(Bradenton, Fla., Dec. 14, 2023) — The State College of Florida Foundation recently hosted its 23rd Annual Scholarship Luncheon at Michael’s On East, with this year’s theme, “Take Your Career to the Next Degree.” The event raised over $150,000 to support scholarships and programs at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF).

An SCF Presidential String Quartet performance welcomed the 280 guests, which included a mix of sponsors, donors, student scholarship recipients, staff and volunteers. Each table was festively decorated with mortar boards and tassels nestled in a bed of daisies.

Before the invocation from SCF Foundation Board of Directors President Chris Romine, Executive Director Cassandra Holmes thanked those who had gathered. “We are here today connecting our donors with their scholarship recipients and the academic programs they so generously support,” Holmes said.

Following lunch, Kourtney Berry, Executive Director of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation and John A. Neal, President of Neal Land & Neighborhoods, shared their enthusiasm for being a part of the event’s mission. “We are here today to recognize those who have donated to and received scholarships awarded by the State College of Florida Foundation,” Berry said. “Today we remain devoted to supporting education in our communities. Since its inception in 1990, our Foundation has raised and donated more than $40 million to organizations that make our communities a better place to live.”

Neal noted that “thanks to these scholarships, you are investing in a future workforce, and this is helping to shape the future of our community. The return on this investment is priceless, generational and transformative.”

SCF President Dr. Carol Probstfeld recognized the 2023-2024 SCF Foundation scholarship recipients. “At SCF, we know not everyone will attend college,” she said. “However, we believe everyone should be able to do so and to pursue careers that motivate and fulfill them, serve our community and positively impact our society. We thank you for being part of the SCF family and helping to make higher education possible for so many.”

Scholarship recipient Julia Garcia shared moments from her educational and life journey. Garcia is majoring in business administration and management and worked in the medical field for 26 years before enrolling at SCF. “Through programs, classes and scholarships at SCF, I now have the opportunity to get advanced training in my field and take my career to the next degree,” she said. This year, she was awarded the Helena Ruth Hall Scholarship and the SCF Ambassador Scholarship, which has helped her attend school without the need for student loans.

Sponsors of the event included:

• Title Sponsor: Suncoast Credit Union
• Doctorate Level: Neal Land & Neighborhoods
• Master Level: Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Marion R. McNulty Charitable Fund); Manatee Memorial Foundation Inc.; HCA Florida Blake Hospital; SEI Investments Company; Tandem Construction
• Baccalaureate Level: Observer Media Group; WWSB ABC-7
• Associate Level: The Mosaic Company, Gallagher & Hagopian; Coastal Orthopedics; Willis Smith Construction; Gilbane Building Company
• Certificate Level: Ability to Include; The Cota Group; Jaymie Carter; Northwestern Mutual; Sunwest Bank.

To learn more about the SCF Foundation, visit SCF-Foundation.org or call 941-752-5390.