was killed Oct. 21, 2006, in Al Anbar province, Carman said. A similar scholarship in Herzberg's name is awarded in his home state of Maryland to a high school senior.

Faith Carman serves on the informal board that selected Ramirez and said the members were impressed by the girl's application and essay.

"She kept trying to learn about Eric," Faith Carman said. "She wanted to follow in his footsteps."

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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