(Bradenton, Fla., June 16, 2020) – State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) honored 143 local middle and high school students in the College Reach-Out Program (CROP), including 48 graduating seniors from area high schools.
CROP, a statewide program serving 3,000 students statewide and funded through a grant from the Florida Department of Education, is designed to increase the number of low-income and educationally disadvantaged students who successfully complete postsecondary education. The program aims to develop students’ basic learning skills and foster academic, personal and career development through supplemental instruction, including workshops, visits to college campuses and other experiences.
Individual schools also select their top students of the school year. The 2020 CROP Students of the Year are:
- Bayshore High School: Ku’tur Williams
- Booker High School: Jaela Dennis
- Lee Middle School: Katherine Vasquez
- Manatee High School: Antonio Resendiz II
- Palmetto High School: Mario Arredondo
- Riverview High School: Daniela Sanchez
- Southeast High School: Anayeli Alvarado
CROP site coordinators from participating schools are Dwight Gilmer from Bayshore High School; Lem Andrews from Booker High School; Keenan Wooten from Lee Middle School; Rui Fernandes from Palmetto High School; Angela Kasapakis from Riverview High School; and Laura Roberts from Southeast High School.
Of the 48 seniors in this year’s program, 47 plan to continue their education. Sixteen of the seniors will start taking college courses at SCF in June through the College’s Summer Bridge Program. These students will receive a scholarship of approximately $1,000 to cover tuition for two classes, as well as books and educational materials. CROP graduates who attend SCF also are eligible to receive tuition and book scholarships.
Ten SCF students in the CROP program received their degrees May 1. They are Yvette Alanis, Associate in Science, Occupational Therapy Assistant; Raul Alvarez, Associate in Arts; Erykah Bazan, Associate in Science, Criminal Justice Technology; Nayya Bowers, Associate in Arts; Dapheney Brinvert, Associate in Arts; Jefferson Brinvert, Associate in Arts; Megan Mellott, Associate in Arts; Mickerly Pierre, Associate in Arts; Grecia Quevedo, Associate in Arts; and Leonardo Reynoso, Associate in Arts.
For more information, contact Dr. Kristen L. Anderson, director of special programs at SCF, at AndersKL@SCF.edu.
