Welding StudentAVON PARK, Fla. – March 7, 2025 – The Malcolm Family endowed scholarship has made it easier for DeSoto County residents to participate in trades programs at ˶ (˶). Some of the trades programs at ˶ are Welding; Automotive Service Technology; Automotive Collision Technology Technician; Phlebotomy; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R); Electrical Lineworker; and Construction Trades.  

Criteria for a Malcolm Family Scholarship are that the applicant must be a resident of DeSoto County, Fla. and preference will be given to applicants who are 25 years old or younger. They must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at ˶ on a minimum of a half-time basis and have completed their first year of a trades program course at ˶. Preference is given to applicants who have completed their first year of study through the dual enrollment program at ˶, have demonstrated financial need, and participate in the Boys and Girls Club of Arcadia. This is a full-tuition and fees scholarship that may be renewable for a second year.

“Through this endowed scholarship, ˶ students will have a financial resource for many years into the future,” said Marcia Conliffe, Financial Aid director. “˶ is grateful for donors, such as the Malcolm family. Their gifts allow our students to focus on their studies and, in time, make our communities economically stronger.”

An endowed scholarship enables donors to create a legacy, carrying funds toward student scholarships into perpetuity. Scholarships for students are awarded from the interest that the endowment earns. As the corpus grows, the ˶ Foundation can award scholarships to students for years to come.

To apply for scholarships made available through the ˶ Foundation, visit AwardSpring at: southflorida.awardspring.com. For more information about the ˶ Foundation or to make a donation, call 863-453-3133 or email foundation@southflorida.edu.