The St. Joe Community Foundation, an organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life of the people in Northwest Florida, recently announced the creation of a new scholarship program designed to encourage area high school students to engage in leadership and community service. Designated the “No Ordinary JOE Scholarship,’ the program will offer scholarships to dozens of public high school students in Bay and Walton Counties to assist in the cost of college tuition.
Students from both counties in every public high school will be eligible for the scholarship which will be awarded based upon student history of leadership and community service, and a GPA of at least 3.0.
Three seniors from each eligible school will be selected to receive a $500 scholarship. Of those, one student from each school will be selected to receive an additional $2,500 scholarship. One recipient from each county will be awarded the No Ordinary JOE Scholarship in the amount of $10,000. Scholarship funds will be paid towards a degree program at the recipients’ chosen college. The program will commence with the high school graduating class of 2022.
“This new scholarship allows the Foundation to make an impact in every part of Bay and Walton County on an annual basis,” said April Wilkes, Executive Director of The St. Joe Community Foundation in a recent press release about the new scholarship program. “Education is one of the primary focus areas of the Foundation and the No Ordinary JOE Scholarship enables us to recognize and reward these extraordinary students as they prepare to further their education.”
“This scholarship opportunity epitomizes The St. Joe Community Foundation’s commitment to the community, local families, and education,” said Russell Hughes, Superintendent of the Walton County School District said in a press release. “Bringing this opportunity to our students and their families in Walton County will have a significant impact and enhance the work we are doing as a district.”
Since its inception in 1999, the Foundation has granted over $30 million in Northwest Florida. The Foundation provides charitable grants toward the civic infrastructure of communities in Northwest Florida. To learn more about the Foundation and the No Ordinary JOE Scholarship, visit www.joefoundation.com.
