Scholarships
Students may earn a variety of scholarships. These scholarships are awarded for academic, artistic, and athletic excellence. Any student seeking a scholarship should see his or her counselor for information as soon as possible. Keeping a portfolio which contains highlights of achievements, awards, and campus activities is recommended. Since most scholarships involve meeting an academic standard, students should begin planning in the ninth grade to meet the academic criteria.

Florida's Bright Futures Scholarships:
Students should be aware that requirements for these scholarships may change during the year. Please see your guidance counselor or Tech Prep Coordinator for up-to-date information.

The Florida Academic Scholars Award
What is the award level for the Florida Academic Scholars Award?
A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a public postsecondary educational institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay tuition, fees, and $600 annually (prorate if part-time) for college expenses. A student who is enrolled is a nonpublic postsecondary educational institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay for the average tuition and fees of a public postsecondary educational institution at the comparable level, plus the annual $600. In either case, an award may cover up to 45 semester credit hours per academic year. Summer school enrollment may be covered if funds are available and if the student has not already completed 45 semester credit hours during the first two semesters of that year.

What is the criterion to receive the Florida Academic Scholars Award?
For students to receive the Academic Scholars Award the State Board of Education have set the following criteria:
A student...
*Has attained a minimum unrounded, unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in the 15 credits identified by the Florida Board of Regents as college preparatory courses. The GPA will be calculated after the seventh semester of high school, as do universities and financial aid offices in determining eligibility; and
*Has attained a score to be established by the stated board on the SAT or ACT tests. (These scores are likely to be in line with the currently required 1270 on the SAT and 28 on the ACT; or
*Has received an International Baccalaureate Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
*Has completed a state-approved home education program (participating in at least grade levels 11 and 12), and has earned a SAT or ACT score that meets state board established levels; or
*Is a scholar or finalist in either the National Merit Scholarship Program or the National Hispanic Scholars Program sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Note: Students will be required to complete 75 hours of community volunteer service. See your guidance counselor to plan for this requirement.

The Florida Merit Scholars Award
What are the academic eligibility requirements for the Florida Merit Scholarship Award?
A student is eligible for a Florida Merit Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility criteria requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:
A student...
*Has achieved a minimum unrounded, unweighted 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the 15 credits identified by the Florida Board of Regents as college preparatory courses.
*Has earned a minimum score of 970 on the SAT, or a minimum score of 20 on the ACT.
*Has documented the 15 credits by the Florida Board of Regents as college preparatory courses as described in Rule 6C-6, FAC, in a state-approved home education program and has earned a SAT score of at least 970 or ACT score of 20 or higher.
*Has completed a state-approved home education program and has earned a SAT score of 1070 or ACT of 23, but has not documented completion of the 19 credits identified by the Florida Board of Regents as college preparatory courses.
What is the award level for the Florida Merit Scholars Award?
A Florida Merit Scholar who is enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75% of tuition and fees for up to 45 semester credit hours per year. A student enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary education instition is eligible for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75% of the average tuition and fees of a public postsecondary institution at the comparable level. Summer school tuition and fees may be covered if funds are available and the student has not completed 45 semester credit hours during the first two semesters.

What is the award level for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Awards?
A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar who is enrolled in a public postsecondary institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75% of tuition and fees. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary educational institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75% if the average tuition and fees or a public post-secondary educational institution at the comparable level. Awards are for up to 45 semester credit hours per academic year. Awards may cover summer school enrollment if funds are available and if the student has not completed 45 semester credit hours during the first two semester of that year.
The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is a two-year scholarship. A student may use the scholarship for up to 90 semester credits or their equivalent. However, a recipient may become eligible to continue a four-year degree by transferring to a Merit Scholars award upon being accepted into an upper division of a college or university, and having maintained a 2.75 or higher GPA. A Gold Seal Vocational Scholar may not transfer to an Academic Scholars award.