Florida Collaboratory Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Collaboratory

Scholarship Program Overview

The scholarship program supports students at every stage of their educational journey, including high school students, adult learners, and undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants are primarily from Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties, and may attend vocational or technical colleges, state colleges, or universities anywhere in the country. Awards are based on criteria such as academic achievement, community service, field of study, athletic participation, and attendance at specific schools. One application can match students with multiple scholarship opportunities.

• Scholarships serve students at a range of educational stages.
• Eligible institutions may be located anywhere in the country.
• One application provides consideration for multiple scholarships.

Application Process

The application begins with questions that determine which scholarships you may be eligible to receive. You will then answer short-response questions and submit the required documents before submitting your main application. After submission, you can review the scholarship programs for which you qualify and view their descriptions, requirements, and award amounts by selecting “View Program Details.” Some programs may request additional documents after you submit the main application.

1. Answer eligibility questions: Read each question carefully and answer honestly.
2. Complete short responses: Follow the instructions, answer every part of each question, and stay within any word or character limits. You can preview the questions in the “Required Materials Checklist” section.
3. Upload required documents: Submit your transcript, one letter of recommendation, and the FAFSA Submission Summary for the year requested on the current application.
4. Review qualified programs: Check the details, requirements, and award amounts for each scholarship for which you qualify.
5. Submit additional materials, if requested: Some scholarships require extra documentation, such as essays, additional letters, or specific forms. Only applicants to programs requiring these materials will be prompted to submit them.

• Complete all required questions and uploads before submitting the main application.
• Check program details after submission for any additional requirements.

Required Materials

Prepare the required documents before beginning your application to help ensure a smooth submission process. Your transcript should be the most up-to-date official or unofficial record appropriate to your academic status. The required recommendation letter must be written during the current academic year by someone who knows you well and can speak to your character, goals, and potential. Letters from family members or friends are not accepted.

Academic transcript: Submit your most recent official or unofficial transcript. High school seniors can request a current transcript from their school counseling office, college students should submit their most recent college transcript, and GED holders should upload a copy of their GED certificate.

Letter of recommendation: Request one letter written during the current academic year. Suitable recommenders include teachers, coaches, mentors, faith leaders, employers, and volunteer supervisors. The letter should describe the recommender’s relationship to you, your character and personal qualities, your potential in your chosen career path, and your educational or career goals. It should include specific examples of your strengths and be thoughtful, personalized, and sufficiently detailed.

FAFSA Submission Summary: Upload the summary for the year requested on the current application.

• Gather your transcript, recommendation letter, and FAFSA Submission Summary before applying.
• Ask your recommender early to allow time for a thoughtful, detailed letter.

Application Response Prompts

The application includes short-response questions about your education, experiences, goals, and personal qualities. Read each prompt carefully and address every part of the question. Use specific details to explain your circumstances, choices, and plans. Where indicated, connect your responses to your future career goals.

Choice of major:

• Why did you choose your major, and how do you plan to use your degree or certification?

Financial need:

• Describe your financial circumstances and explain why you are seeking scholarship funds. Include details about your situation and the impact receiving a scholarship would have on you.

Community service, leadership, and work experience:

• Tell us about your community service, leadership, and work experience.
• How do you spend your time outside class? Include work, family caregiving, extracurricular activities, community service, and other after-school responsibilities. Provide details.

Your impact: Connect your responses to your future career goals.

• What local community problem do you want to solve, and how do you plan to use your future success to help address it?
• What is your passion, and how did you discover it?

Your drive:

• If you had a full day with no limits on what you could do, buy, or experience, how would you spend it, and why?
• Describe a challenge, setback, or failure that made you think you might not succeed but that you overcame. How did the experience affect you, and what did you learn from it?

• Use specific examples to support your responses.
• Follow each prompt’s instructions and any word or character limits.

Personal Statement

The personal statement asks you to reflect on people who inspire you and the person you are today. Respond to both prompts with thoughtful detail, and follow the instruction not to include your name in the letter to your future self. Address that letter as “Dear Future Self.”

People who inspire you: If you could have dinner with one living person and one historical figure who have inspired you, whom would you choose, and what would you want to discuss?

Letter to your future self: Write a letter describing what you want your future self to remember about who you are today. Include details about your current qualities and characteristics, and address the letter “Dear Future Self” without using your name.

• Answer both personal statement prompts.
• Address the letter to your future self and do not include your name.