CLEARWATER, Fla. – On Tuesday, February 28, at the St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus, the Pinellas Education Foundation was proud to hold its first Take Stock in Children signing event of the 2016-2017 school year. At the event, 125 6th – 10th grade students were given the opportunity to receive a Take Stock in Children Scholarship (TSIC) once they graduate high school. Students who attended this event signed a scholarship contract stating they will earn a C or better in each class they take, attend school regularly, have good behavior in and outside of school, meet with a TSIC mentor and remain crime and drug free among other items. The total value of these scholarships is just over $1.75 million.
The 125 students were added to the 4,600 scholars in the Pinellas Education Foundation’s TSIC program. There are currently over 1,000 TSIC students currently enrolled in college.
The Foundation’s TSIC program is the most successful in the state. According to the 2015 annual report of the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, who matches the scholarships dollar for dollar with its STARS program, Pinellas makes up approximately 19 percent of the state’s scholars. Broward County is second with 9 percent. The graduation rate for high school students in the Foundation’s Take Stock in Children program is 96 percent.
There will be two more signing events this spring with the next event being held at the St. Petersburg Coliseum on March 29. These TSIC signing events are sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union.