ChairScholars Florida Program

The Florida Program is available to students attending public schools in the Florida counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Volusia, Sarasota, and Polk.  These scholarships provide either full tuition for a bachelor’s degree through the Florida university system or tuition assistance for vocational training.  To date, 359 scholarship have been awarded.

The Foundation works collaboratively with each county Education Foundation or Take Stock in Children Programs to identify qualified students.  Eligible students must have a serious physical disability, qualify for the free and reduced lunch program and have at least a “C” average.  Selected students are provided with a mentor until they graduate from high school.  These students also sign a “contract” pledging to stay drug-free and crime-free in order to keep their scholarship.  The contracts are signed at the Foundation’s annual ChairScholars Festival.  The Festival is not a fundraiser but a free day of fun for our past and present ChairScholars, their families, mentors and our foundation supporters.

To qualify for a scholarship, students must:

Have a serious physical disability

Be eligible for their school's “Free or Reduced Lunch Program”

Have a “C” average in school

Be enrolled in public school in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Volusia, Sarasota, or Polk County.

How To Apply

Hillsborough County
1. Visit the following link: http://www.educationfoundation.com/
2. Click the button for “Scholarship Application” and follow the instructions to complete the application.

Pasco County
Contact your child’s student advisor

Pinellas County
1. Visit: http://www.pinellaseducation.org/
2. Click the scholarships button at left. Click the “Instruction” button. After reviewing, click the button titled “New Application.”

Polk County
Contact Susan Copeland at (863)534-0434 or Teresa Choquette at (863)519-8076 for more information.

Sarasota County
1. Visit the following link: http://www.takestocksarasota.org
2. Chlick the button for TSIC/ChairScholars Application and follow the instructions.

Volusia County
Contact Marsha Lewis at (386)255-6475 x20241