Local

The Rosen Foundation to offer full tuition to some Jones High School Class of 2017 graduates

A group of  students at Jones High School in downtown Orlando may have to worry about being accepted to college, but thanks to the Rosen Foundation, they won’t have to worry about paying for it.

During the 2015-2016 school year, 13 Jones High School seniors completed the application process and were given full scholarships from the foundation, 22 were elgible.

The students are identified by the Office of Pupil Assignment at the Orange County School Board.

"They come from the Rosen Parramore PS-8 zone which was voted on in October last year."  sais Selina Wells-Jones the Rosen Parramore PS-8 Foundation, Scholarship Coordinator at Jones High School.

The students have to live in the zone and attend Jones High School, furthermore the parents must continue to live in the district while the student is receiving the scholarship.

Last year, Mr. Harris Rosen himself announced the scholarship to elgible students at the beginning of the year.

It was a complete surprise, scholarship recipient Jenny Simon said.

“Us seniors, we were at the point in time where we were like, ‘What college are we going to? How are we going to pay for college?’ and then, boom, this happens,” she said.

For the class of 2017, the Rosen Foundation will be giving scholarships to elgible seniors as long as they are accepted to a trade school, community college or 4-year public university in Florida.

“Room, board, tuition, books and everything,” Rosen Hotels & Resorts president Harris Rosen said.

Elgible students from Jones High School Class of 2017 will be notified next week.

"The goal is to let the students know they can continue to dream, and now that they can have dreams and they work hard enough to get into the colleges and universities of their choice, that they can fulfill that dream without worrying about the costs."  said Wells-Harris.

The scholarship program has been a success in the Tangelo Park area for 24 years.

It spurred a 50-percent increase in the graduation rate, and now Rosen plans to offer scholarships in the Parramore area as well.

The Rosen Foundation has funded 10 preschools in the past 24 years, and starting young and then supporting students through their academic career is key, Rosen said.

“You start when youngsters are 2 (years old) and you provide an opportunity for them to go to college, and now suddenly these youngsters have the same opportunities that youngsters from more affluent neighborhoods have,” he said.

Listen

news

weather

traffic

mobile apps

Everything you love about wdbo.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!