Scholarships

The Public Education Foundation of Marion County is proud to once again offer “Teacher to Be” Scholarships to non-instructional personnel. If you are part of our MCPS family and are working to become a classroom teacher, this scholarship is for you!  The “Teacher to Be” Scholarship is open to all Marion County Public School non-instructional personnel who are enrolled in college, possess an AA or AS degree and are currently working on a bachelor’s degree with the goal of becoming a teacher.

The Public Education Foundation does not provide tuition reimbursement for instructional personnel or for certification exams.

The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and support outstanding employees who have the desire to become classroom teachers.

Non-instructional employees who are working toward their teacher certification and who have been working for the district for at least 2 years are eligible to apply.

Applications are due no later than August 24, 2018.

Please click HERE Teacher to Be Scholarship Application 2018  for  the application and more details.

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 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.

Download Marilyn Hughes Memorial Scholarship

Gianni Garcia was an incredible young man who was kind-hearted, generous, a lover of his life and passionate about baseball. He was the kind of kid that would light up a room and make you feel as if you had known him a long time, even if you had just met him. Gianni could make you laugh and would console you if you were down.

Gianni was a very talented and passionate baseball player and you could see that passion for the game shine inside and outside the “white lines”. One of Gianni’s dreams was to play the game he loved as the highest level possible.

In his honor, Kohl’s Department Store created the Gianni Garcia Memorial Scholarship to help others pursue the dream of playing baseball at the next level. This $500 scholarship will be awarded to a Forest High School senior baseball player seeking to continue their education and baseball career at the collegiate level.

Download 2018 Gianni Garcia Memorial Scholarship Application

Lamar Luffman Sr. was an active member of the Agricultural Community in North Marion County. He was brought up in a family where working hard on the farm was a way of life.  After graduating Anthony High School in 1957 he worked for the local telephone company but continued to stay close to his farming roots.  He worked with the Anthony Elementary PTA and later was elected to the Marion County Council PTA.  His passion for children ultimately led him to a position on the Marion County School board where he served in that capacity for over 16 years.  He was always a champion for the children and his love of Agricultural programs inspired many in Marion County.  The Lamar Luffman Memorial Scholarship was established by his family to celebrate Lamar’s passion & contributions.

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.

Download 2018 Lamar Luffman Sr. Memorial Scholarship Application

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 2018.  Class of 2018 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.  Additional student requirements can be found on the Suncoast Credit Union Scholarship application.

Download Suncoast Credit Union Scholarship Application

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 (1)  $1500 scholarship will be awarded to a Dunnellon High senior & (1) $1500 scholarship will be awarded to a Marion County senior seeking an education in the culinary arts who has demonstrated leadership in their school and community.

Download 2018 Joshua Rossignol Memorial Scholarship Application

Mildred Boynton and Alicia Boynton laid a foundation of caring for Marion County’s children.  From Head Start to the Marion County Family Visitation Center they played a pivotal role in structuring and motivating children to aspire to dream, set, and achieve positive goals.  This Scholarship will enable students to help reach their educational goal.

There will be ( 1) $500 scholarship awarded to a high school senior from North Marion High School & (1 ) $500 scholarship awarded to a high school senior from Vanguard High School’s ROTC program.   All applicants must meet the following criteria: Eligible applicants must have a 3.5 GPA or better. Applicants are required to complete a 300-word essay and they must obtain a letter of recommendation from a teacher, guidance counselor, or high school administrator from North Marion High School.

Download 2018 Vanguard-Boynton Education Memorial Scholarship Application

Download 2018 North Marion-Boynton Education Memorial Scholarship Application

2017 David Baillie Memorial 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.

Download 2018 David Baillie Memorial Scholarship Application

Submit Application to

Dr. Anna DeWese,

Sunrise Elementary

375 Marion Oaks Course

Ocala, FL 34473

The Southern Sportsman Whitetail Foundation provides expenses for travel, lodging and food for hunting trips to Georgia and locally in Florida for disabled veterans and other disabled people who could not go hunting by themselves. The funds for this scholarship is raised through a banquet which is held in August and a golf tournament which is held in March.  Below are two separate scholarship opportunities:

AGRICULTURE

Applicants for this scholarship must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in either agriculture, through the study of 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 the involvement in Future Farmers of America, 4H, or the Southeastern Youth Fair, or through proven experience such as actual work in physical sciences at the high school level.

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

Download 2018 Southern Sportsman Whitetail Foundation Agriculture Scholarship ($1,000)

MILITARY

The Southern Sportsman Whitetail Foundation provides expenses for travel, lodging and food for hunting trips to Georgia and locally in Florida for disabled veterans and other disabled people who could not go hunting by themselves. The funds are raised through a banquet held in August and A golf tournament which is held in March.

Applicants must be pursuing a degree from one of the military academies to become a commissioned officer or plan on a career in one of the armed forces as a non-commissioned officer.

Applicants must be involved in some military organization, such as ROTC, Young Marines or some other service organization. The applicant must show student achievement, wellness, leadership and diversity.

Download 2018 Southern Sportsman Whitetail Foundation Military Scholarship ($1,000)

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 $500 scholarship is to be awarded to a senior who is seeking an education in Sports Management, Agriculture or is pursuing competitive golf in college. The candidate must be a leader in their school and community.

Download 2018 Jim & Joanne Yancey Scholarship Fund Application

The Marion County Medical Society (MCMS) was established in the 1920’s as a local affiliate organization of the American Medical Association and the Florida Medical Association which represents physicians on a national and state level respectively. The Marion County Medical Society began with five physicians and has grown to number 360 physicians serving the Marion County area. The purpose of The MCMS is to assume the general direction of the affairs of the medical profession in the area of its jurisdiction. The MCMS Memorial Scholarship was established as a way to honor and memorialize member physicians. Eligibility is fully outlined in the application.

MCMS Scholarship App 2018

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 scholarship will be offered to seniors who will become a fireman and demonstrate economic need and initiative.

Download 2018 Niko Malidelis Fire College Application

The Ocala Film Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to leading our 
community in creative and cultural discovery through the medium of motion pictures. We seek to discover and encourage independent artists worldwide and to build a community among those artists and their audience. By increasing awareness, accessibility, and a broader appreciation of the cinematic arts within our community, we endeavor to support the educational, cultural, and economic well-being of our region.

The Silver Springs International Film Festival is the presenting partner of the Ocala Film
 Foundation. The Festival is an international cultural event created to elevate awareness of
 Ocala/Marion County, Florida’s Silver Springs State Park and the area’s contributions to
 cinema, as well as the cultural landscape of Florida. Through the Festival, our goal is to offer 
scholarships to area students interested in the media arts and provide (and upgrade) necessary equipment for our Marion County schools through classroom grants. The Festival will also serve to encourage filmmakers to utilize the areas’ pristine natural resources and unique culture and character.

2018 Ocala Film Festival Scholarship application

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 Belleview High School, Forest High School, Lake Weir High School, Vanguard High School, and West Port High Schools.

Download Papa Johns Scholarship Application

James M. Frazier was an active Phi Delta Kappa member and past president of the local Florida Springs chapter. He used his unfailing enthusiasm for PDK and education to inspire others to get involved. It was his dream to help as many young people as possible achieve their goal of a career in teaching.

The Jim Frazier Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a deserving applicant who meets the following criteria: eligible applicants must be students or employees of the Marion County Public Schools and must have a desire to be a classroom teacher. Eligible applicants include high school seniors intending to major in education, Marion County Public School employees who are enrolled in an undergraduate teacher education program, or teachers who are seeking additional certifications. The recipient is selected by the scholarship committee of the Florida Springs Chapter #1434 of Phi Delta Kappa in Ocala, Florida.

Download PDK/Jim Frazier Memorial Scholarship Application

The Spruce Creek Golf & Country Club Garden Club was established in 2003. The purpose of the Garden Club is to promote interest in gardening and landscaping, to gain and expand knowledge of all areas of horticulture, including floral arranging and garden related activities, and to encourage and participate in our community beautification projects.

The Club is offering two (2) $1,000 scholarships for the 2017-2018 year. These $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors who plan to pursue horticulture and/or related areas. Full- or part-time students with a 2.5 GPA (or above) are eligible. Preference is given to graduating seniors from Belleview High or Lake Weir High although it is open to all seniors in Marion County high schools.

Download Spruce Creek Golf & Country Club Garden Scholarship Application

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 $500 scholarship will be awarded to 1 Marion County high school senior who meets the following criteria:

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 who has served a minimum of four years active duty in any of the U.S. military branches.
Applicants are required to submit a 300 word essay, three letters of recommendation from teachers and a DD Form 214 certifying their parent’s military discharge.

2018 Walter William Wade Memorial Scholarship application

Classic Hits 104.7 Community Scholarship Fund ($500)-CLOSED-

2017-2018 Classic Hits 104.7 Community Scholarship Application

The Classic Hits 104.7 Community Scholarship Fund is an outreach program of Community Radio WITG.  In 2012, WITG awarded twelve, $500 scholarships to high school seniors attending the 6 major high schools within its listening area.  Those schools include Westport, Vanguard, & Forest.   The total number of scholarships awarded is dependent upon the support received from area businesses; however, WITG guarantees a minimum of one $500 scholarship per school.  Applications are available on the first day of school and must be turned in by Friday, December 1, 2017 by 4:00pm to the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.  All scholarships will be awarded in January 2018.

The competition is open to all students entering their senior year of high school and plan to attend college.  The scholarship is available for any major area of study chosen by the winner.  Applicants will be judged on the following:  (a) non-weighted grade point average (b) amount of community service (c) maximum 500 word essay entitled “What the Ocala Community Means To Me”