Pensacola Pledge Scholarship

Pensacola Pledge Scholarship

UWF is honored to have Quinton (''Quint") Dean Studer and Mary Patricia Perdue Studer ("Rishy") as the sponsors of the Pensacola Pledge Scholarship program. Thanks to their generosity, students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida will have more opportunity to pursue higher education and more incentive to achieve while in high school.

The scholarship is valued at up to $8,000 over a four-year period (up to $2,000 per year). It is renewable as long as eligibility requirements are met for up to eight undergraduate semesters (four years).

In addition to financial support, scholars will be acknowledged at city and community events. They will also have the opportunity to serve as representatives of their institution and mentors to future City of Pensacola graduates at recruitment events, open houses, and transition programs.

Eligibility

Incoming freshmen who meet these qualifications will be considered for a Pensacola Pledge Scholarship:

• A First Time in College (FTIC) student.
• Attend and graduate from a high school or home school program in Escambia or Santa Rosa County in Florida.
• Offered admission to UWF by April 1.
• Submitted a completed Pensacola Pledge Scholarship Application by April 1.

A completed application includes a Pensacola Pledge Scholars application, two letters of recommendation, and a 500-word essay on "what being a citizen of Northwest Florida means to me."

Pensacola Pledge Application

Renewal

In order to maintain eligibility, scholars must meet the following renewal criteria:

• Maintain full-time status (12 hours) at UWF.
• Maintain a combined college 3.00 GPA or higher.
• Complete a minimum of 25 hours of community service per academic year in the Escambia County School District Mentoring Program.

The Studer Family

Quint and Rishy Studer have focused their gifts and investments on community-based philanthropy, job creation and educational attainment. Through their corporate work to improve healthcare for patients in Pensacola and around the world; investment in Pensacola's downtown historic district, waterfront, and the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos minor league baseball team; and philanthropic work to publicly and privately assist families in need, the Studers play an integral role in Pensacola's growth and development.

Quint Studer is the founder of the Studer Community Institute, a nonprofit, research-based entity started in 2014 with the goal of improving the quality of life in the community. SCl's efforts focus on improving education and economic development through three tracks: Research and advocacy in early childhood education, leadership training and employee development for small and medium­sized businesses and increasing civic knowledge and engagement. In his new book, "Building a Vibrant Community," he addresses the what and the why, but also provides a blueprint for how your community can get from where it is now to where it wants to be.

Rishy Studer devotes her time to community development in the Pensacola area. She has been a driving force in the revitalization of historic Pensacola's urban areas. Projects have included rebuilding a turn-of-the-century property now occupied by the Bodacious family of shops, which Rishy Studer oversees.

Longtime supporters of UWF, the Studers helped to establish the UWF Center for Entrepreneurship in the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, thanks to a $1 million gift in 2015. Quint Studer serves as entrepreneur in residence at the Center, guiding Northwest Florida business owners and entrepreneurial students. Since 2012, the Studers have funded the Pensacola Pledge Scholars Program, providing scholarships for graduating high school seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties to attend college locally at UWF. Most recently, the Studers gifted a $150,000 Interactive Early Learning Playground to UWF at Museum Plaza, a historic preservation and education initiative in Historic Pensacola. At the Spring 2018 Commencement, Quint and Rishy Studer were recognized for their achievements and leadership. President Saunders named each of the Studers an Honorary Doctor of Letters. The honorary doctorate degree recognizes distinguished performance and is regarded as the highest form of recognition a university can bestow.