![President Saunders with 2023 UWF Top Scholars](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Top_Scholars_2023_Group.jpg)
UWF Top Scholars
Bright minds and brilliant futures.
And we’re here to set them on the best path.
The University of West Florida attracts high-performing students from across the country—those with potential to become future leaders who will change the world. We’re proud to call them Argos, and we show it by rewarding their hard work with our most prestigious scholarships.
Each year, we award the best and brightest freshmen with the University's top scholarships, valued at more than $50,000 each. We believe in the power of higher education to change lives—and this is one way we’re making it happen.
National Merit Finalists
Each year, more than one million high school juniors enter the National Merit Scholarship Competition and approximately 15,000 meet the requirements for Finalist standing. Learn about the National Merit Finalists who chose UWF below.
Not Pictured: Joshua Wood
President’s Scholarship Competition Recipients
UWF hosts an annual, one-day competition where the best and brightest students from across the state vie for the institution’s top scholarships. We believe in rewarding our own talented students of today and providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to become leaders, guiding our state into the future.
Pace Presidential Award Recipients
![Lucia Dillersberger portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Lucia_Dillersberger.jpg)
Lucia Dillersberger
Hometown: Lecanto, Florida
Major: Environmental Science
![Lamb Ngafeeson portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Lamb_Ngafeeson.jpg)
Lamb Ngafeeson
Hometown: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Major: Psychology
![Kyra Parris portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Kyra_Parris.jpg)
Kyra Parris
Hometown: Ocala, Florida
Major: Design and Technology
![Bre Rayon portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Bre_Rayon.jpg)
Bre Rayon
Hometown: Navarre, Florida
Major: General Business
![T'Yanna Williams portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/TYanna_Williams.jpg)
T'Yanna Williams
Hometown: Panama City, Florida
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Argo Spirit Scholarship Recipients
This full-ride, competitive scholarship will be awarded to first-time in college freshmen who have shown strength of character, or "Argo Spirit." Argo Spirit involves overcoming obstacles, fighting for something important, and making an impact while in high school. This can be in the form of leadership, family contribution, community engagement, etc.
Argo Spirit Scholarship Recipients
![Rachel Ebbighausen portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Rachel_Ebbighausen.jpg)
Rachel Ebbighausen
Hometown: Milton, Florida
Major: Exercise Science
![Cassidy Hinkle portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Cassidy_Hinkle.jpg)
Cassidy Hinkle
Hometown: Sarasota, Florida
Major: General Business
![Tobi Mcmains portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Tobi_McMains.jpg)
Tobi Mcmains
Hometown: Pace Florida
Major: Undeclared
![Jordan Miley-Dingler portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/Jordan_Miley-Dingler.jpg)
Jordan Miley-Dingler
Hometown: Lakeland, Florida
Major: Construction Management
![Jajuan Smith portrait](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/JaJuan_Smith.jpg)
Jajuan Smith
Hometown: Ocala, Florida
Major: Engineering Technology
Learn more about UWF Awards and Scholarships
![four uwf students in a row in class looking off camera](/media/university-of-west-florida/style-assets/specialty-template-assets/top-scholars/top-scholars-bottom-banner.jpg)