Florida Realtors(R) Education Foundation Awards More Than $100K in Scholarships

ORLANDO, Fla., May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Hearing "the check is in the mail" is welcome news for 40 well-deserving young people who live in communities across the Sunshine State. Why? It's because the announcement means that these students, some recent high school graduates about to enter college and others already enrolled in a college or university, recently were notified they are the first-ever recipients of scholarships from the new Florida Realtors® Education Foundation Inc.

A not-for-profit corporation established by the state Realtor association, the Florida Realtors® Education Foundation Inc.'s goal is to provide real estate-related educational scholarships and grants. The Foundation's Board of Directors awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to help pay for higher education expenses for these students in the 2010-2011 school year. All of the recipients are Florida residents and will be attending community colleges, four-year universities, graduate programs or law schools. Many students said they wish to pursue careers in real estate.

"Every day, Realtors in Florida work closely with people to help them fulfill their dreams of homeownership or find a great location to start their own business," says Bob Hudgens, chairman of the Florida Realtors Education Foundation Inc. "These scholarships extend that reach to the next generation – we feel privileged to help young people achieve their college goals and realize their dreams for the future. The Florida Realtors Education Foundation is just one of the many ways that Realtors give back to their communities."

Scholarships totaled up to $2,000 for students attending a two-year college, and up to $4,000 for students attending a four-year college or university. A variety of criteria were considered for successful applicants, including: academic achievements, financial need, relationship to the Realtor family, and contributions to family, school and community.

Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 115,000 members in 67 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.

SOURCE Florida Realtors