In a year when graduation ceremonies and cap and gown photos transitioned to drive-thru parades and virtual commencements, so too changed scholarship announcements. As part of awarding more than $1,304,230 to 407 students in May, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County turned to surprise scholarship announcements, leveraging creative, digital solutions from Zoom calls to hand-delivered personal plaques and yard signs to provide memorable experiences for all award recipients. “While nothing can replace invaluable milestones, such as graduation or homecoming, our hope is that we can shine a little light for students and their families as they chart their path forward to success. Wherever this path may take them, we are excited to be a part of their story and support them along the way,” says Lindsey Masterson, Manager of Scholarships and Grants at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Many of this year’s recipients were awarded through the Community Foundation’s Traditional Scholarship Program, which offers opportunities for more than 70 different types of scholarships through a single application. Recipients were selected based on need, merit, or a combination of both, and the scholarships are designed to satisfy and fulfill a diverse array of academic goals. With this support, students graduating within Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, and Charlotte counties, as well as current college students under 24 years of age who graduated from high schools within these four counties, have the opportunity to pursue higher education at colleges or technical schools and fulfill their personal and professional goals.

The 337 Traditional Scholarship recipients were selected from 595 student applications. Those applications were submitted electronically to the Community Foundation, and a dedicated group of 63 volunteer community members meticulously reviewed submissions through our online application system and select committee members conducted thorough Zoom interviews as part of the awards process. “Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the resiliency and flexibility shown by our local students is reassuring about our future,” said Roxie Jerde, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “As these future leaders enter the next stage of their academic lives, we are so proud to support them on this journey of knowledge. Our donors recognize that education is the gateway to a lifetime of success, and it’s thanks to their vision that we can invest in these outstanding individuals.”