What is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA is the application you will use to apply for the federal student aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to help pay for college or career school 

Why complete a FAFSA?

If you don’t complete a FAFSA, you could be missing out on a lot of financial aid. Federal Student Aid uses the data on your FAFSA to calculate an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is the number that’s used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid and is an indicator of your family’s financial strength to pay for college or career school. The EFC is not the amount of money that your family must provide. The EFC is an index that the college will use to determine how much financial aid (grants, loans, or workstudy) you would receive if you were to attend that school.

Find scholarships, other financial aid and internships from more than 2,200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion.

Included on this site is a regularly updated document outlining a sample of scholarships that are available

Students must APPLY for the scholarship by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) beginning October 1 of their senior year and by no later than August 31 after high school graduation.

Bright Futures Awards and Requirements

Check Requirements Status for Eligibility- you can monitor your Bright Futures eligibility by following these directions and logging on to the website.

Requirements for Bright Futures have changed starting with the Class of 2021, Please review the new matrix for informaion.

Class of 2021 BF Matrix

The more effort you put in, the more opportunities you have to earn a scholarship. Complete all six, and you’re eligible to earn $40,000. Scholarships will be awarded through monthly drawings to students who complete each action.

The process begins with Step 1 in the junior year and culminates with Step 6 in the senior year. 

A completed application packet includes the online scholarship application, answers to the essay questions and one letter of recommendation . One application for hundreds of scholarship

Presidential Scholarship recipients will be selected annually based on merit and test scores. The program is open to individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Pinellas County high school senior anticipating a May graduation with a standard high school diploma
• Florida resident
• U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien or Dream Act eligible
• Anticipate a weighted cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 at the end of the seventh semester of high school
• Have taken the ACT/SAT Exams

The Presidential Scholarship covers up to 60 credit hours of continuous enrollment (fall and spring; summer optional) at St. Petersburg College beginning with the fall term immediately following high school graduation. It does not cover access fees, lab fees, books, supplies, or Corporate Training classes. The scholarship is not transferable to other colleges or universitiesThe scholarship is awarded based on academic merit and test scores. Due to limited funding, not all eligible students will be awarded. All applicants will be notified regarding the status of their application beginning March 6, 2020.

https://www.spcollege.edu/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/scholarships/institutional-scholarships/presidential-scholarship

Johnnie Ruth Clark Scholarship
The opportunity to apply for Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke Scholarships is offered to disadvantaged and other underrepresented Pinellas County school students who meet all of the following:

• Graduate from a Pinellas County high school with a standard high school diploma
• Are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens
• Have a weighted cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 at the end of the seventh semester of high school

https://www.spcollege.edu/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/scholarships/institutional-scholarships/johnnie-ruth-clarke-scholarship

SPC Foundation Scholarships

With hundreds of scholarships available, you could be eligible to receive funding for tuition, books and supplies.

http://spcollegefoundation.spcollege.edu/scholarships-3/

Eligibility requirement:

Applicants must: Be high school seniors, high school graduates, or current undergraduate students.. i - Demonstrate financial need. i Currently attend or plan to attend, full-time, St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Additional Desired Qualifications: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship s ecifics This scholarship is for one year only; however, current recipients may reapply and be considered for additional funding along with other new applicants. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled full-time.

Eligibility & General Guidelines:

• Student must be a senior in a Pinellas County high school.
• Essays should not exceed one page providing detailed information on the impact a school counselor (from elementary, middle or high school) has had on the student.
• All entries must be submitted with a completed PSCA Essay Competition Entry Form.
• All entries must include one letter of recommendation from a school staff member.

All entries must include proof of admission/enrollment at a four year university, two year college, or vocational program. Applications are available in the school counseling office at the high schools.

$500

Copy of Application

Criteria:

Applicant must:

• Be in the AVID program and in good standing.
• Be a resident of either Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas County.
•  Be a graduating High School Senior in the year of the scholarship award.
• Have a cumulative unweighted G.P.A. of 2.75 or greater.
• Have a minimum of 25 hours of Community Service.
• Not have any immediate family members either employed by Citigroup entity or a vendor contracted by a Citigroup entity
• Meet one of the following Diversity Network criteria:

a) Applicant must either be of/or descendants of Asian, Black or Hispanic ethnicity to apply for the Asian, Black or Hispanic Network scholarships.

b) Applicant must be a female to apply for the Women’s Network scholarship.

c) Applicant to the Veterans scholarship have three (3) options to apply: i. Must have an immediate family member either currently on active duty, retired or have served with honorable discharge status.

ii. Be a cadet in their high school ROTC program.

iii. Have been accepted into their university ROTC program. Applications are available in the school counseling office at the high schools.

Our local Kiwanis group is offering Northeast students the opportunity to apply for their scholarships.  They have added a few scholarships this year, so they have 4 -$5,000 and 4 -$1,500 scholarships available.

Application Materials

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBITY Incoming Student Applicants: ➢ Be a U.S. citizen and resident of Pinellas County ➢ Be eligible for a standard diploma from an accredited Pinellas County high school ➢ Be planning to enroll as a full-time degree-seeking student in an undergraduate program at FSU ➢ Have a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale Selection is based upon a combination of community involvement, extracurricular activities/clubs and academic performance. Applications are available in the school counseling office at the high schools.

$1000-$2000

Copy of Application

Criteria: Pinellas County, Florida high school graduate based upon their scholastic standing, financial need, and moral and religious attributes. Applications are available in the school counseling office at the high schools.

$2000

Copy of Application

Welcome to your future, Class of 2020! We are so excited that you chose Pinellas Technical College to pursue your educational goals. Last year, 160 Pinellas County high school seniors participated by signing letters of intent.

This year, the National Technical Letter of Intent Signing Day event will be held Thursday, February 20, 2020, from 11-1 p.m.

Every graduating student who attends and signs:

• Will receive a $200 Tuition Scholarships!
• Can apply to win a $500 Tuition Scholarship
• Launches a bright future with technical training!
• Receives a complimentary lunch

Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge No. 291 is offering a $2,000.00 scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior who attends any one of these High Schools: Boca Ciega; Dixie Hollins; Gibbs; Lakewood; Largo; Northeast; Osceola; Pinellas Park; Seminole; or St. Petersburg. They must demonstrate high academic achievement, as well as active volunteer service to the community. Students must plan to enroll in a regionally accredited Junior College, College or University leading to a four-year baccalaureate degree. There is no requirement for Masonic affiliation and the scholarship is awarded without regard to race, color, creed, gender or religious preference.

Information Letter

The  ACE award we would like the school to select one student who you feel is qualified.  They will receive a $1000 scholarship at the local level and then go on to the district level for a chance to receive additional scholarship funds.  This student will also be awarded at the March 31 luncheon.  Please have the application and requirements completed for the local award by March 22.  See attached for more information.

Information Sheet

The Americanism Speech event is open to seniors who are interested in writing a speech on Americanism and presenting the speech at the Exchange Club luncheon on March 31.  The winner will receive $500 and go on to the district level.  Please refer to the attached for information on the local and district competition. 

Information on Speech

Paul Toomey intends to award one scholarship to a high school graduating senior who has excelled in their educational pursuit of a computer-related field. Criteria for the scholarship includes the demonstration of above-average achievement and motivation towards advancing his/her education in a computer-related field, outstanding service to their school and/or the community, involvement in extracurricular events, and admirable leadership.

The value of the Paul Toomey IT Scholarship for 2020 is $3,500. *Scholarship funds can be used to pay for credit hours, housing, or curriculum supplies/books.

(5:00 PM) on April 3, 2020

Application Materials