DCEF, Inc. 2025 Scholarship Application Guidelines
1. Complete the 2025 DeSoto County Education Foundation Scholarship Application at the Top of this page
- a. This Google Doc application is in four (4) parts, please have all necessary information and plan to complete the application in its entirety.
- b. The application will require you to upload your Essay and for some scholarships you will need 2 letters of recommendation. Have these files ready for upload in a Word Document or PDF format.
2. Ask questions and seek help if you do not understand what information is being requested or how to appropriately fill out the application. You are welcome to email admin@desotoeducationfoundation.com or director@desotoeducationfoundation.com with questions.
Warning: If you do not provide the information regarding which college(s) you have applied to and the steps that you have taken regarding the admissions process, your scholarship application will not be considered.
DCEF is NOT responsible for selecting the recipients of each scholarship. The organization that sponsors the scholarship has its own committee for selection.
Deadline Extended - Due by 8:00pm on Monday, March 24, 2025
WINNERS/Recipients of the scholarship will be announced at the DHS Class of 2025 Senior Award Night.
DeSoto County Education Foundation, Inc. 2025 Scholarships
- 5 from 1985 Annual Scholarship
a. Please include two (2) letters of recommendation.
b. Please attach an essay explaining the following “State any special, personal or family circumstances affecting your need for financial assistance.”
- 20th Century Literary Club Scholarship
a. Please attach an essay explaining the following “What literary work have you read that made the most profound impact on your life and why?” – 500 words minimum
- “A Bushel and a Peck” The Dorothy DuBois (“Nanny”) Memorial Scholarship
a. The student must have a 3.5 GPA and minimum of 50 hours of community service.
b. Please include two (2) letters of recommendation.
c. Please attach an essay explaining one of the following: “Who in your life has been your biggest influence and why?" or “Pick an experience from your own life and explain how it has influenced your development.”
- Arcadia Literary Club Scholarship
a. The student must complete a 400-500 word essay on “How English Literature has influenced my life”
b. The student must provide a recommendation letter from High School English Teacher.
- Arcadia Moose Lodge 1327 Scholarship
a. The student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
b. The student must be accepted into a college/university/technical school to apply.
c. The student must enroll as a full-time postsecondary education student for the scholarship funds to be disbursed.
- Arcadia Police Department Waller/Field Scholarship
a. The student must attach an essay answering “How has a first responder affected your or a member of your family and what does that mean to you?”
- Arcadia Rodeo William "G" Kayo Wells Memorial Scholarship
- Bautista Foundation
- Betty Dozier Bynes Memorial Scholarship
a. Must be studying Business, Accounting, Computers or Education
b. The student must be accepted into a college/university/technical school to apply.
- Bodacious Memorial Scholarship
a. A student that displays Christian attributes.
b. A student that has faced a hardship (self or immediate family) such as: tragic accident, sickness, death of a parent or sibling.
c. The student must include a letter from their Pastor listing church involvement and anycommunity services.
d. Student must continue his/her education after high school graduation.
- Carlton D. McKettrick Memorial Scholarship
a. The student must be majoring in a field of study that is agriculture related.
b. Please attach an essay answering the following question, “Why agriculture is important to me.”
- Carol McQuay Memorial Scholarship
a. The student must be in either chorus or band.
- DeSoto County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
a. Please include three (2) letters of recommendation.
b. The student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
- DeSoto County Teen Court
a. The student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
b. The student must have volunteered in Teen Court.
c. Please include two (2) letters of recommendation.
d. Please attach a two (2) page essay, using Times New Roman 12 pt. font, discussing the following topic, “How did teen court impact your life?”
- DeSoto County Watermelon Association Scholarship
a. The student must be majoring in a field of study that is agriculture related.
b. Please attach an essay answering the following question, “What are your future plans in Agriculture?”
- DeSoto County Republican Executive Committee Scholarship
a. The student must be accepted into a college/university/technical school to apply.
b. The student must enroll as a full-time postsecondary education student for the scholarship funds to be disbursed.
c. Student must have completed community service.
d. The student must provide two (2) letters of recommendation.
e. Student must be registered as a republican, if 18 or older; or their parents must be registered Republicans if the student is under 18.
f. The student must complete an essay on the topic: “Since we have a new president, Donald Trump, and a Republican majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, What are the 3 most important things that you hope to get accomplished in the next few years that will have an impact on you and this great country of ours?”
- DeSoto Math Scholarship
a. Student must be pursuing a bachelors degree in a math-related are of study (including but not limited to mathematics, math education, actuarial science, statistics, and accounting) with the goal that the student might eventually engage in a math-related career.
b. Please attach a 100 word essay answering “How do I think I will use mathematics in my future?”
- Eugene E. (Bucky) Waldron Memorial Scholarship
a. Student must be attending & accepted into a college/university.
- First Impressions Foundation
a. Please include two (2) letters of recommendation.
b. The student must have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA.
c. The student must be accepted into a technical school to apply.
- Gopher Roofing Scholarship
- Iris Varner Memorial Scholarship
a. The student must complete a 500 word essay on “Who you are and how did you get to where you are today?”
b. The student must provide two (2) letters of recommendation
- Jill Adams Scholarship
a. Student must be pursuing a career in Nursing or any healthcare field.
b. Student must be enrolled at least part time.
c. The student must be accepted into a college/university/technical school to apply.
d. Student must complete an essay answering, “What are your goals after graduation?”
- Jill C. Edwards Nursing Scholarship
a. The student must be pursuing a degree in nursing.
b. The student must be accepted into a college/university/technical school to apply.
c. The student must enroll as a full-time postsecondary education student for the scholarship funds to be disbursed.
d. Student must complete an essay on the topic “Why I want to be a nurse.”
- Joshua Citrus Ag Scholarship
a. The student must have been in 4-H, FFA, or other agriculture related clubs. Please attach a brief essay explaining, “How agriculture has affected your life and what agriculture means to our community and state.”
- Keith Carlton Memorial Scholarship
a. The student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
b. Must be a Cross Country team member.
c. Please attach an essay that explains the following: Why do you run and how has it helped you?
- L & E Club
a. The student must be accepted into a college/university/technical school to apply.
b. The student must enroll as a full-time postsecondary education student for the scholarship funds to be disbursed.
c. Student must have completed community service.
d. The student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
e. The student must complete a 200-500 word essay on the topic: “My Past, My Present, My Future.”
- Leadership DeSoto Scholarship
a. Please include two (2) letters of recommendation.
b. The student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
- Mann Family Memorial Scholarship
a. Please attach an essay answering the following question, “What are your Goals?”
- Robert L. Womack Memorial Scholarship
a. The student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
b. Please write an essay, 200 words or less, explaining the following, "How has hard work and determination influenced your life?"Also discuss in your essay, "How has your reliance on God shaped your life?"
c. Please include your total number of community service hours on your general application.
- Ronald Neads Memorial Scholarship
a. The student must be accepted into a college/university/technical school to apply.
- Suncoast Credit Union Scholars Scholarship
a. Students must be high school seniors attending a traditional public or charter school or participating in home school or distance learning options sanctioned by the School District. Private school students are not eligible to apply.
b. Students should apply to the foundation located in the county where student attends high school, NOT their county of residence.
c. Suncoast wants the scholarships to have meaningful impact on recipients; they are counting on local education foundations to effectively screen and select candidates with demonstrated financial need.
d. Students who are Directors, employees, or family members of Directors or employees of Suncoast Credit Union, Members Title Company, Members Insurance Services, Members Trust Company or Suncoast Realty Solutions LLC are not eligible to apply.
e. Scholarship recipients must enroll in an accredited 4-year college/university, 2-year college or technical school in Florida and begin classes in the 2024-25 academic year. Scholarships to programs that run on credit hours may be funded with prior approval from Suncoast Foundation.
f. Scholarship funds are to be used for tuition, fees required to enroll at or attend an eligible educational institution.
g. Scholarship funds may also be used for other direct course-related expenses-such as fees, books, supplies and equipment—provided they are required of all students in the course of instruction.
- Susie Brewer Memorial Scholarship
a. The student must have been in 4-H all four years of high school.
b. Please attach an essay on “The importance of Agriculture”
- The Bobby Mixon Family Scholarship
a. The student must be pursuing a career in agriculture or nursing.
- Victoris Blandin Memorial Scholarship
a. Please attach a one page essay, no more than 300 words, answering the following question, “If given the opportunity to help someone in need, what situation would you choose and how would you help?” (You may share a personal experience.)