Sunshine State Scholars

Sunshine State Scholars
Posted on 05/30/2024
Sunshine State Scholars

Our School District’s top high school junior in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) was recently honored by the Florida Department of Education at the 27th annual Sunshine State Scholars conference held in Orlando.

BIG congratulations are in order for Lecanto High School's Joshua Sevilla who was awarded a 1-year scholarship provided by State Farm and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation to attend Florida’s top-ranked higher education institutions.

Each school district throughout Florida selects its top 11th grade student(s) in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEM) based on established criteria. To qualify as a Sunshine State Scholar, students must be studying advanced STEM courses, have a minimum weighted GPA of 3.0, 4’s or 5’s on End of Course exams and a 1300 SAT score or 30 on the ACT. They are also expected to actively participate in STEM-related competitions or demonstrate leadership in STEM-related activities.

At the state conference, the 2024 Sunshine State Scholars engaged in a dynamic “think tank,” tackling challenging Florida issues through problem-solving activities and expert presentations. They were also able to interact with representatives from Florida’s premier higher education institutions. These sessions covered topics such as college funding, interactive panel discussions with STEM professionals, and the multitude of educational opportunities available in Florida.

Each scholar received a new iPad courtesy of AT&T, and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment generously provided tickets for a day of fun and leisure.

Congrats, Joshua! We look forward to all of the amazing things you will do!

(pictured: Joshua Sevilla is the student in the middle with the white shirt and blue tie.)