Education Foundation of Sarasota County Names In-Demand and Ritchey Legacy Scholars

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County, in partnership with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, announced that the Class of 2020 recipient of the Shirley Ritchey Legacy Scholarship has been named, and three Class of 2021 Sarasota County Schools students have been selected for the In-Demand Careers Scholars Program.

  Raeanna Michael was awarded the Shirley Ritchey Legacy Scholarship, created to honor the Education Foundation’s founder, a passionate advocate for superior public education. The scholarship provides for tuition, registration fees, and local fees for up to 60 lower-division semester credit hours at any of the 28 Florida public colleges.

  
  Michael is a Class of 2020 graduate of Pine View High School. She graduated with a weighted 4.73 GPA, served as president of the Peer Mentoring Club and Japanese Culture Club, and served as teacher assistant for three years. Michael plans to attend Florida State University and double major in actuarial science and statistics and minor in economics.

  Three Class of 2021 students were selected for the In-Demand Careers Scholars Program, designed to develop a trained workforce with entrepreneurial skills to be competitive to enter high-demand career fields in Florida. The award includes a Florida Prepaid scholarship that covers tuition for two years at a Florida public college, college and career preparation through the Education Foundation Student Success Centers at students’ respective schools, and continued advocate support through college graduation and entry into the workforce.

  To be eligible, students are required to have good grades, attendance and behavior; participate in designated Career Technical Education (CTE) courses; and aspire to obtain a college degree or certificate in Florida with an entrepreneurship focus.

  Dea Hadziabdic is a Riverview High School student who is dual enrolled in in the Sarasota Technical College Practical Nursing Program. She maintains a 3.6 GPA while also playing on the RHS soccer team. Hadziabdic holds a part-time job and volunteers at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. After earning her credential as a Licensed Practical Nurse, she plans to attend the University of South Florida to pursue her Master of Science Nursing degree.

  Jasmine Urzua-Alba attends Sarasota High School where she maintains a 3.8 GPA. After becoming a registered nurse, she wants to continue her education and become a physician assistant and work alongside a pediatrician. Urzua-Alba has worked as a childcare assistant with a local nonprofit organization. She plans to attending the University of Central Florida and will be the first in her family to attend college.

  Myles Woodard is a student-athlete at Sarasota High School where he is a member of the track team. Woodard volunteers for Teen Court, is a reading mentor with elementary students, participates in an after-school care program, and is a member of Key Club. Woodard developed a strong work ethic to overcome challenges of an auditory processing delay and plans to use his experience to become an occupational therapist after attending Florida A&M or Florida Gulf Coast University.

  More information on these and other scholarships available through the Education Foundation can be found at EdFoundationSRQ.org.

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