Two students, best friends, who attend International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High School were chosen as two of 12 finalists for the Leaders 4 Life Fellowship for Take Stock in Children scholarship.

Vanessa Colchado and Crismerly Santibanez applied together for the college scholarship valued at up to $40,000 over four years. Both were told they were finalists in the process and each girl received a Mac Airbook Pro at a special surprise senior assembly held in their honor.

Two days later Vanessa and Crismerly encouraged each other as they filmed a five-minute talk that would be used to select the five recipients. Each encouraged the other to talk about themselves and what they have done to help their communities.

Once the filming was done, the girls wished each other good luck and went back to class to wait.

Last Tuesday, the five statewide recipients were announced and only one received the award created in partnership with the Asofsky Family Foundation. Vanessa Colchado will now be able to achieve her dream of a post-secondary education from a Florida state college of her choice, free of all expenses. She is awaiting an answer from her dream school Harvard but may attend University of Florida where she can reunite with her best friend, Crismerly, who also plans to attend UF.

These two highly motivated scholars and 107 others in Polk County are among several thousand high school students who benefited from the Take Stock in Children. Students who meet eligibility requirements can apply for the program in eighth and 10th grades if they have a qualifying physical
disability.

All of the finalists and recipients were selected based on their demonstration of strong leadership skills, moral character and academic success. The five recipients will be recognized during a special reception at Take Stock in Children’s annual State Leadership Conference on Jan. 11 in Tallahassee.

Take Stock in Children, a statewide non-profit organization with a 16-year history of breaking the cycle of poverty by providing scholarships, mentors and hope, is a strong believer in the mission of this program, which is to enable these students to excel in a university environment by giving them the resources that empower them to develop their full potential as leaders for life.

“We take great pride in offering our Leaders 4 Life Fellowship as it provides all of the tools necessary to prepare these top-notch students for becoming tomorrow’s great leaders,” said Mark Asofsky, founder of the Asofsky Family Foundation.

Take Stock in Children’s Leaders 4 Life Fellowship Program was created last year in partnership with the Asofsky Family Foundation to provide financial resources, services and support needed to ensure student success throughout college.

Every successful graduate of the Take Stock in Children program receives a two-year or four-year tuition scholarship through the Florida Prepaid Foundation. The Fellowship will provide funding for unmet financial college expenses including costs of housing, food, textbooks, supplies, transportation and other college-related expenses, leadership training and development will also be provided.

To learn more about the program, call (863) 519-8077 or visit www.polk
educationfoundation.org/tsic