(Bradenton, Fla., March 14, 2025)—The State College of Florida Foundation hosted its 24th Annual Scholarship Luncheon at Michael’s On East with the theme “Scholarships Change Futures.” Over $191,000 was raised to support SCF scholarships and programs.  

Scholarship donors and recipients met and had their photos taken together as a special element of the celebration. The SCF Presidential String Quartet and Cassandra Holmes, vice president of advancement and executive director of the SCF Foundation, welcomed 280 guests, including sponsors, donors, scholarship recipients, staff and volunteers. Jane Esbeck, vice president of the SCF Foundation Board of Directors, gave the invocation.   

Following lunch, Lee Broyles, director of service center operations at Suncoast Credit Union, discussed the credit union’s enthusiasm for 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,” said Broyles. “We remain devoted to supporting education in our communities.” 

SCF President Tommy Gregory, J.D. recognized the scholarship recipients.

“I love that this event brings together our students and their benefactors,” said Gregory. “It’s not often that we get to see and hear how our contributions are impacting individuals, let alone meet them. The impact is life changing.”

Brittany DeMars, the student speaker and recipient of the Bertha Gibbons Nursing Scholarship and the Maudelle H. Giles Nursing Scholarship, spoke about her education and life journey. DeMars told the story of how she became a nursing student at SCF.

“The rigorous nature of the SCF Nursing program required me to reduce my work hours significantly, and I was worried about how I was going to fill that financial void,” said DeMars. “These two scholarships have allowed me to attend my nursing classes and clinicals with less worry about missing income from my job. I would not be here today without each of you in this room.”

Event sponsors included Title Sponsor: Suncoast Credit Union; Master Level: Neal Land & Neighborhoods, Manatee Memorial Foundation Inc.; Baccalaureate Level: Bradenton Herald, Florida Power & Light, Timothy & Cindy McCollum Foundation; Associate Level: Mosaic, Willis Smith Construction, MCR, Tandem Construction, SEI; Certificate Level: First Horizon Bank, Halfacre Construction, The Pops Orchestra, Observer Media Group, and Hepner Architects.

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

Photo caption: SCF President Tommy Gregory and SCF Nursing Program student speaker and-scholarship winner Brittany DeMars at the scholarship luncheon.

Photo caption: The SCF Presidential String Quartet at the scholarship luncheon.