Did you know, that although not a requirement to graduate, community service hours are a positive addition to college applications and are required for many scholarship opportunities including the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program?
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program has helped more than 917,000 Florida students attend a postsecondary institution. Bright Futures awards include: Florida Academic Scholars award (FAS), Florida Medallion Scholars award (FMS), Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award (GSC) and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award (GSV). The program was created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition of high academic achievement. The graduate must enroll in a degree program, certificate program or applied technology program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary education institution. Students and families are encouraged to become familiar with the responsibilities and eligibility requirements before graduation and throughout their college career.
- STEP 1: Find an organization that will allow you to complete community service hours AND confirm that it is an OCPS-approved activity.
- STEP 2: Begin your community service, logging your hours and collecting signature(s) from your organization's contact person. Complete this Log and Reflection.
- STEP 3: After completing your hours, write a reflection on your experience and submit your signed log/reflection to your counselor. Logs must be submitted no later than the end of EACH school year.
IMPORTANT:
- Bright Futures (BF) rules from the Florida Department of Education:
- Students may earn BF-required hours through community service or paid work.
- Students cannot combine community service hours and paid work hours to meet BF requirements.
- BF Eligibility requirements are subject to change with each legislative session.
- Visit the Bright Futures Handbook for details.
- Office of Student Financial Assistance website: www.FloridaStudentFinancialAidsg.org, Customer Service: 888-827-2004, Email: [email protected]
- A separate proposal form must be submitted per project/organization.
- Students should keep copies of their forms.
- PAID WORK will use the same forms, with the addition of submitting pay-stub with the log.
- Teachers/Club Sponsors/Coaches are NOT eligible to approve community service forms or to accept/submit community service forms on behalf of students.
- Seniors and juniors applying to become National Honor Society candidates must have a minimum of 20 hours of community service hours completed in high school. Paid work does not qualify.
Each graduating Senior must complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) and also the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Student Services team hosts multiple student application sessions each year and students are welcome in the College & Career Room 8106A, for assistance.