Bright Futures Scholarship

IMPORTANT CHANGE: Bright Futures students must complete a FAFSA to receive their scholarship

(Includes Academic, Medallion, and Vocational Gold Seal)

The Bright Futures Scholarship is funded by the State of Florida and is awarded to high school students meeting the required criteria for the scholarship. Currently, we have approximately 850 students attending Gulf Coast Community College who receive the scholarship. Bright Futures students will receive a letter from the Florida Department of Education notifying them of their eligibility.  The letter will have the procedures for the student to follow to ensure they receive their funds at the appropriate institution.  If GCSC is the selected school and the student receives the letter of eligibility by July 1, the scholarship may be used to pay fees if the student has completed an application for admission and declared a major prior to registration! If fees are not paid by the scholarship at the time of registration, the student should contact Rowena Gammons @ 850-872-3844 or email at rgammons@gulfcoast.edu.

Students attending two schools may request a consortium agreement from the financial aid office to ensure that the scholarship pays for all hours enrolled.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Regarding Changes to Your Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Over the past few years, there have been a number of changes to the Bright Futures scholarship program. The best way to keep up with the changes is to view their website at http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/BF.htm

2010-2011 Awards

• Bright Futures recipients will receive a fixed cost per credit hour award instead of 100% or 75% of their tuition.  The chart shows how much you will receive at GCSC.
• You will owe some money after Bright Futures is applied, no matter which scholarship you have.  Make sure all fees are paid by the due date or your classes will be dropped.
  

  2010-2011 Award Amounts per Credit Hour at GCSC

  Bright Futures

  Academic

  Top Scholar

  Medallion *

  Gold Seal

  Per Credit Hour

  $77

  $53

  $77

  $58

  *Award for students in Associate degree program. Students in certificate programs receive $58/credit hour
  
• See the award amounts on the Bright Futures Web site at http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/BF.htm

Repayment for Courses funded by Bright Futures that are Dropped/Withdrawn

• Students will be required to repay their scholarship for any course dropped or withdrawn unless an exception is recommended by the financial aid office.
• An exception will be based on a verifiable illness or emergency beyond the student’s control.  Students must provide documentation to the FA Office.
• Repayment for the cost of dropped or withdrawn courses is required to renew a Bright Futures award for a subsequent academic year.

Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV) Remain GSV

• The Legislature removed the provision which allowed GSV recipients to renew as Florida Medallion Scholars.
• GSV students may receive funding for up to 90 semester hours.

Renewal Criteria

• As of the 2009-10 academic year, Bright Futures recipients are required to meet new minimum credit hour requirements to renew their award each year. The Florida Legislature now requires full-time students to earn at least 24 semester hours to renew their award (prorated for part-time students) at the end of the spring term.
• The chart below outlines the new credit hour requirement for students funded in 2009-10 and thereafter. GPA requirements have not changed.
  

  Bright Futures Renewal Requirements

  Student Funded
  (per term)

  Required Earned Hours
  (per term)

  12 + Hours
  (Full-Time)

  12

  9-11 Hours
  (Three-Quarter Time)

  9

  6-8 Hours
  (Half-Time)

  6

  Note: Students may still request that the FA Office use summer grades towards these renewal requirements.

Restoration

• Bright Futures recipients who do not meet the new credit hour or GPA renewal requirements may have the opportunity to restore their award in a subsequent academic year.
• Restoration criteria depends on when the student graduated from high school.
• Check http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/BF.htm for more information

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact the FA office at 913-3316, email Rowena at rgammons@gulfcoast.edu, or call Bright Futures toll-free at 1-888-827-2004. Please visit www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAD/bf for additional information regarding recent changes to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

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