News Release

5^th Grader Morgan Smith of Ocoee Wins Governor's Black History Month Essay Contest And 4-Year Scholarship from Prepaid College Foundation

"You would be surprised that the little things make all the difference." -Morgan Smith

Morgan Smith of Ocoee, who wants to volunteer in her community and become editor of a magazine empowering teenage girls, was announced on Thursday as one of three winners of Governor Charlie Crist's Black History Month essay contest. Morgan, a 5th grader at Nap Ford Community School, will receive a four-year scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. Governor Crist and Foundation Board Member Christyne Hamilton presented the scholarship to Morgan on Feb. 12 at the celebration of Black History Month at the Governor's Mansion.

Valued at nearly $16,000, the Florida Prepaid College scholarship covers four years of tuition and local fees at a Florida public university. The Black History Month scholarship, established by the Governor's Office in 2002 with support from the Foundation, has been granted for seven years to students in elementary, middle and high school who compose outstanding essays.

This year, students were challenged with the question: "The recent election of our nation's first black president demonstrates how far racial equality has advanced since the Emancipation Proclamation was penned by Abraham Lincoln 146 years ago. In his acceptance speech, our new president-elect encouraged all citizens to work together for our nation's continued growth and prosperity. As a citizen of Florida, one of the nation's most diverse and culturally rich states, what will you do to contribute to a brighter future for Florida and all its citizens?"

Morgan said she has dreams of giving back to the impoverished community of Parramore where she attends school. "As a child there is only so much you can do to make the world a better place," Morgan wrote. "But the real things you do to change the world are the little things….Tutoring a child in the first grade, organizing a toy drive for children in the homeless shelter or putting on a show with your friends at a retirement home."

Foundation Board Chairman Ted Hoepner said, "Congratulations to Morgan Smith. The Foundation is committed to its mission of offering college scholarships to the many deserving Florida students who may have thought college was out of reach." A total of 27,509 scholarships have been awarded by the Foundation since its establishment in 1990.

Read Morgan's essay

www.floridaprepaidcollegefoundation.com