GAINESVILLE, FL (October 2, 2015) – Wells Fargo is supporting the University of Florida this fall by donating $1,000 for every interception the Gators make on the field. For each interception, $400 will go the University Athletics Association for scholarships and $600 will go to support the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program. The generous donation from Wells Fargo supports up …
SPOTLIGHT ON KELLY MEJIA
The moment two men wearing hard hats and carrying drawings walked into a third grade classroom for Career Day was precisely when Kelly Mejia decided she wanted to be a part of the construction industry when she grew up. Now at the age of 24, Kelly is a Balfour Beatty project engineer with a Bachelor of Arts from the University …
500K ENDOWMENT GIFT IN HONOR OF OLIVE J. SMITH
The gift was given by Dr. Farren and Lynn Smith in honor of Olive J. Smith, Farren’s mother. The endowment will support Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars majoring in the sciences. Learn more about the life of Olive J. Smith (written by Dr. Farren Smith): I had the great good fortune to have my mother, Olive J. Smith, as my teacher …
FIRST GENERATION STUDENT GRADUATION CORDS
We are proud that UF supports first generation students and their journey to becoming a college graduate. One way we celebrate first generation students are the blue and white braided cords you see on graduation day. Sold at the UF Bookstore for $15, all graduating seniors who identify as first in their family to attend college are invited to proudly …
MFOS AND UF ALUM GIVES $5,000 TO MENTORING PROGRAM
The Center for Leadership and Service, a part of the Division of Student Affairs, received a $5,000 grant from Capitol One #WishForOthers and Takeya Bland, a University of Florida alum. During her time at UF, Bland was a Machen Florida Opportunity Scholar, and the president of Project MASCOT. The generous donation will allow 30 mentors and 30 mentees to participate …
SCHOLAR STARTS A FIRST GENERATION BLOG
Interested in learning more about what it is like to be a first generation college student at the University of Florida? Opportunity Scholar Erica Aguiar gives you a first hand look in her new blog project: https://firstgenstories.wordpress.com/
RECOGNIZED AMONG MOST EFFECTIVE IN NATION AT INCREASING LATINO STUDENT SUCCESS
Gainesville, FL – Elected officials and higher education leaders from across the America came together at the St. Regis Washington, D.C. hotel today to honor the University of Florida’s Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program as a Finalist among America’s top programs that increase academic opportunities and increase achievement for Latino students. The Opportunity Scholars program was selected from among 217 …
MFOS SCHOLAR AWARDED FULBRIGHT
Kristin Quach, graduating MFOS scholar, was recently awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for the 2014-2015 school year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. In addition to teaching English to primary or secondary school students, she will serve as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. during her time in Taiwan. At UF, Kristin was a very involved student …
FIRST GENERATION SUMMIT HELPS STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR STORIES
Gainesville, FL – The first annual First Generation Summit took place on November 8, 2014. The summit was sponsored by the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program, the First Generation Student Organization, and the Gates Millennium Scholars. The summit’s theme, “Claiming Your Story,” was aimed at encouraging first generation college students to understand, share, and reflect on their story. There were …
STORYCORPS BEGINS RECORDING LOCAL STORIES ON THURSDAY
(This article was orignially published February 5 on the Gainesville Sun: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20140205/ARTICLES/140209773/1182?Title=StoryCorps-begins-recording-local-stories-on-Thursday#gsc.tab=0) By Jana Berkowitz Jerome Fulton Jr. lost both his parents to violence. After living with relatives and enduring heated custody battles, he graduated high school a semester early and enrolled at the University of Florida. Fulton will record his story during StoryCorps’ visit to Gainesville on Thursday. “I …