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Patsy Feliciano
University of South Florida
Latino Scholarship
4202 E. Fowler Avenue
ACL100
Tampa, Florida 33620
Tel: 813-974-7124
Fax: 813-974-3811
E-mail:
pfelicia@admin.usf.edu |
The Challenge
- Hispanics
are the largest minority group in the United States. The population
of Hispanic youth between the ages of 16 and 24 is the fastest growing
segment of our nation's population.
- Participation
of Latino students in all levels of education continues to be low,
while dropout and retention rates are still high. Hispanics lag behind
their non-Hispanic peers in college enrollment.
- Under
representation in key federal education programs, inadequate access
to academically rigorous courses and educational resources an insufficient
financial aid are the key barriers to improving the educational status
of Latinos. The average amount of Financial Aid received by Hispanic
undergraduates is lower than that received by non-Hispanic students.
- Latino
students need role models and mentors.
The Opportunities
- Workplace
diversity is a business imperative.
- Many
area economic interests are turning increasingly to Latin American
& Caribbean markets.
- Investments
in bi-lingual students are a wise investment in our future.
- The
University of South Florida is an area resource committed to serving
the educational needs of its diverse communities.
The Mission
The USF Latino Scholarship is a university-wide financial need based scholarship designed to assist USF in achieving and sustaining the education benefits of diversity and increasing the number of USF students interested in issues affecting the Latino community and/or likely to give back to the Latino community after graduation. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA as calculated by USF; graduate from an accredited high school in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Pasco, Hernando, or Sarasota; and demonstrate financial need as documented by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Strong consideration will be given to students who are: fluent in Spanish; first generation in their family to attend college; from diverse ethnic background.
The Goal
To seek partnerships with businesses, organizations and individuals
in providing renewable scholarships and mentoring experiences to deserving
Hispanic students with financial aid need, graduating from Tampa Bay
area schools.
The Objectives
- To
offer scholarships to Hispanic achievers in need of financial help.
- To provide
scholarship recipients with role models and exposure to professional
settings.
- To
increase the number of businesses, organizations and individuals who
provide financial and moral support throughout a student's college
career.
- To build
endowments to ensure the fulfillment of dreams in perpetuity.
According to U.S. Department of Education Data, for every 1000 Hispanic
children who enter the educational system in grade 1, only 70 go on
to attain college degrees. Yet, increasingly, U.S. businesses are seeking
the best and the brightest bilinguals to lead in broadening Latin American
and Caribbean markets, as well as Spanish-speaking domestic markets.
Other sectors like Health Sciences and Education, for example, also
need educated bilingual professionals to serve increasing Spanish-speaking
populations in our state and nation. To address these opportunities,
the USF Latin Community Advisory Committee, a group of community leaders
who assist the President on Hispanic issues, began a privately-funded
USF Latino Scholarship program in 1992. The scholarships are based on
academic talent and financial need. Through private donations, the program
provides renewable scholarships and mentoring experiences to Tampa Bay
area Hispanic youth attending USF. Since 1992, the program has awarded
almost $1,000,000 to deserving students.
Student
Eligibility
To be considered for these awards applicants must:
- be bilingual
(Spanish). Preference is given to students who are from the first
generation in their family to attend college.
- have
a minimum 3.0 GPA as calculated by USF.
- graduate
from an accredited high school in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee,
Pasco, Hernando, or Sarasota counties.
- demonstrate
financial need as documented by the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA.)
What do
students need to do?
- There
is NO separate application for the Latino Scholarship.
- Candidates
will automatically be selected from the pool of eligible students
admitted to USF by April 1st. (In order to qualify for other USF Scholarships,
students must apply for admission before December 31st.)
- Students
must be eligible to receive federal financial aid and apply using
FAFSA as close as posssible to January 1st. (You DO NOT need
to have completed your income tax filing before you apply.)
- If
selected, students will be required to attend an interview on-campus.
- Recipients
will be notified by mail.
How to
become a USF Latino Scholarship Donor
Gifts to the scholarship program are welcome in any amount. Sponsorship
of a Latino Scholarship bearing the donor’s name requires a minimum
investment of $1500 with a 4year pledge for Tampa Bay area high school
graduates entering USF as freshmen and $2000 with a 2 year pledge for
community college transfer students. The vast majority of the recipients
are from first generation in their families to attend college. Thus
“community mentoring is a vital component of the scholarship program,
with donors serving as mentors and role models.
A gift
in perpetuity
Another giving option, one that will endure in perpetuity with your
company of family name, is through the creation of an endowment. Through
endowments, the USF Foundation is the custodian of the principle you
invest; scholarships are awarded annually from a portion of interest
earned. Endowments can be funded through:
- Cash gifts
- Multi-year pledges
- Securities/real
state/insurance
- Planned giving
such as bequests, annuities, trusts etc.
Recognition
All donors are invited to the scholarship award ceremony in August
and recognized in the program, as well as in the Office of Community
Advancement's annual report. At the $1000 and above level, recognition
also includes local publicity and university wide recognition as members
of the President's Council. The best recognition to all donors comes
through the satisfaction of assisting promising students with financial
need in achieving their dreams.
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