Students who received Selby scholarships.

Front (l to r): Student scholarship recipients Melissa Yisel Soto, Daniela Gaytan-Ruiz, and Vivian Lopez-Martinez. Back (l to r): Scholarship recipients Daniela Rivera-Orduna, Carlisha Redding, Cynthia Gutierrez, and Angela Regalado. Also pictured are Jamie Bateman (far left), vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs, and Asena Mott (far right), dean of off-campus instructional sites.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Sept. 18, 2024 – South Florida State College (SFSC) received a $10,000 grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, Inc. to provide scholarships for students from DeSoto County who attend classes at any of SFSC’s campuses – in DeSoto, Hardee, or Highlands County. These funds will be matched dollar for dollar through the SFSC Foundation, bringing the total funds for scholarships to $20,000.

Scholarships will be awarded up to $1,500 for full-time students, up to $1,125 for students enrolled between 9 and 11 hours, and up to $750 for students enrolled between 6 and 8 hours.

The criteria for obtaining a scholarship through the Selby Foundation grant are that the application must be based on financial need and the student must be a resident of DeSoto County and a graduate of Desoto County High School, maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to be considered for renewal, and be accepted into or enrolled in a degree program at SFSC.

Scholarships from the Selby Foundation grant are available for fall term 2024 and spring term 2025.

“Once again, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation has stepped up to meet the need of students in our community,” said Asena Mott, SFSC dean of off-campus instructional sites. “This scholarship is especially exceptional because it is renewable each year. Our DeSoto County High School graduation rate is rising and, with the barrier of college tuition and other expenses being covered, our Desoto High School graduates can take classes at any of our SFSC sites and complete their college goals. The foresight and generosity of this donor is turning ‘I can’t’ into ‘It’s Possible!’”

To apply for a scholarship through the Selby Foundation grant, students are encouraged to speak with a student advisor at the SFSC DeSoto Campus at 2251 NE Turner Avenue in Arcadia or the Hardee Campus at 2968 U.S. 17 North in Bowling Green, visit the SFSC Office of Financial Aid on the Highlands Campus at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park, or call 863-993-1757.