Category: Rising Stars
We’ve found “10” articles in category archives for “Rising Stars”
Recommended For You
The sky may not be the limit for this Step Up For Students scholar
BY ROGER MOONEY MIAMI – Julian Vazquez was 6 months old when he flew for the first time, traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to London. He said he remembers some of the trip. Five seconds, maybe. Impossible, said his parents, but nearly 18 years later, Julian is sticking to his story. He can trace his […]
Learn More
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, graduate, Rising Stars, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights
Her home life may be chaotic, but Kaylia has Ivy League-potential and big plans for her future
BY ROGER MOONEY MARGATE, Florida – Kaylia Powell’s home life is in a constant state of flux. At times, she has lived apart from her mom and separated from her brothers and sisters. She has lived with friends and, for a few months this year, at the home of a teacher. She has lived with […]
Learn More
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, Rising Stars, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights, Uncategorized
The bus ride to school is long but the opportunity for a Catholic education is well worth the trip
BY ROGER MOONEY PALM COAST – Every school day at 7 a.m., a small bus rolls to a stop in front of the rectory of the Catholic church in Crescent City. Waiting to board are a handful of students, including Jesus Martinez-Cruz and his little brother, Christian. They are headed on a 50-minute ride to […]
Learn More
Of dreams, sacrifices and an education choice scholarship: How one high school grad has her sights set on becoming a doctor
BY ROGER MOONEY MIAMI – Nery Perez-Valdes wanted to become a doctor, but life got in the way. She fled Cuba for Miami with her mom when she was 11 and found herself working at 14 to help pay the bills. Nery would become a single mom and for a long stretch worked two jobs […]
Learn More
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Gardiner Scholarships, Hope Scholarship, Rising Stars, Student Spotlights
Time to nominate your Step Up students for the annual Rising Stars Awards event
It’s time for educators to nominate students for Step Up For Students’ annual Rising Stars Awards. The recipients will be honored in April at events at eight schools across the state. The schools will be announced at a later date. Students must be enrolled in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC), Family Empowerment Scholarship for […]
Learn More
20 years of Educational Opportunity, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Rising Stars, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights
Education choice scholarship helps Khairi dream big
ROGER MOONEY MIAMI GARDENS, Florida – Like nearly every football-playing high school senior in the country, Khairi Muhammad dreams of an All-American college career that leads to his selection near the top of the NFL Draft. The desire fuels him, sometimes waking him in the middle of the night with a burst of adrenalin so […]
Learn More
20 years of Educational Opportunity, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, graduate, Rising Stars, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights
'Better options' for their daughter included a move to America and an education choice scholarship
Roberto Porras was at his job as a pharmaceutical rep in his native Venezuela when his wife, Ony, called with the news that she was pregnant. It was the spring of 2003, and Roberto, overjoyed at the thought of becoming a dad, was concerned about the baby’s future in a country rife with political unrest. […]
Learn More
Education choice alumni has clear vision for his future: 'I want to be a missionary'
FORT MYERS, Florida – Zechariah Edwards sat inside the principal’s office at Sonshine Christian Academy one morning during the final days of his senior year and talked about his future. “I want to be a missionary,” he said. Interesting. Why? “That’s a pretty good question.” After a few moments of thought, he said, “As a […]
Learn More
Earthquake survivor uses education choice scholarship to become a 'Rising Star'
MARGATE, Florida – Sophonie Jean Baptiste was in the family’s second-floor apartment the day in 2010 when an earthquake rocked her native Haiti. She grabbed her daughter, Gema, who was not quite 3, and tried to run for safety while the three-story building they lived in crumbled. They didn’t make it. Nearly five hours later, […]
Learn More
Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Gardiner Scholarships, Hope Scholarship, Rising Stars, School Spotlights, Step Up For Students, Step Up Honors, Student Spotlights
Step Up's Rising Stars Award programs returns this year with in-person and virtual events
Step Up For Students’ Rising Stars Award program returns this year with in-person events, a virtual event and a new category – the Super Senior Award. “Step Up For Students celebrates our outstanding scholarship students every year through our Rising Stars Award ceremonies across the state,” said Jamila Wiltshire, Student Learning & Partner Success manager […]
Learn More