Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) has received a $48,038 scholarship donation from the Florida College System Foundation (FCSF), bringing the total amount contributed by the foundation to FSW over the past two decades to $850,000. The latest donation is supported by contributions from Helios Education Foundation, Florida Blue, and Bank of America.
“These scholarships are more than financial awards,” said Karen Moore, FCSF board member. “They are a lifeline and an investment in our state’s future. Through the generosity of our partners, the FCS Foundation can support students who will become tomorrow’s educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders.”
The annual scholarships include several targeted programs. The Florida Blue Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship supports students in nursing and other health-related fields such as emergency medical services and dental hygiene. The Helios Education Foundation First Generation Scholars Program focuses on first-generation college students with an emphasis on those seeking education degrees. It also encourages recipients to consider transferring to public universities in Florida. The Bank of America Dream Makers Scholars Program assists first-generation students with various college expenses and offers academic partnership opportunities.
Students at FSW have expressed gratitude for these opportunities. Nataly Acuna, a nursing student at FSW, said: “This scholarship has been a great help to both my education and also my future in becoming a nurse. What you are doing is improving the lives of so many future nurses and helping them accomplish their dreams.” Rebecca Garcia, an elementary education student at FSW, added: “Education has always been something that I wanted but never was affordable or within reach. As a single mom of two children under four, school is a number one priority. This scholarship makes it possible to complete my education and give back to my community, and lead by example for my children.”
In the last ten years alone, donors such as Bank of America, Florida Blue, and Helios have enabled the Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation to distribute $35.5 million for student scholarships and college programs.
The ongoing support from these organizations continues to help make higher education accessible for many students in Southwest Florida.
