Tampa, Fl – (January 13, 2025) – Last year, Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) awarded over $900,000 in scholarships to local students—and this year, they’re looking to give away even more to help high school seniors tackle college costs and avoid student loan debt. But time is of the essence—applications close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, January 31, 2025.
HEF, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every student in Hillsborough County receives an outstanding public education, is once again offering a wide array of scholarships to empower students to pursue higher education at universities, community colleges, technical colleges, or trade schools. This year’s scholarships range from $500 to $40,000, and with no minimum GPA requirement for some of them, there’s really no reason not to apply.
“My advice to students is to just fill out an application and not overthink things, or wonder if you’re good enough to qualify,” said Angie Anthony, Director of Scholarships and Grants for Hillsborough Education Foundation. “By not applying, you could be leaving large sums of money just sitting on the table, which places a greater burden on you and your family to come up with funding.”
Through HEF’s streamlined process, students can complete a single application to access multiple scholarship opportunities. While some scholarships may require additional essays based on specific criteria, this efficient approach saves time and creates pathways to transformative educational opportunities.
Scholarships are awarded based on a variety of criteria, including GPA, financial need, field of study, challenges overcome, school and community service, SAT/ACT scores, or extracurricular activity participation.
“These scholarships represent the shared commitment of our business partners, community organizations, and individual donors to unlocking opportunities for students,” said Anna Corman, President and CEO of Hillsborough Education Foundation. “This funding not only alleviates financial challenges but also enables students to build the foundation for a successful future.”
How to Apply:
- Visit EducationFoundation.com/SeniorScholarships to explore available scholarships and submit an application before the deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, January 31, 2025.
- Recipients will be announced in the Spring of 2025.
Scholarship Reviewers Needed:
- Help make a difference in the lives of local students by becoming a scholarship reviewer.
- Each application is scored by three independent volunteers, and the process is entirely online.
- The review period runs from February 6–28, 2025.
- Contact Angie Anthony at aanthony@educationfoundation.com or (813) 574-0273 to learn more.
About Hillsborough Education Foundation
Every child deserves access to the best possible education — and the teachers, tools, and trusted mentors they need to succeed. But today, this fundamental right remains out of reach for too many young people in our community. Hillsborough Education Foundation works to ensure every student in Hillsborough County receives an outstanding public education that equips them for a fulfilling future. By unlocking opportunities for students, investing in teachers, and strengthening public schools, we’ll make Hillsborough County Public Schools one of the best places to learn and teach, where 100% of students graduate with the ability to pursue anything they can dream. Learn more and join us at EducationFoundation.com.
