The Take Stock in Children program is more than just money for college. It has given me motivation and served as an inspiration for all my present and future endeavors. Tack Stock truly cares about its students both academically as well as in life. The unique aspect of this scholarship program is that each student in it is given a mentor throughout the duration of the program. As a student, our mentors are one of the most important things this program has given us, because they are our biggest supporters. My mentor has made a huge impact on my life and continues to do so each day. When I look back on my high school years, I still remember looking forward to my weekly lunch meeting with my mentor. She was always there to cheer me and to be there as an outlet. I truly am grateful for the amount of time each mentor takes out of their lives to give to their mentees. I’m currently a nursing major sophomore in college and have just successfully completed all of my prerequisites for the Gulf Coast State College AS-RN program. This scholarship has definitely eased the financial burden of attending college. I thank all of the donors that contributed to funding the Take Stock in Children program. The generosity of this program has inspired me to continue to help others and the community. I know that the day I am in a financial position to do so, I will support the Take Stock program that gave me the biggest tool in my life, my education.

~ TL
Panama City

The Take Stock in Children scholarship from the Bay Education Foundation is probably the best thing to ever happen to me. Not being from an affluent family, I was not promised the funds to go to college. Though my grades were above average, even that didn’t guarantee me a trip to college. But this Foundation gave me hope—and still does today. If it weren’t for the Foundation, I have no idea where I might be today, especially considering my background. However, having the scholarship has not made me lazy or a slacker in any kind of way. If anything, it has made me strive for even higher goals. This scholarship was the seed and from this scholarship a mighty oak will be grown. It has been seven years since I was inducted into the ranks of Take Stock. Since then, I graduated from high school, and I am now attending the University of West Florida, completing my junior year in three months. I still have a way to go because Electrical Engineering is my major, and it takes about five years to complete. I want to do it in four. The scholarship was only the beginning. Just you wait.

~ DS
Panama City

Growing up I always knew I wanted to go to college, but I never knew if that would be possible due to the financial status of my family. Thanks to the Take Stock scholarship, I am about to being my senior year at the fastest growing university in the nation! This program has not only helped me pay for college but also it has inspired me and pushed me to do more. This program is a valuable, one-of-a-kind program where everyone is pushing for the success of the scholars. From the Foundation board members and donors to my mentor—everyone has showed me they genuinely care about helping students who would not otherwise be able to further their education have a chance! With the constant encouragement of Foundation members and mentors, this program sets its scholars up for success. Among endless list of things I learned from this program, this program teaches its scholars how to be responsible and accountable, how to give back to the community, how to network, how to stay organized and, most importantly, how to be set goals for yourself and never give up on them. I am grateful to have started this program in middle school and hope to be a donor when I finish nursing school at the University of Central Florida and start my career as a Registered Nurse in 2013. I feel like I have gained so much from Take Stock in Children and want to give another student the same opportunity I was given.

~ KM
Panama City