LARGO – On Wednesday, December 21, $600 checks were written to 33 Pinellas County college students as the College Fund of Pinellas County, Inc., celebrated the holidays with a luncheon in a hall provided by Anona United Methodist Church. The luncheon is an annual event that continues the semester-by-semester scholarship support provided by the College Fund charity to students selected by the organization based on scholastic achievement, financial need and a personal interview. Each student’s grades were reviewed by College Fund directors Sherry Rankine and Sheila Keller before treasurer Ken Fullerton presented the check.
In addition to the scholarship recipients and the College Fund board of directors, the luncheon was attended by friends and family members of the students and several of the organization’s donors. The program, which included the introduction of each student, gave the donors the opportunity to meet the students they were supporting.
Alaina Butler, a recent graduate of the University of Tampa, former college fund scholarship recipient, and now a member of the College Fund Board of Directors, gave a talk on the transition from college to full-time employment. Former directors James Cordea and Gerald Dominick were honored for their many years of service.
The College Fund is offering its scholarship recipients a “talent assessment” to help them choose their career path and the college courses to support it. The benefit, a $300 value is being provided free-of-charge by College Fund director Curt Engelman.
Scholarship recipients who were unable to attend the holiday party will be sent their check by mail.
Students who receive a Pell grant may apply for a scholarship after February 1, 2023, by downloading an application from the College Fund website: www.collegefundpinellas.org
Since its founding in 1965, the College Fund has awarded over 1.4 million dollars in scholarships to over 870 Pinellas County residents, enabling them to achieve their goal of a college education and thereby improve themselves, their family’s living standard, and their role in the community.
College Fund has no paid employees. The financial contributions from its directors and advisors exceed its administrative costs; therefore, 100% of the tax-exempt donations from the public are used to support students.