Jacksonville, FL— VyStar Credit Union is thrilled to announce that 18 outstanding students from our High School Branch Program will be awarded two-year Florida Prepaid College Plan scholarships in partnership with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation (FPCF).
FPCF matched VyStar’s contribution toward these scholarships’ dollar-for-dollar, doubling the impact. Each scholarship covers 60 credit hours at a Florida public college, or the equivalent funding at another qualified educational institution.
“These scholarships represent our unwavering commitment to empowering young minds and investing in the future of our communities,” said VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolfburg. “As we celebrate their achievements, we are proud to support their educational journeys and look forward to witnessing the impact they will undoubtedly make as future leaders.”
Students enrolled in a VyStar Academy of Business High School Branch Program in eight school districts were eligible to apply. The program was established in 2006 and has provided 2,004 paid internship opportunities and delivered financial education training to more than 130,000 students.
“We are proud to partner with VyStar to offer 2-year college scholarships to these deserving students,” said Florida Prepaid College Foundation Director Cynthia O’Connell. “VyStar has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting financial education and literacy, supporting the future workforce in Florida.”
The winners were selected from a pool of 56 exceptional candidates. These students have demonstrated not only academic excellence but also remarkable leadership, dedication, and promise. Grading criteria included categories such as GPA, short essay, work experience, extracurricular activities/community service and more. One student was selected from each High School Program.
VyStar High School Branch Scholarship Recipients
- Bartram Trail High School – Maria Rita Mankin
- Bradford High School – Teagan Bradley
- Belleview High School – Amy Fuentes Rodriguez
- Clay High School – Drew Boree
- Fernandina Beach High School – Jasmine Marie Benwell
- First Coast High School – Illyana Recinos
- Fleming Island High School – Khloe Lloyd
- Fletcher High School – Briana Thomas
- Mandarin High School – Kadyn Par
- Matanzas High School – Austin Weeks
- Middleburg High School – Makayla Marie Rathjen
- Orange Park High School – Emily Moore
- Palatka High School – Amaris Mack
- Pedro Menendez High School – Lindsey Shea Pacetti
- Ribault High School – Skye Andrews
- West Nassau High School – Victoria Nichole McCormack (Brown)
- Wolfson High School – Amina Zelihic
- Yulee High School – Skylar Powell
Learn more about the VyStar High School Program.
About VyStar Credit Union
VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with over 80 branches and now serves more than 975,000 members with assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is the top mortgage lender in Northeast Florida and a major employer in the region with over 2,500 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, and past and present military members and their families all over the world. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.
About the Florida Prepaid College Foundation
Since its founding in 1990, the Foundation has committed to giving aspiring students the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and our state by providing college scholarships funded through partnerships with individuals, businesses, educational foundations, and the Florida Legislature. The Foundation administers several innovative scholarship programs, including Project STARS and the new Challenge Match Scholarship Programs, designed to help students achieve their dream of earning a college education. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than 58,000 Florida Prepaid College Plan scholarships, and more than 36,000 Foundation scholarship recipients have gone to college using their benefits. The Foundation is the 501(c)(3) direct support organization for the Florida Prepaid College Board. To learn more about the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, visit here.
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