March 13, 2007

UWF ANNOUNCES $35,000 GIFT TO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

PENSACOLA - The University of West Florida has announced a gift of $35,000 from Capital Trust Agency of Gulf Breeze, which will provide $25,000 for the university's First Generation Scholarship and $10,000 for the ARGO Scholars Program.

"We are grateful for Capital Trust Agency's generous support of UWF's efforts to provide opportunity to students who have great potential but limited means to afford higher education," said UWF President John Cavanaugh. "The university is very committed to this aspect of its mission, and it's wonderful when others provide this type of support."

The First Generation Scholarship is awarded to students whose parents did not graduate with bachelor's degrees or who were raised by a single parent who did not graduate with an undergraduate degree. This spring, UWF awarded $1,000 scholarships to 327 deserving students.

Four Pensacola High School students will be selected each year starting in 2007 to participate in the ARGO Scholars Program. ARGO scholars are identified in the 10th grade and supported and mentored through their high school careers. For scholars who choose to attend UWF, the goal is to provide students with support for tuition, room and board and book expenses, as well as fund a study abroad experience for each student.

"The board of directors of the Capital Trust Agency understands the value of education in supporting students who come from a living environment with lower economic means," said Ed Gray III, executive director of Capital Trust Agency. "Reversing the cycle of lower income households being a way of life begins with having offspring that achieve success through educational opportunities."

For more information, contact Sara Groh, UWF Division of Development, at (850) 857-6112 or e-mail sgroh@uwf.edu.