We are excited to announce that Edna Ulysse from Evans High School and Nicholas Johnson from Colonial High School are the 2017 Elevation Scholars award winners! The two high school juniors were presented with the awards on Tuesday, April 11th at a ceremony held at the Citrus Club in downtown Orlando. Each student will receive an awards package worth $35,000 which includes a customized mix of college consulting, extensive one-on-one test preparation, summer internships, a family trip to their top targeted colleges, and ongoing support throughout their college career. After an intense selection process, Edna and Nicholas were chosen due to their demonstrated leadership, service, and academic accomplishments.

In addition to the Elevation Scholars awards, five deserving students received an Elevation Way award. Recipients of the Elevation Way display exemplary qualities in one of Elevation Financial Group’s core cultural values. The winners of the Elevation Way awards are:

Rotchild Dorson, Evans High School
Elevation Leadership Award

Alyssa Wilson, Jones High School
Elevation Service Award

Samela Pynas, Oak Ridge High School
Elevation Discipline Award 1

Laura Alhasnawi, Colonial High School
Elevation Discipline Award 2

Kierra Law, Evans High School
Elevation Kindness Award

Each recipient of an Elevation Way award will receive a $5,000 package which includes a customized mix of college consulting, one-on-one standardized test preparation and focused research to identify potential scholarships. All seven award winners are high academic performers in one of Orange County’s Title One schools.

Through a partnership with Orange County Public Schools and the University of Central Florida, The Elevation Scholars Program focuses on educational inequality in Central Florida. The goal is to prepare high-achieving students from low-income families for acceptance into the nation’s most selective colleges and universities. Nominated by school administration, students from Elevation’s three partner Orange County schools join the Elevation Fellows program in their freshman year. The students receive guidance, training and the opportunity to participate in programs that will educate and prepare them for the college admissions process. During their junior year, the Elevation Fellows students can apply for the Elevation Scholars award where they will receive customized and private college consulting, test preparation, internships, a visit to the college or university of their choice, and support throughout their college career. The Elevation Scholars Program is made possible by the generosity of AndCo (formerly The Bogdahn Group), The Glenda G. Morgan Foundation, The Allison Family and The Elevation Foundation.

Want to learn how you can help?

There are many ways that you can help a deserving student in Orange County fulfill their educational dreams. For more information contact Scott Lee at SLee@elevationfinancialgroup.com