This scholarship is presented by Ausley Construction. Applicants must be pursuing a career in a high skill/high wage according to the current state of Florida list.

Please reference the list linked here.

Students will be asked to submit at least one recommendation letter.

2026 David Baillie Lion’s Club Scholarship ($2,000)

The Ocala Lions Club provides sight, hearing, glaucoma, and diabetes screening by financially supporting eye exams and glasses for the needy, eye surgeries, hearing aids, and so much more. The David Baillie scholarship was established in memory of David Baillie, Jr., a long-time member of the Lions Club and a big supporter of the Southeastern Youth Fair.

Applicants for this scholarship must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in either agriculture, through the study of the biological or physical sciences, or veterinary medicine; at a college or university they choose.

Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the field of agriculture through involvement in Future Farmers of America, 4H, The Southeastern Youth Fair, or through proven experience such as actual work in agricultural or animal care activities as well as the study of the biological or physical sciences at the high school level.

Some examples of work experience could include, on a family farm, at a veterinarian’s office, volunteering at an animal shelter or for an animal rescue organization.

The Public Education Foundation is looking for high school seniors (Class of 2025) ready to ‘Jump Start’ their post high school education. This program is made possible thanks to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and matching funds provided by The Florida Prepaid College Foundation.  “As part of HCA Florida Healthcare’s commitment to the care and improvement of human life, we are proud to help jumpstart students educational journeys as they choose a future career in a health related field.”

Students with good grades, attendance and behavior who also have a desire to pursue, in good faith, a post-high school education that includes a technical degree/certificate, AS/AA degree and/or BS/BA at a Florida Prepaid College Foundation approved institution in Florida are encouraged to apply. 

As a recipient of a Jump Start scholarship, students will receive college and career support through three virtual workshops, and earn a Florida Prepaid Foundation 1 year State College Tuition Scholarship. This scholarship covers tuition for one year at the Florida state public college rate, which provides 30 credit hours at a Florida Prepaid College Foundation approved institution in Florida. 

Qualifications

• Applicant must attend a public high school in Marion County.
• Applicant must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Applicant must meet the income eligibility guidelines based off of their family’s 2023 taxes or 2024 taxes if they are completed. (income guidelines shown below)
• Applicant must be interested in pursuing a career in a healthcare related field.

Students Selected for this scholarship receive:

• A one-year Florida Prepaid College Foundation Scholarship, which provides 30 credit hours at the state college tuition rate, enabling the student to enroll in a Florida technical program, state college or state university.
• Support for financial aid, life skills and career exploration through three (3) virtual workshops.

Student eligibility financial requirements below.

Effective from July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2025

Jim and Joanne Yancey dedicated their lives to help make their community a better place to live and work. Jim was a 7 time letterman at the University of Florida as a member of the football and golf teams. He is inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Additionally, he was a class A PGA Professional and a certified Greens Superintendent. He was the Head Golf Professional at Ocala Golf Club for over 25 years where he was known for his Junior Golf Programs and for teaching multiple PGA Tour Players.

Joanne was a member of the Garden Club in Ocala for over 40 years. Her passion for beautifying her yard and her community go hand-in-hand. She was devoted to the City of Ocala for over 40 years, serving in multiple capacities including the Building and Zoning Board. Her dedication to high school sports and amateur golf was well-known, particularly for organizing the Henry Camp Invitational Golf Tournament every spring since 1970.

This $2,000 scholarship is to be awarded to a senior who is pursuing competitive golf in college or golf as a major; greens-keeping or PGA golf management; or someone pursuing an Agriculture Degree.

Joshua Rossignol was an awesome young man who was kind-hearted, hilarious, passionate, generous, and overall just loved life. He was so warm and kind that he made you feel like you had known him forever, even if you had just met him. He could also make anyone laugh, even in the toughest of situations. Josh was a talented and passionate cook and it had always been his dream to become a chef and open his own restaurant.  He was pursuing his degree in culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University when he passed away at the age of 21. In his honor, his family and friends created the Joshua Rossignol Memorial Scholarship to help others achieve their dreams of becoming a chef. This year a $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to a Marion County senior or current MTC student seeking an education in the culinary arts who has demonstrated leadership in their school and community.

The Kelly Scholarship is presented by the SMA Healthcare Foundation. Students should be pursuing a career in healthcare and are planning to attend school at a Florida public college, university technical school or HBCU in one of the following counties: Marion, Citrus, Volusia, Flagler, Putnam or St. Johns.

Essay is required. Applicants will be asked to share their career and educational goals in 150-300 words.

The Kirby Manning Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is presented in memory of Kirby Manning, and will be awarded to a female(s) student graduating from Marion County Public Schools who will be majoring in Building Construction or a closely related field. Kirby believed firmly in the importance of education and was a generous philanthropist. Kirby was the owner of Manning Building Supplies of Florida and was a leader in the construction industry for many years. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. A short essay and recommendation letter are required.

Scholarship award(s) may vary between $1,000 – $3,500.

Essay:

In 750 words or less, please share why you plan on majoring in Building Construction or a closely related industry. Please explain how you plan to navigate the challenges that a female in a male dominated field might experience, and how you plan to overcome those challenges.

This scholarship is for graduating seniors that have completed at least THREE credit of Health Science coursework in high school, as well as participated in the HOSA chapter on their campus. Students will complete an essay (topic found below) and should share two letters of reference. (Letters cannot come from family members or Health Science instructors.) Health Science instructors will also complete an evaluation after the student completes their application. Applicants must be pursuing a career in the healthcare industry and will share their plans in the required essay. Applicants will be asked to share a list of activities, honors and awards and community service, when doing so applicants should make sure to include any HOSA awards and/or leadership. Applicants Grade/Test Report form or Grad Tracker should also include the three required credits of Health Science coursework.

Essay (350-750 words):

Describe why you have chosen a health career, your occupational and personal goals, and other information such as financial need that may assist in the selection process. This narrative can play a large role in who is selected and should describe your passion for the healthcare industry.

Niko Malidelis was a senior at North Marion High School, preparing to enter the Fire College after graduation when a tragic automobile accident cut his young life short. His family reached out to their network of friends to help establish the Niko Malidelis Fire College Scholarship. This $300 – $500 scholarship will be offered to seniors and students currently enrolled in fire college at MTC, who will become a fireman and demonstrate economic need and initiative.

This scholarship is for students planning to become teachers.

What is needed to apply:

Academic Grade/Test Report Form

1 Letter of Recommendation from a person familiar with your academic abilities and school activities, and should address your interest in teaching and the qualities that will make you a successful educator. List the name, title and telephone number or email address.

Goal statement: You have decided as a goal that you want to become a teacher. Please share your vision as to what that means to you and how you see yourself accomplishing this goal.

The Rays of Hope Foundation Scholarship is awarded to provide financial assistance to graduating high school seniors seeking to attend a post-secondary vocational, technical or trade school program. This scholarship is presented by Radiant Credit Union.

Applications must have lived in Marion County, and attended a Marion County Public School for at least one year.

The applicants must have been accepted to an accredited vocation/technical school in Florida with plans to attend in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Applicants must provide the following:

References:

a. Two (2) letters of reference are required.

b. References may come from a teacher, advisor, guidance counselor, school administrator, employer, clergy, a person with whom the student has done volunteer or community work, or any other adult who is aware of student’s contributions to their community.

Embedded in the application, applicants will also be asked to answer the following:

• How will your planned education impact/help our future and your community?
• What or who most influenced you to pursue your prospective career path and how?
• Tell us about a time you had to overcome an obstacle.

One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded.

This scholarship is presented by the Belleview Rotary in honor and memory of Roy Abshier; long-time Rotary member, civic leader and life-long Belleview/Marion County resident. Roy believed strongly in the pursuit of technical degrees at a variety of degree levels.

Applicants should be planning to earn a technical degree either at a trade school, state college or a four year college/university.

Students will have to submit at least one recommendation letter.

Applicants are also required to submit a 500 word essay about the following: Have you lived and/or plan to live your life according to the 4-Way Test.*

Students applying should have financial need. Extra consideration will be given to current Interact service club members and students attending a high school in the south end of Marion County.

*What is Rotary’s 4-Way test?

The members of Rotary are committed to maintaining high ethical standards. The 4-Way Test is a simple and strong guide used by Rotarians around the world. It promotes truth, fairness, goodwill, and helpful actions. In all things Rotarians ask: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Walter Wade was a Navy veteran who served our country for 20 years (1973-1993). He loved the Navy and his duty posts included, San Diego, Honolulu, San Francisco, Seattle, Orlando, Long Beach, Commander Sixth Fleet in Italy and Sardinia during the Gulf War, and finally teaching ROTC at the University of Mississippi. He achieved the rank of Quartermaster Senior Chief Petty Officer. He entered the Navy with an Associate in Arts degree from Centralia College, WA, and then took advantage of evening extension classes offered to active military through Columbia College, MO and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Government. When he retired from the Navy, he continued traveling on cruises all over the world because he truly loved being at sea, and he worked as a volunteer at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA for 10 years as a gift shop assistant responsible for receiving and inventory. He moved to Ocala in 2013 and enjoyed the community and the weather immensely. Even though he had no children of his own, he was always an advocate for young people continuing their education beyond high school no matter how many years it took to graduate.

Walter loved cooking, reading, interior design, attending the symphony, dance performances, and visiting museums around the world. The Walter William Wade Memorial scholarship is dedicated to the arts and to our military men and women who have proudly served our country.

Criteria: This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to 1 Marion County high school senior who meets either the ARTS track or ROTC track criteria:

ARTS TRACK WITH LEGACY MILITARY SERVICE

1. Applicants must be pursuing a Bachelors Degree in any of the following specialties:

• MUSIC
• DANCE
• ART
• THEATRE
• MUSEUM STUDIES
• CULINARY
• INTERIOR DESIGN

2. At least one parent OR grandparent who has served at least four years of active duty in any U.S. military branch.

Applicants must submit a 300-word essay, three letters of recommendation from teachers, and a DD Form 214 certifying their family member’s military discharge.

—OR—

ROTC TRACK

1. Applicant must be approved for ROTC (any Armed Forces) at a college of their choice and who has NOT received a full national ROTC scholarship.

2. If you have a parent or grandparent who has served at least four years of active duty in any U.S. military branch, please provide a DD Form 214. This information will be considered positively in the decision-making process.

Applicants must submit a 300-word essay explaining why they want to serve in the U.S. military and three letters of recommendation from teachers.

This scholarship is for Dunnellon graduating seniors only. The scholarship will be decided by a committee and awarded based on merit. Students must complete the entire online application including the uploads to be considered. A Student Grade/Test Report, as well as a letter of recommendation are required. The Student Grade/Test Report can be downloaded from the main PEFMC scholarship page. This scholarship is worth $1,000.

Ft. McCoy Elementary School is dedicated to their student’s success.  This scholarship is available for students who have attended Ft. McCoy School for the entirety of Kindergarten to fifth grade, or the entirety of sixth through eighth grade.  Ft. McCoy School is proud to give back and offer the opportunity to help in furthering education of their students.

Requirements to apply:

• Attended Ft. McCoy Elementary K-5 or Ft. McCoy Middle School 6-8
• Graduate of Marion County High School
• Completed a minimum of 20 hours of community service done during Junior and Senior years.  (verification of community service will be provided via the Scholarship Grade/Test Report)
• Applicant must be attending a 2 year college, 4 year college or Technical college
• Scholarship money will be paid directly to the institution
• Student must maintain a full time enrollment status with the institution for a full academic year
• Student needs to be willing to attend an in person interview
• Student should complete an essay following the essay guidelines
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher
• A Scholarship Grade/Test Report (can be downloaded on the main Scholarship page)
• 2 letters of recommendation (1 from school personnel and 1 from a community leader)

Applicants must be a graduating senior from Lake Weir High.

Students will choose a topic (from the list) and either write an essay or create a video submission. The information is found below:

Mr. Gibb emphatically believed in students finding their voice.

Students are encouraged to choose ONE of the following themes which resonated with the teachings and philosophies Mr. Gibb lived by:

• “Whatever you do in life, make sure it is meaningful, and purposeful.”
• “Be kind to one another.”

Then students are asked to share their voice with through one of the following formats:

• a written response/essay of chosen theme, including how you will continue to live out that theme in the future if selected for the scholarship (up to 500 words)
• up to 60 second video submission (linked with Flipgrid) including a short description of the video, how the chosen theme applies to the video, and how you will continue to live out that theme in the future if selected for the scholarship (up to 100 words)

Marilyn Hughes, a life-long educator began her teaching career in 1963. She taught at schools in Florida and California until 1985 when she joined the staff at Stanton Weirsdale Elementary. There she held positions as a teacher, Elementary Learning Specialist, Curriculum Coordinator and Assistant Principal. She served as Assistant Principal until her passing in 2016.

Mrs. Hughes earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Florida A&M University. In 1983 she received her Master’s Degree in Reading Education from California State University. Her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership comes from Nova Southeastern University.

Marilyn Hughes made a difference in the lives of many after teaching and serving as an educator for over half a century.  The Marilyn Hughes Memorial Scholarship has been established to honor the life of Mrs. Hughes and to continue her legacy of excellence in education.  This annual scholarship for $500 will benefit a high school senior who attended Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary school for at least one complete school year, a school where Mrs. Hughes was an integral part of the faculty for over thirty years.

A committee of North Marion High School Alumni has established a scholarship fund to benefit 12th grade students from North Marion High School as they graduate high school and continue their education at a college, university or vocation/technical school. Scholarship winners will be determined based on their academic performance, school and community activities, character and the need for assistance.

North Marion High holds an awards night each year where deserving graduates are awarded scholarships from families and groups. After one awards night, a group of North Marion alumni got together to discuss the establishment of an endowment scholarship to be known as the Winners Circle Scholarship.  The idea led to the formation of a committee of North Marion alumni to organize efforts in generating revenue to establish an endowment scholarship fund which will benefit graduates of North Marion High School as they continue their education at accredited college, university or vocational/technical school. The idea is to deposit contributions into the endowment account that will generate maximum interest income each year. The annual income will be used to award scholarship money each year.

The endowment fund has been established with legal counsel, professional financial advice and annual audit all provided through the Public Education Foundation of Marion County. Contributions are tax deductible and receive a tax substantiation letter.

Over the years there has been great support from alumni and friends of North Marion, including many past faculty members. Due to the number of Winners Circle members, contributors to the Winners Circle Scholarship Fund, the first scholarship was awarded to a member of the Class of 2020.  This first scholarship was for $1,000. The goal of the committee is to increase the amount and number of scholarships each year. As you consider making a contribution to the Winners Circle Scholarship Fund, remember that your generous contribution will earn interest year after year, thus providing scholarship money for years in the future. Annual contributions are welcome. Contributions in memory of someone in the North Marion family are welcome. Corporate sponsors supporting future North Marion graduates are welcome.

The committee’s goal is to increase the endowment fund each year and award at least $1000 in scholarship money each year. We encourage graduating classes to join other alumni and friends of NMHS in growing the Winners Circle Scholarship Fund.

Contributions to the Winners Circle Scholarship Fund should be sent via check made payable to: Public Education Foundation of Marion County, 1239 NW 4^th Street Ocala, FL 34475 – Please note in the memo line – Winners Circle Scholarship

To make online contributions online, go to the donate page and select Winners Circle in the menu of options.

The Committee Members:

George Keep—Class of 1958—Liaison with Educational Foundation.

Jim Stroup————Class of 1959

Billy Devore—Class of 1962

Julie (Edwards) Clegg– Class of 1967

James Clegg–Class of 1968

Brian Keep–Class of 1986

Sonja (Mullins) Christmas–Class of 1987

Dan Davis ————Class of 1973

Dale Hall———-Class of 1998

Laura Johnson——-Class of 1980

Matt Johnson—-Class of 1998

Penny(Johnson)Howard—Class of 1981

Tim Yarn———-Class of 1999

Kimberly Calvin——-Class of 1983           

Jackeria Beard—Class of  2019

Colton Smith–Class of 2019

This scholarship was established in honor and memory of Trudy Boone by her family. Trudy was an elementary educator and continued to mentor students long after she retired from teaching. She and her husband were owners of Foxfire realty where she worked as a real estate agent and trainer. This $2,000 scholarship is to be awarded to a worthy graduating senior that previously attended 8th Street Elementary or Ward Highlands Elementary. Additional scholarship requirements are included in the scholarship application linked below.

This scholarship, sponsored by the Villages Working Women Social Group, is given to a female senior graduating from Lake Weir High School and Belleview High School. The student must be attending a trade school, state college or university. If the applicant plans to enlist in the military they must also be taking at least one class from an accredited school.

“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

One $1,000 scholarship will be given.

DWCMC Do Good 4 Life Scholarship 

The scholarship committee will award two $1000 scholarships to deserving MCPS seniors.

This scholarship is intended for MCPS seniors planning to attend a state/community college, trade or vocational school.

In order to complete this application, you will need the following files ready for upload:

• Academic Grade/Test Report Form. The form includes a space to verify total number of volunteer hours. Do not submit without at least 30+ hours. (The form can be downloaded from the main PEFMC scholarship page.)
• 2 Letters of Recommendation. Both letters should be signed, dated and include the person’s name, title and
  contact information. The letter cannot be from a relative:
  • One from a current teacher, guidance counselor, administrator or similar school official that can attest to
    your academic and school achievements.
  • The second should be from a community or organizational leader that can attest to your volunteer involvement.

Students must submit a typed essay of 500 words or less on the following topic:

• Please write out your understanding of how our government works, either from the municipal, state, or national view.

Give by the members of the Lake Tropicana Civic Association to one deserving Dunnellon High School Senior. Students can be planning to attend a trade/vocational school, state college or university. Students will have to submit a recommendation letter from a teacher, administrator, employer or community leader. This scholarship is for $500.

Papa John’s has 6 core values:

Focus: keep the main thing the main thing.

Accountability: do what you say you are going to do when you say you’re going to do it.

Superiority: we expect excellence in everything we do, PAPA- people are priority always.

Attitude: if you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.

Constant Improvement: we never stop trying to surpass our previous best.

With that in mind, we are looking for two (2) seniors who wish to further their education, are driven to pursue their dreams, and have the ability to overcome adversity. These are students involved in their school, athletics, and are giving back to the community. Papa John’s believes that people are our greatest assets.

The two (2) $750 Papa John’s scholarships are available to graduating seniors at each of the Marion County Public High Schools.

Suncoast Credit Union Scholarships (2) $2,000

Suncoast Credit Union Foundation is a proud supporter of public education. Since 1990, the Foundation has provided more than 600 scholarships totaling nearly $1 million to students pursuing higher education. Scholarships are available to high school seniors who live in the counties served by Suncoast Credit Union and who demonstrate a need for financial assistance, possess leadership abilities and achieve high academic performance.

This year, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation is partnering with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County to offer (2) $2,000 scholarship awards to high school graduates in the Class of 2025.  Class of 2025 high school graduates in Suncoast Credit Union’s 21-county service territory have the opportunity to apply for financial support to continue their education, thanks to a $116,000 investment in scholarships by the Tampa-based credit union’s Foundation.

Requirements: 

• Must be a high school senior at time of application.
• Must reside in the United States.
• This award is for international and U.S. students.
• Must plan to attend accredited 4-year, 2-year, trade/vocational school in the State of Florida.
• Must demonstrate financial need.
• Must be a resident of one of the following counties in Florida: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, De Soto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, & Sumter.
• Must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and received the Electronic Student Aid Report (SAR).
• Students who are Directors, employees, or family members of Directors or employees of Suncoast Credit Union, MEMBERS Title Company, MEMBERS Insurance Center, LLC or MEMBERS     Trust Company are not eligible for this Scholarship.

Additional rules and requirements can be found on the Suncoast Credit Union Scholarship Application.

A good teacher is vital to the growth of a student’s education. Yet, the contributions of an educator often go unrecognized.  The Todd Carstenn Influential Educator Scholarship offers the chance for a Marion County Public School senior to highlight an educator (or educators) who have made significant impact on their life.

One MCPS high school senior will be awarded a $500 scholarship for their post-secondary education.

Applicant must:

• Submit a completed application (link below) to the Public Education Foundation of Marion County
• Provide the official, signed, grade/test report. (Downloadable form found on the main scholarship page)
• Provide a copy of the applicant’s Student Aid Report from the FAFSA
• Complete an Essay (See below for essay requirements)

Please write a 500 word essay about an influential educator who has made a difference in your life.

• The essay should speak to a particular educator who has made an impact on your life.
• The essay should refence specifics about why you think the educator is influential.
• The essay should include words of gratitude about the educator. (Essays will be shared.)
• The essay will consist of a cover page, to include:
  • The name and telephone number of the student
  • the name and school location of the influential educator written about in the essay
• The scholarship committee plans to share the essays with the student’s influential educator named in their application.
• The committee prefers the writer use 12-point Century Gothic font, or similar font with double spacing between the lines.

In August 2020, Danielle published her first book, Uplift and Empower: A Guide to Understanding Extreme Poverty and Poverty Alleviation. Increasing access to higher education is a core pillar of poverty alleviation work at a community level and aligns with the ideas she shares in the book. To uplift and empower her community, Danielle launched a scholarship fund. Thanks to the generosity of her support network, the fund will offer four (4) $1,000 scholarships to Marion County high school seniors. At least two finalists will be selected from Vanguard High School.

Finalists in the selection process (6–8 students) will be invited to participate in a 20-minute interview discussing their essay submissions. From those interviewed, four students will be named Uplift and Empower Scholars, receiving a $1,000 scholarship award, career-specific mentorship support, and public recognition. The remaining finalists will receive a Volunteer Achievement Award: a digital certificate recognizing their community contributions.

Application Requirements: 

• Must plan to attend an accredited 2-year college, 4-year college, certificate program, or vocational/technical college.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to improving the Ocala community and share examples of active engagement in the community through clubs, sports, volunteering, work experience, or similar activities.
• Must provide a resume detailing volunteer experience, extracurricular involvement, and work experience. (If an honors and awards section is included within the resume, students are asked to highlight honors and awards related to community engagement.)

Students will complete two (2) 500–750–word essays. 

Topic 1: How do you Uplift and Empower your community? 

The first essay is an opportunity for students to demonstrate community engagement efforts. Money does not have to be the beginning and end of a student’s engagement with poverty alleviation. Through this essay, students should demonstrate how they improve their community and explain why the work they have done is important to them. Work experience and volunteer efforts are both relevant. Students should focus on communicating how they have contributed positively to their community through clubs, sports, volunteering, work experience, or similar activities. 

Topic 2: What resources are you using to pay for college? 

The second essay is an opportunity for students to demonstrate financial need, share any other scholarships they have won or applied for (along with their amounts), and highlight any special circumstances affecting their financial situation. Students should share their financial plan for attending the college or certificate program, including: – the total estimated cost for tuition, room and board, books, and other expenses; what is the students expected financial contribution per term; what is the student’s estimated financial aid from their preferred college or certificate program; and what is the student’s plan to support themselves financially to cover any anticipated differences between the costs per term and current sources of financial support. At the end of the financial plan, students should explain how this scholarship funding would impact their circumstances. The student’s SAI number from the FAFSA should be included with the essay.