More than 60 high school students were presented with $414,000 in college scholarships during Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County’s (BBBSBC) BIG Futures Scholar Celebration, presented by Ana G. Méndez University. The seniors who completed BBBSBC’s mentoring programs also received the BBBS honor cord as a symbol of their dedication and milestone they can proudly wear at graduation.
“From the day each of these remarkable students were matched with their Bigs to now, I have witnessed so much growth and maturity in them personally and academically,” said Malena Mendez, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County. “Their accomplishments are a testament to the power of mentorship. I am so proud of them and look forward to seeing what the future has in store as they further their education with these scholarships. I am grateful to our community partners for investing in our youth and putting them on a path to career readiness”.
The following scholarships were awarded to mostly seniors, but to some juniors and sophomores as well: The Florida Prepaid College Foundation Path to Prosperity Scholarship powered by Florida Power and Light; Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship; Women on the Verge Big Futures Scholarship; Schutt Family Scholarship; World Career Academy Scholarship; Charles Greenlee Scholarship Fund; Ana G. Méndez Presidential University Scholarship; Myrtle L. Maragh Scholarship; and Spirit of Opportunity Scholars Scholarship supported by the Spirit Charit-able Foundation. The Florida Prepaid College Foundation Path to Prosperity, Coke Florida Refreshing Minds, Women on the Verge Big Futures, Schutt Family and Spirit of Opportunity Scholars scholarships are matched dollar-for-dollar by Florida Prepaid.
The BIG Futures program provides college and career readiness to Broward County high school juniors and seniors through monthly four-to-five-hour sessions at a local business, where students are partnered with an employee of the business who serves as their Big or mentor. During each session, topics such as interview skills, resume writing and financial literacy are discussed. Bigs and Littles complete an activity that corresponds with the lesson, as well as a social-emotional learning exercise that is part of a mental health and wellness initiative called Little Steps, Big Strides. Littles are given the opportunity to explore the roles and responsibilities of their Bigs within the organization.