Deadline Nears For $500K In Scholarships For Hillsborough Students

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — High school seniors in Hillsborough County with plans to pursue higher education after graduation have a chance to receive thousands of dollars in scholarships just by filling out one application, but the deadline is quickly approaching.

Hillsborough Education Foundation, a nonprofit focused solely on strengthening public education in Hillsborough County, is accepting applications for scholarships until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

There are more than 90 named scholarships available and nearly 200 will be awarded, ranging from $500 to $15,000. Hillsborough County 12th-grade students with aspirations of continuing their education at a university, community or technical college may apply for these scholarships.

“We are able to support students’ dreams of pursuing higher education through the generosity of our business partners, community organizations and individual donors. These scholarships can help ease the financial strain on families, positively impact students’ lives and the future of our community,” said Hillsborough Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell.

Scholarships are awarded based on a variety of criteria such as GPA, field of study, financial need, challenges overcome, school and community service, SAT/ACT scores or extracurricular activity participation, and vary from scholarship to scholarship.

Using HEF’s online process, students only need to complete one application to determine eligibility for multiple scholarships. Based on scholarship criteria, students may be required to complete additional essays as part of the qualification process. Hillsborough County 11th- grade students who have earned enough credits to graduate in May may also apply.

Thanks to the generosity of Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, six class of 2023 high school graduates in Hillsborough County will each be awarded $2,000 scholarships.

“We believe the best way we can build better communities is by investing in education and health-related initiatives for children,” said Kourtney Berry, executive director of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. “Through the Suncoast Credit Union Scholars program, we have the opportunity to invest in individual human potential, which is particularly rewarding.”

Visit EducationFoundation.com/SeniorScholarships for a list of available scholarships, criteria and to apply by the Jan. 31 deadline. Recipients will be announced this spring.

HEF is seeking help to review applications, each scored by three independent volunteers. Volunteers can review as many or as few as they would like online, at their convenience. The review period is Feb. 6-28. To volunteer or for scholarship questions, contact Angie Anthony at aanthony@educationfoundation.com or 813-574-0273.

This press release was produced by the Hillsborough Education Foundation. The views expressed here are the author's own.