Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Guardian Catholic Schools Announce College Scholarships for Six Students
Foundation matches donation from Orange Park residents Vincent and June Schuppert to provide six 4-Year Florida University Scholarships
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Prepaid College Foundation and Guardian Catholic Schools announced a donation from the Schuppert family of Orange Park that, coupled with a match from the Foundation, will provide six high school students with 4-Year Florida University scholarships worth more than $27,000 each.
- The scholarships, valued at more than $27,000 each, have been awarded to six Guardian graduates now attending Jacksonville-area high schools. The Foundation has matched the Schupperts’ donation of $85,000, for a total of $170,000.
- The announcement comes as the Foundation celebrates its 30th year and the vision of founder Stanley G. Tate to provide opportunities for at-risk students
- More than 27,000 Foundation scholarship recipients have attended college using their benefits
The recipients, who were honored today in a celebration at Guardian Catholic, were chosen based on criteria including leadership skills and character, financial need, and volunteer activities. All previously attended Guardian Catholic and its two predecessor schools, St. Pius V Catholic School and Holy Rosary Catholic School.
They include Carissa Iszard, 15, who is being raised by her elderly grandmother and maintaining a 3.9 GPA while juggling activities including track, Spanish-language immersion studies, and National Honor Society. Ny’Reon Shuman, 15, is being raised by a single parent and has been recognized by school leaders for his outstanding character and being “articulate beyond his age.” He speaks from the pulpit at his church, and consistently wins both science and speech contests.
“In cooperation with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation we are pleased to provide this opportunity for six Guardian Catholic School students to continue their education,” said Vincent Schuppert. “We invite other interested donors to join us”.
The other winners (highlighted in the accompanying biographies) are:
- Breeland Madison, 14
- Raelyn Hardwick, 14
- Devon McLeod, 14
- Ashley Thompkins, 16
The students will also be mentored throughout their remaining high school years to ensure they meet the academic and behavior requirements of the scholarship, and are college-ready upon high school graduation.
The Foundation matched the Schupperts’ donation of $85,000, for a total scholarship gift of $170,000.
“These scholarships reflect the mission of our founder Stanley G. Tate, who wanted this Foundation to be a vehicle for partnering with community leaders and organizations to open doors of academic opportunity,” said Foundation Board Chairman John Rood. “We are grateful to the Schupperts for sharing this vision and being so generous.”
Said Mervin Denny, Director of Advancement for Guardian Catholic Schools: “We cannot lose sight that at Guardian Catholic, all students PK3 through 8th grade receive scholarship assistance. Ninety-six percent of our students graduate from high school, and many go on to higher education. None of this would be possible without loyal donors such as the Schupperts.”
The announcement comes as the Florida Prepaid College Foundation celebrates its 30th year, and the more than 27,000 students who have used their scholarship benefits to attend college.
The Florida Prepaid College Program is the largest and longest-running prepaid program in the nation, providing the mechanism for the Foundation to expand opportunities for families of all income levels and educational backgrounds.
“We are delighted to award these scholarships; there is no greater gift that we can give,” said Foundation Director Cindy O’Connell, an advisory board member for St. John Paul II Catholic School in Tallahassee. “We look forward to seeing the future impact these students will have on their communities and our state.”
Learn more about the Florida Prepaid College Foundation at https://www.floridaprepaidcollegefoundation.com.
As the 501(c)(3), direct support organization for the Florida Prepaid College Board, the Foundation helps support our shared goal of making college more affordable and accessible for more Floridians.
Your donation will be used in furtherance of the tax-exempt charitable purposes of Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”). All donations are received and considered unrestricted unless explicitly stated otherwise by the donor. If funds received exceed the specific need or goal of a Foundation program, then, at the discretion of the Foundation, any funds donated may be used for similar scholarship programs operated by the Foundation.
View the Master Contract and Program Description and Participation Agreement for more information.
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