Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
In a few months, several Jefferson County students will be donning the gown and cap and graduating from their years as high school students.
From there, many will go on to attend community colleges, universities, vocational schools and other higher education programs. The journey of leaving your high school years behind and becoming a collegiate student is a daunting one, but the Jefferson County community supports its higher-education students, and several groups, clubs and organizations have put together scholarship grants for the students who take this journey.
These grants offer more than monetary assistance – they offer the support and guidance from the community where these students grew up.
David Bitner Memorial Scholarship Fund - $500-$2,000
Jefferson County students with plans to attend a community college, post-secondary vocational or technical collage or a university in Florida for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year are invited to apply for a scholarship opportunity through the Jefferson Outreach for Youth (JOY) foundation.
The scholarship, titled the David Bitner Memorial Scholarship Fund, is offered as a continued legacy of Bitner, who understood the ability that education has in altering and influencing the lives of younger generations of students. Bitner's philosophy was that the lives, families and communities of Jefferson County's upcoming citizens can be remarkably enriched by the promotion of education.
With Bitner's legacy in mind, JOY is offering up to $2,000 in scholarship monies to students who currently live in Jefferson County.
Students must be between the ages of 17-20 and should plan to enroll in a Florida school of higher education in 2020-2021.
The scholarship will grant $500 per semester and can be renewed for additional semesters, up to two years, should the receiving student accomplish academic success (determined by a 2.5 average, or higher).
Students must write and submit a 500 word essay about their educational and career goals and must submit one to two letters of recommendation from a school faculty member, teacher, coach, administrator, guidance counselor or media specialist.
Applying students are also asked to submit one or two letters of recommendation from a Jefferson County community member who is not associated with the student's high school.
The scholarship will be awarded to a student with strong academic potential who has faced challenging life circumstances or financial strains. The student who is receiving the scholarship must demonstrate academic excellence, ambition, a strong moral character and a sense of self-drive, which will be shown by their outstanding, unselfish achievements in the classroom and community.
The essay and letters of recommendation can be sent, along with a completed application to:
David Bitner Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser
Attn. John Lilly – Jefferson County Extension Office
2729 W. Washington St.
Monticello, Fla. 32344.
Applications can be picked up from the offices of the guidance counselors at Jefferson Somerset and Aucilla Christian Academy, or can be obtained by emailing angelacgray72@gmail.com or calling (850) 997-3356.
The application deadline is Monday, April 6.
Rotary Scholarship Fund - $750
The Monticello Rotary Club will be giving out their annual scholarship to Jefferson County students who apply.
The scholarship, which is currently worth $750, will be given to a Jefferson County student who is planning to attend a post-secondary, vocational or technical school and has a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
This scholarship is aimed to support students who demonstrate the standards, conduct and ethics that the club itself values.
The Rotary Club exists through its motto, “Service Above Self” and applying students must be able to demonstrate how they themselves live in a way that puts service for others above themselves, and how they plan to demonstrate that mindset in the future, should they receive the Rotary scholarship.
This scholarship opportunity is open to public, private or homeschooled students.
In order to apply, students must apply with their home address, phone number, school name and overall GPA. They must also state with educational institute they are planning to attend after high school and should be able to provide a complete resume of their school activities, awards, leadership positions, extra-curricular functions and community service projects.
A letter of recommendation from a school counselor or teacher is also required, and when applying, the students must indicate whether they have been approved for any other scholarship opportunities.
The completed application and letters of recommendation can be sent to:
Monticello Rotary Club
P.O. Box 781
Monticello, Fla. 32345
Applications can be picked up from the offices of the guidance counselors at Jefferson Somerset and Aucilla Christian Academy, or can be obtained by emailing angelacgray72@gmail.com or calling (850) 997-3356.
The application deadline is Monday, April 6.
JCDEC Scholarship Program - $500
The Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee (JCDEC) is once more providing their scholarship opportunity to Jefferson County high schoolers.
This fund has been presented for six years, with 28 local youths attending college with the assistance from this program.
To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be enrolled or preparing to attend an accredited college or university for the next or current academic year.
Applicants must have a GPA of “B” or more for the last two semesters, whether that be from their high school or college.
Students should also be able to provide recommendations from three adults in their lives, whether that be from a teacher, coach, school administrator, school board official, employer or leader of civic or non-profit institution.
There are no economic, political, racial, ethnic, gender or religious criteria that will be required from the scholarship's application or selection.
The scholarship will be awarded to Jefferson County students based on their grade point average, recommendations, civic engagement, and any other added material that is submitted by the applicant, such as discussion of educational, cultural and artistic interests, career objectives, personal or family history, reflections on issues facing our county, state or country, or any relevant material the applicant wishes to submit with the application form.
The student who receives this scholarship must be from Jefferson County.
Applications can be picked up from the offices of the guidance counselors at Jefferson Somerset and Aucilla Christian Academy, or can be obtained by visiting democratsofjeffersoncounty.com and downloading the application form.
Applications may also be requested by emailing democratsofjeffersoncounty@gmail.com.
The completed application and letters of recommendation can be sent to:
Jefferson County Democratic Party Scholarship
P.O. Box 1074
Monticello, Fla. 32345
The application deadline is Tuesday, April 14.
Dr. Flossie M. Byrd Scholarship - $500
The Jefferson County Retired Educators Association (JCREA) will be presenting their annual Dr. Flossie M. Byrd Scholarship to a deserving Jefferson County student this year.
This scholarship is funded by monetary contributions from JCREA members.
To be eligible for this scholarship, students must have a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 and have exhibited strong leadership potential. Students who have violated their school's academic policy or displayed improper personal conduct may not be considered eligible for this scholarship.
Further requirements specify that students must submit three character reference letters along with their application (letters cannot be written by a family member).
The $500 that will be presented in this scholarship must be used for tuition, room and board, or the cost of purchasing class-required books.
The student which is approved to receive the $500 scholarship will be required to attend a luncheon at the Greater Fellowship Missionary Church Annex (time and date to be determined) and will need to attend one meeting of the JCREA after the student's first college semester in order to inform association members of their educational progress.
Applications can be picked up from the offices of the guidance counselors at Jefferson Somerset and Aucilla Christian Academy. Applications may also be returned to the guidance counselors as well.
Altrusa Club Scholarship - $500
Another scholarship opportunity for students of Jefferson County is the Monticello Altrusa Club Scholarship. The scholarship program grants an annual $500 scholarship to two local high school students ($500 per student) in order to help the young people achieve their educational dreams.
The scholarship can be used at a college or university, a community college, a vocational institute or another workforce-related education program.
In order to be eligible, students must be residents of the county, must submit an essay, provide a copy of their high school transcript as well as two letters of recommendation.
The essay must explain how the applying student respects the importance that Altrusa International places on improving the community through service. As Altrusa is a 103-year-old network of professionals that values service to others, the club wants applying students to base their essay on how they have benefited their own community through leadership, service and assistance.
Applications can be picked up from the offices of the guidance counselors at Jefferson Somerset and Aucilla Christian Academy, or can be obtained upon request by contacting the club's Scholarship Chairperson Linda Benedict at (850) 766-4997.
The completed application, essay and letters of recommendation can be sent to:
First United Methodist Church
Attn. Mary Francis Gramling
325 W. Walnut St.
Monticello, Fla. 32344
The application deadline is Thursday, April 9.
Students who apply should be prepared to provide an interview with the Altrusa Education Committee.