Marla Martin, Communications Manager, or Jeff Zipper, Vice President of Communications
407/438-1400, ext. 2326 or 2314
Florida Association of Realtors® offers seniors a chance
to win up to $106,000 in college scholarship awards
ORLANDO, Fla., February 2006 — Attention Florida high school seniors: Now you can win even more money from the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) -- up to $106,000 -- to help pay your college costs next year. But, to win, you must enter FAR's 2005-2006 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors and the March 17, 2006, deadline is fast approaching.
Students must write a typed, double-spaced essay, 500 words or less, on the topic, “How Does a Realtor Professional Benefit the Community?” This topic gives students a wide range of real estate professional fields to write about, including residential brokerage, commercial brokerage, industrial and office brokerage, farm and land brokerage, real estate appraising, property management, land development and real estate counseling, to name just a few of the specialties.
Now in its sixth year, FAR’s scholarship program benefits students from across the state, with prize money going to the first-, second- and third-place essays in each of the Association's 13 districts in the state. Students turning in the top district-winning essays will each win a $5,000 scholarship prize while the second-place entries will each receive a $1,500 scholarship award. For the first time this year, students will be recognized for winning third in each district with a $500 scholarship award. The 13 district-winning essays then compete to win three $5,000 FAR scholarships on the statewide level, for a total of $106,000 in scholarship awards. All essays, along with an official Essay Cover Form, must be postmarked no later than March 17, 2006, and mailed to the Florida Association of Realtors, 7025 Augusta National Drive, P.O. Box 725025, Orlando, FL, 32872-5025.
2006 FAR President Mike Dooley says, “We take great pride in our scholarship program, which helps young people to continue their educations and realize their dreams for the future. This is just one example of how Florida Realtors demonstrate their involvement and pride in our communities.”
FAR’s statewide scholarship awards program is open only to high school seniors who reside in the state of Florida and plan on continuing their education at a college, university, technical school or other institution of higher learning. Children whose parents or guardians are licensed real estate practitioners are not eligible for contest entry; nor are children whose parents or guardians are employed by any local Realtor board/association or by the Florida Association of Realtors.
Scholarship contest rules and the official essay cover form are available at public and private senior high school guidance offices throughout the state. Or students, parents, teachers -- anyone -- can go to FAR’s Media Center Web site, (http://media.living.net) to download the required essay cover form, list of FAR District Vice Presidents and other scholarship/essay contest materials.
The Florida Association of Realtors®, the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, ongoing education, research and legislative representation to its more than 155,000 members in 68 local boards/associations throughout the state.
© 2006 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
