LAKELAND, Fla. – This week, the Florida Lottery partnered with Polk State College to host a Bright Futures Student Success Connection event at the college’s Lakeland Campus, celebrating current Bright Futures Scholarship recipients and sharing information to help them maintain their awards throughout their college journey. The event highlights a priority of the Florida Lottery – ensuring that students understand how to access the services available to them to help retain their scholarship awards.
Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon, Polk State College President Anastasios Kamoutsas, and State University System of Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues joined students for the event, which highlighted scholarship renewal requirements and connected recipients with academic support services and other campus resources.
“Earning a Bright Futures Scholarship is a tremendous accomplishment, and we want students to make the most of that opportunity,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon. “We’re here to encourage these students, make sure they understand what it takes to keep their scholarships, and remind them that there are resources available to help them succeed. We want them to stay focused, keep pushing forward, and cross that finish line.”
“Today, we celebrate something special: the hard work, discipline, volunteerism, and achievement of our Bright Futures scholars. Their success is a point of pride for our entire college community,” said Polk State College President Anastasios Kamoutsas. “Connecting students with campus resources and guidance can make a real difference as they work toward earning their degrees. Polk State exists to deliver an affordable, world-class education, and we are determined that cost will never be a barrier that stops a qualified student from moving forward.”
“Bright Futures is a transformative investment in Florida students, opening doors to opportunity and helping more students earn a high-quality degree with little to no debt,” said State University System of Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. “We encourage students to take full advantage of this opportunity while building the knowledge, skills, and experiences that will serve them long after graduation.”
The Bright Futures Scholarship Program, established in 1997, has helped more than one million Florida students pursue higher education, awarding more than $9.3 billion in scholarships. Funded by the Florida Lottery, the program remains an important investment in Florida’s students and future workforce.
The Florida Lottery remains committed to maximizing revenue to enhance education across the state, supporting opportunities that help Florida students pursue their educational goals and build brighter futures.
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About the State University System of Florida and the Board of Governors
The State University System of Florida is a constitutional body led by the 17-member Board of Governors and a Board-appointed Chancellor who serves as the System’s chief executive. The System comprises 12 universities and more than 431,000 students, making it the second-largest public university system in the nation. Florida has ranked number one in higher education by U.S. News & World Report since the inception of the rankings in 2017, recognized for providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable education. For more information, visit flbog.edu or follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.