inspirED
Meet our scholars, educators, donors and partners.
Transforming Our Community.
One Scholarship at a Time.
Step Up For Students Scholarships do more than fund education. They change lives. Students thrive in environments that fit their needs. Educators extend their reach to support vulnerable students. Communities grow stronger as educational systems improve.
This is inspireEd. Welcome.
Here, you will get an inside view of that transformation in progress. See what happens when students and their families discover the power of taking control over their academics. Watch as they forge new pathways to a better future. Find inspiration in their determination to achieve their dreams.
These are the stories of Florida students who have renewed hope because they have a school that better fits their needs or educational materials to unlock their potential. They are the stories of a community that has come together to support the belief that educational choice matters. Here, you can be a part of this incredible journey.
This is inspireEd. Welcome.
Here, you will get an inside view of that transformation in progress. See what happens when students and their families discover the power of taking control over their academics. Watch as they forge new pathways to a better future. Find inspiration in their determination to achieve their dreams.
These are the stories of Florida students who have renewed hope because they have a school that better fits their needs or educational materials to unlock their potential. They are the stories of a community that has come together to support the belief that educational choice matters. Here, you can be a part of this incredible journey.
Latest Posts
Donor Corner, Beyond the Scholarship, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Scholarship News, Step Up For Students
Olympus Insurance Donates More Than $3 Million To Help Provide Scholarships For Florida Schoolchildren
Apr 10, 2025 • By Ashley Zarle
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, Beyond the Scholarship, graduate, School Choice, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights
With the help of a private school scholarship, Duke is 'ready for the bigger world'
Aug 12, 2025 • By Roger Mooney
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, Beyond the Scholarship, Gardiner Scholarships, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights
Of Funyuns, Skinny Pop, and iced tea: How Jack brought healthy snacks to his school
Aug 7, 2025 • By Roger Mooney
Student Spotlights, Beyond the Scholarship, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Gardiner Scholarships, School Choice, Step Up For Students
Private school scholarships allowed the Roland family to meet the academic needs of their children
Jul 22, 2025 • By Roger Mooney
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, Beyond the Scholarship, School Choice, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights
This kid can do things: The Caleb Prewitt Story
Jul 16, 2025 • By Roger Mooney
Student Spotlights, Beyond the Scholarship, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, graduate, School Choice, Step Up For Students
Books, banners, boats and National Merit Scholarships
Jun 30, 2025 • By Roger Mooney
Your gift will change a student's life
Our dedication to students doesn’t end when they receive a scholarship. Your support will enable Step Up to maximize the impact of the scholarships the students receive.
Donate now!
Browse More From The Blog
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
20 years of Educational Opportunity, Back to School, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, School Choice, School Spotlights, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights
School is not out for summer at TRU Prep Academy, which has adopted a year-round schedule
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida – The calendar said it was July 6, but parents pulled their cars to a stop outside TRU Prep Academy and students stepped out wearing their standard school attire – black slacks, white shirts, and red ties. School is out for summer in most parts of the country, but at TRU Prep […]
Learn More
How do you turn students into readers? At Alpha Learning Academy, by turning a classroom into a library
ORLANDO, Florida – Shakelia Henderson sat behind the desk inside a classroom that was recently converted into a library and nodded at the shelves full of books that lined the walls. “This,” she said, “is the beginning of a literacy journey that’s going to make our kids stronger. I really do believe that.” Henderson just […]
Learn More
After taking charge of his education, Step Up alumni achieves goal of attending University of Florida
On a Wednesday morning in early January, a day after he turned 20, Josep Amiguet walked into a classroom inside Matherly Hall on the edge of campus for his intermediate microeconomics class, his first as a student at the University of Florida. “OK,” he remembers thinking, “I’m here.” It took three years of laser-like focus […]
Learn More
20 years of Educational Opportunity, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, graduate, Step Up For Students, Student Spotlights
Former Step Up For Students scholar chasing major league dream
On a sun-dappled Sunday afternoon in mid-April, Jay Allen gave his mother a gift she will treasure forever. With Deanna Singletary among the family members sitting in the front row behind the third base dugout at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, Jay hit his first home run of the season for the Daytona Tortugas, […]
Learn More
20 years of Educational Opportunity, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, graduate, School Choice, Step Up For Students
Education choice brought liberty, opportunity for immigrant
For Leidiana Candelario, moving from the Dominican Republic to Miami at age 8 was a major lifestyle transition. It didn’t go very well at first -- until an education choice scholarship from Step Up For Students changed everything. Leidiana was miserable in her assigned elementary school, describing herself as an “outcast.” Her unfamiliarity with English […]
Learn More
School Choice Boyz: Christopher Columbus High in Miami shows a recipe for success
Nathan Cunneen offered some thoughts on Christopher Columbus High School in Miami after he and Walter Blanks Jr. visited the school earlier this year, Nathan and Walter teamed to form the School Choice Boyz, a podcast to bring the value of education choice to a younger audience. They work for the American Federation of Children, where […]
Learn More
Johnson Brothers of Florida, Inc. allocates $12 million to help Florida students
Johnson Brothers of Florida, Inc., announced June 2 a $12 million contribution to Step Up For Students, helping nearly 1,575 deserving Florida schoolchildren access the right education to help them succeed. Since partnering with Step Up For Students in 2012, Johnson Brothers of Florida, Inc., a leading wine, spirits, and beer distributor, has generously funded […]
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
CDW Helps Provide Technology Resources and Digital Equity to Step Up For Students
CDW has partnered with Step Up For Students to help provide technology resources and digital equity for recipients of Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, and the Reading Scholarship program. “At CDW, we understand how important it is for students to have access to the technology resources they need to be successful […]
Learn MoreNo more content to load.
Load More