‘Take Stock’ grads capped on May 19

58 earn high school diplomas

County to create taxing district - A man and a woman posing for a picture - T-shirt
Marathon High School Take Stock seniors Claudia Cabrera and Milaydis Cruz will attend the University of Florida. CONTRIBUTED

The Monroe County Education Foundation will recognize the accomplishments and celebrate the graduation of its 58 Take Stock in Children senior scholars on Saturday, May 19, at 11:30 a.m. in the Marathon High School Auditorium.

With a collective weighted grade point average of 3.69 and one third of the class eligible for Florida Bright Futures, these Take Stock in Children scholars are poised to begin their college journey.

Having received more than 130 college acceptances, two-thirds of the TSIC Class of 2018 will attend a Florida university. The remaining 18 students will enter college and one will enlist in the Coast Guard.

This year the Monroe County Education Foundation is honored to welcome four-time Paralympian and six-time World Champion Josh George as the keynote speaker. Josh’s life changed significantly when he was 4 years old after falling from a 12-story window. During his adolescence, Josh explored adapted athletics, participating in multiple sports. He discovered wheelchair racing was his calling. Today, in addition to competing around the world, Josh motivates others to maximize their potential and to keep moving fast.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating the accomplishments of these dedicated and hard-working Take Stock in Children scholars,” said Monroe County School Superintendent Mark Porter

Although the stated mission of Take Stock in Children is to provide students with the financial resources to attend college, the Monroe County Education Foundation board continues to focus on providing students with the tools and skills necessary to complete a degree, diploma, or certificate.

Program Coordinator Chuck Licis highlighted the importance of Take Stock’s college and career readiness efforts. “This year’s class is ready to take the next step, to pursue their college goals and career dreams!”

The Monroe County Education Foundation, established in 1996, is a Florida not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and improving the educational experiences of students within Monroe County. In addition to the MCEF flagship program, Take Stock in Children, the foundation provides leadership development opportunities and international travel experiences for qualified Monroe County students. More than 650 students from Monroe County have received scholarships since the program was founded. For more information about MCEF or to donate, please visit http://www.monroecountyedfound.org or contact Licis at Chuck.Licis@monroecountyedfound.com