Area students in the running for Florida Prepaid Scholarship

Nearly 100 at-risk middle and high school students recently took a big step toward making their collegiate dreams come true.

On Feb. 12, members of the Hillsborough Education Foundation interviewed this year's candidates for the organization's Florida Prepaid Scholarship program.

"Many of the kids we interviewed are going to be the first people in their family to go to college," said Andy Harris, a member of the Hillsborough Education Foundation's scholarship committee.

About 300 students in grades 6 through 10 submitted applications for the Florida Prepaid Scholarship program, but only 100 were selected for interviews, with 97 attending the Feb. 12 session.

Among the students selected for the 15-minute interviews were kids from area schools including Brandon High School, Burns Middle School and McLane Middle School in Brandon; Strawberry Crest High School in Dover; Newsome High School and Randall Middle School in Lithia; Durant High School in Plant City; Barrington Middle School and Progress Village Middle School in Riverview; and Bloomingdale High School and Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico.

"This is the first year we've done the interviews," Harris said. "In previous years, we ranked the students just on their applications, which included essays."

Those essays - involving an event that changed the applicant's life and what the word "leadership" means to them - are still part of the application process.

"These scholarships are not meant to be academic rewards," Harris said, pointing out that students are required to maintain a C+ average. "We're looking for students who are willing to work very hard, but may not have the economic resources. We're looking for children we can have a real influence on."

At least 70 of the students interviewed will be awarded scholarships at the end of the selection process, which will likely conclude in April.

"Our hope is to identify the students who have the greatest chance for success at a university or college," said Bill Hoffman, president of the Hillsborough Education Foundation. "Our goal is that 100 percent of our scholarship students be successful. Currently, our record stands at 92 percent.

"We would like to see that number go even higher."

The program offers tuition scholarships for students attending two-year community colleges, 2 + 2 - two years in community college, two years at a university - or a four-year university.

In exchange for the scholarship, each recipient promises to remain drug and crime free, exhibit positive behavior and meet with a mentor on a weekly basis.

"The idea is that the mentor influences the student, and then the student, in turn, influences other students to behave in a positive way," Harris said.

For information, go to www.educationfoundation.com

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