Safe Children Coalition awards scholarships to Achievers, program alumni
The Safe Children Coalition’s Achievers program recently honored high school graduates and awarded $43,000 in college scholarships to its Class of 2022 participants as well as returning college students who were engaged with the program as teens.
A total of 36 scholarships – divided between 18 first-year college and 18 continuing college students – of at least $1,000 were awarded. The program took place at Selby Auditorium at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.
Contributing to this year’s program and scholarship funding was the Bank of America Client Foundation, which awarded a grant of $20,000, as well as Zenith Insurance Company, the Babe Weiller Memorial Fund, Publix Supermarkets Charities, Vanguard Charitable Fund, Sarasota County Government, The Tracy Ross Memorial Trust Fund, and others.
Dr. Karen A. Holbrook, Regional Chancellor of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, was a main speaker as well as several program alums who spoke about their Achievers experience and how it helped them to succeed in college. They encouraged students to take full advantage of their Achievers contacts and experiences as well as to connect with on-campus resources once they are in college.
Achievers program manager Jone Williams acknowledged students who have achieved certain levels of program participation and community service as well as parents who encouraged their children to participate.
The Achievers program empowers at-risk, minority and other disadvantaged students to set and achieve goals in both their educational and personal lives, encouraging continuous growth in the areas of personal development, college preparation, community service and leadership, cultural enrichment, and career options. The program ultimately increases student participation in school programs, decreases school absenteeism and dropout rates, and prevents delinquent behavior.
Previously: Sudakoff Foundation awards Safe Children Coalition $30,000 grant for new van
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The program, which has served thousands of students for over 30 years, is open to all middle and high school students in Sarasota County. Approximately 122 students participated in the Achievers program during the 2021-22 school year.
Career cluster programming this past year featured Achiever alumni as well as professionals from the community and surrounding areas currently serving in the fields of health, journalism, mass communications, law enforcement and the legal field.
The Safe Children Coalition is a collaboration between local community agencies who provide services to children and families in need. SCC is committed to protecting children, strengthening families, and building community. For more about Safe Children Coalition, visit sccfl.org or call 941-371-4799.
Submitted by Sharon Kunkel
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Safe Children Coalition celebrates Achievers experience
