Student Life

UWF welcomes inaugural President Scholarship Competition recipients

This fall, the University of West Florida welcomed an incoming class of freshman students, thirteen of whom are the recipients of the University’s most prestigious scholarships.

The scholarships were awarded as part of the inaugural President’s Scholarship Competition, held in January. During the competition141 high school seniors vied for the scholarships. The students were invited to participate in the event based on their high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores.

The competitors were evaluated on high school academic records, test scores, interviews with faculty and a timed essay. The competition also included a presidential luncheon and an introduction to the Kugelman Honors Program.

Scholarships awarded include seven Pace Presidential scholarships and six John C. Pace Jr. Honors scholarships as well as 133 various other scholarships ranging from $12,000 to $20,000. Below are the top recipients and their respective scholarships.

Pace Presidential Scholarship: This scholarship, totaling more than $50,000, covers the student’s full tuition and fees, in addition to room and board for four years. All incoming students with University qualifications were automatically considered for this invitation. To be eligible, students must have graduated from a Florida high school in 2014 and be admitted to the University by Jan. 1, 2014 for the Fall 2014 term.

Ryan Colburn
J.M. Tate High School
Cantonment, Fla.

Devon Nichols
West Florida High School Advanced Tech
Pensacola, Fla.

Hana Wadsworth
Baker High School
Baker, Fla.

Sarah Birdsong
J.M. Tate High School
Cantonment, Fla.

Cady Bizzell
Booker T Washington High School
Pensacola, Fla.

Robert Prosser
New Smyrna Beach High School
New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Chloe Brummer

  • Gulf Breeze High School
  • Gulf Breeze, Fla.

“I was worried how I was going to pay for college, since my goal is to graduate debt free,” said Robert Prosser, recipient of the Pace Presidential Scholarship. “This scholarship gives me the opportunity to not only graduate with a bachelor’s degree debt free, but pursue and save for a master’s degree.”

John C. Pace Jr. Honors Scholarship: This scholarship covers the student’s tuition and fees in conjunction with Florida Bright Futures, room and board in Pace Hall, and funding for an off-campus educational experience created by the student. To be eligible, students must have been admitted to the University and the UWF Honors Program by Jan. 3, 2014.

Rachel Jamison
Homeschool
Tequesta, Fla.

Melissa Coombs
J. R. Arnold High School
Panama City Beach, Fla.

Abbie Kellett
Lois Cowles Harrison Center for Visual and Performing Arts
Auburndale, Fla.

Anthony Noll
Gulf Coast High School
Naples, Fla.

Brianna Vandale
Deland High School
Deltona, Fla.

Melissa Pisarski
Ridgeview High School
Orange Park, Fla.

“Because of this scholarship, I am actually able to attend a four-year university, which was one of my biggest dreams growing up,” said Melissa Pisarki, recipient of the John C. Pace Jr. Honors Scholarship. “This scholarship has helped me to understand what I have accomplished and it encourages me to continue succeeding in the future.”

For additional information, visit uwf.edu/scholarshipcomp. Watch a recap video from the inaugural competition at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPDofR8_HFM.