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Scholarship makes college dreams much more possible
By ALEXANDRA CALDWELL
| Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009 |
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| Photo by ALEXANDRA CALDWELL |
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| Scholarship recipients enjoy a reception and an early check from the College Fund of Pinellas Dec. 30. From left, Rodrica Dixon of Clearwater, Argentis Burgos of St. Petersburg, Cindy Rust of Clearwater, Molly McGowan of Largo, William McCullough of Clearwater and Bethany Holman of Largo. |
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PINELLAS COUNTY – When Audry Scheidenhelm asked the students in her all-black dance troupe what classes they were taken, they replied, “Whatever they’ll let us take.” It was 1964.
“I discovered that Pinellas High School (in Clearwater,) which was all black, was not teaching chemistry, foreign languages, and they’d never even heard of the SAT,” Scheidenhelm said. “‘Black people don’t do things like that’ (was the mentality.) So we went to them and said, could we pick out five or six or seven top juniors and take them to Clearwater High School each morning to take these classes? And the welcome we got was unbelievable. ‘Don’t sit next to me’ was the attitude, but we started a group with the League of Women Voters tutoring them for the SAT, and then we talked the Rotary into paying for five applications to college. And so in ’65 we sent off our top eight kids to college.”
And thus, the College Fund of Pinellas was formed.
In its 43 years of existence, the organization has helped about 600 students attend college throughout the nation.
Currently 29 students are receiving renewable scholarships. The students are from Clearwater, Seminole, Largo, Belleair Bluffs, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs. The requirements to receive the grant, which is usually $1,000 each year, is that they maintain at least a C average, take a full course load and have been deemed financially needy by receiving a Pell Grant from the federal government.
Scheidenhelm, currently the vice president of student relations for the organization, said the most rewarding part of being involved in the group has been seeing what a difference it makes in people’s lives, especially since many of the students become the first people in their families to graduate from college.
Some of the current scholarship recipients attended a reception and holiday party Dec. 30 at the Clearwater Main Library and said the scholarship is crucial to their success.
“It’s helped because I couldn’t actually afford to go to college unless I had scholarships because I go to a private university,” said Molly McGowan of Largo, who is studying journalism and creative writing at Elon University in North Carolina. “This semester it’s helped because I studied abroad in London and I got to experience that without having a ton of loans to pay off in the end. I’ve gotten to get some good experiences and make some contacts over there.”
Cindy Rust of Clearwater also said she would not be able to attend college if it were not for scholarships like this one. Rust is studying nursing at Saint Petersburg College and her scholarship has helped pay for books.
“I wouldn’t be able to become a midwife if I didn’t have this education, and I wouldn’t be able to pursue my dream,” Rust said.
Rodrica Dixon of Clearwater, another scholarship recipient, is entering her last semester at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, and is set to graduate May 2 with a degree in business administration, concentrating in management.
“I someday want to own or manage my own business,” Dixon said, and this scholarship has helped her afford college. When she graduates, she will become the first person in her immediate family to earn a college degree, and she said she hopes her two younger sisters will follow in her footsteps.
For applications or information, visit www.collegefundpinellas.org.
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Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009
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