Breaking the cycle
Carmen is a Dental Hygiene major at the SPC Caruth Health Education Center. She wanted to take summer classes but had maxed out her use of financial assistance for the year by taking a full load in the fall and spring terms. Like all First Generation in College award winners, she hopes to be the first in her family to graduate from college but has to do so without the financial help of her parents. Both of Carmen's parents dropped out of school at a young age to help raise their siblings after they each experienced the premature death of a parent.

"My goal is to break the cycle," said Carmen," which I have already done by receiving my GED. My regret was not attending a graduation ceremony, which I wanted to do for so long. I wanted to see my parents proud of me. Now I have that opportunity because I'm in college, heading toward a wonderful, professional career and I'm moving one step closer to my graduation day. "

Jessica Cox
Recipient of the Benjamin, Brown, Maxwell Scholarship Fund, 2007

Helping Handicapped Children Walk
Jessica is a pre-med student at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs campus. She volunteers at a local school for handicapped children. Upon completion of her degree, she plans to earn her doctorate from the University of South Florida’s College of Physical Therapy and open her own clinic where she can help handicapped children gain independence.

 “There are few things in this world that fill me with as much joy as watching a kid go from being wheelchair bound to walking with little assistance,” said Jessica. “I believe it is my calling. Thank you for supporting my dreams.”

Joaquin Coronado III
Recipient of the First Generation in College Scholarship, 2007



Education is the Key To Success
Raised in a single parent home, Joaquin quickly learned the importance of an education. But a lack of finances almost kept him from pursuing his dreams.

A week before he received the First Generation in College Scholarship, his mother was going to apply for a loan to pay off his college tuition balance. He hopes that one day he will be able to repay this gift by donating funds to help another student in need.

"Education is the key to success," said Joaquin. "The value of knowledge does not have a dollar amount.  One’s future opportunities are measured in knowledge and acquired through one’s life.”

Tyronne Reis
Recipient of the Dr. Phillip Benjamin Scholarship, 2007

Filling a critical need area in education
Tyronne is working towards a bachelors degree in Education. When he graduates in December 2008, he will be able to work in the critical need area of Exceptional Student Education (ESE).

"I am the only male student within my cohort of fellow classmates and am often referred to as the 'token male.' As a minority student and a statistical anomaly among my classmates, I consider it an honor to be attending the SPC College of Education, fulfilling the curriculum."

Thus far, Tyronne has maintained a 4.0 GPA in all of his College of Education coursework.

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