In a significant move to enhance educational opportunities for local youth, Valencia College has announced a new scholarship program offering no-cost tuition and fees to all 2025 graduates of Jones High School and Evans High School in Orlando.
This initiative, funded through private donations to the Valencia College Foundation, including contributions from Lift Orlando, aims to eliminate financial barriers and boost college enrollment rates among local students.
Dr. Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College, highlighted the program’s objectives:
“The recent success of Osceola Prosper has led to a substantial increase in the county’s college-going rate and has eliminated disparities in historically underrepresented communities. The objective in launching this new scholarship fund at Evans and Jones high schools is to boost college-going rates for students in Orange County.”
The scholarship covers tuition and fees for students pursuing an associate degree or enrolling in technical programs, including Accelerated Skills Training (AST) in fields such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, construction, and transportation logistics. To qualify, students must apply to Valencia College, register for at least one course or an AST program by the spring term of 2026, and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Once enrolled, students have up to five years to complete an associate degree, technical certificate, or Accelerated Skills Training program. For free.
