Southern Scholarship Foundation

Savannah Morgan, resident scholar of the Malthouse-Pilot Scholarship House in Fort Myers, is an for her exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to service.

A proud Bright Futures Scholarship recipient and Honors student, Savannah continues to excel academically while also taking part in service opportunities. This year she participated in a service trip to the Dominican Republic, where she was secretary for a student organization. Her dedication to leadership, global engagement, and making a positive impact reflects the values that define SSF resident scholars.

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Stifi John, resident scholar of the Hawksley Scholarship House in Gainesville, is an for her commitment to advocacy, community engagement, and student leadership through Chispas UF.

As a new ambassador for the organization, Stifi has helped raise awareness about immigrant rights by visiting classrooms and collaborating with other student organizations to share the club’s mission and encourage greater student involvement. Through her outreach and advocacy efforts, she is helping foster meaningful conversations and build a stronger sense of community on campus.

With the Florida Lottery's contributions to education, over one million students statewide have been able to achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education!

Hailey Jenkins, resident scholar of the Hansen FAMU Scholarship House in Tallahassee, is recognized as an for her leadership and continued impact within the Florida A&M University School of Business and Industry.

Recently serving as AVP of Recruitment, Hailey dedicated her time to connecting with local high school students and sharing the many academic and professional opportunities available through FAMU’s School of Business and Industry. Through her outreach, leadership, and ability to positively represent the program, she made such a strong impact that she was invited to return next year as Vice President.

With the Florida Lottery's contributions to education, over one million students statewide have been able to achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education! Florida Lottery

Shaira Ruiz, resident scholar of the MET Pilot Scholarship House in Gainesville, is an for her involvement in the REACH Program (Research, Engagement and Applied Consulting in Healthcare), one of the newest experiential learning opportunities for M.H.A. students at University of Florida.

Through the program, Shaira is working alongside interdisciplinary teams to develop evidence-based, community-focused strategic plans addressing real healthcare challenges related to cost, quality, access, and system performance. By applying classroom knowledge through research, engagement, and applied consulting, she's helping deliver meaningful, data-driven solutions while gaining hands-on experience in healthcare strategy and analysis.

Shaira’s dedication to experiential learning and advancing healthcare solutions reflects both academic excellence and a strong commitment to creating meaningful impact beyond the classroom.

With the Florida Lottery's contributions to education, over one million students statewide have been able to achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education! Florida Lottery

Mariah Earl, resident scholar of the ADK Scholarship House in Tallahassee, is an for earning a spot in the highly competitive 2026 Summer Leadership Program with Thomas Howell Ferguson, where only 15 students were selected.

Through this opportunity, Mariah will gain firsthand exposure to the accounting profession, exploring both audit and tax services while learning directly from industry professionals. Securing a place in the program during only her second official interview reflects her confidence, professionalism, and willingness to step outside of her comfort zone in pursuit of her future goals.

Mariah’s drive to build meaningful connections, gain real-world experience, and invest in her professional growth continues to set her apart as a dedicated and ambitious SSF resident scholar.

With the Florida Lottery's contributions to education, over one million students statewide have been able to achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education! Florida Lottery

Annabelle Truong, resident scholar of the Badcock Scholarship House in Gainesville, is an for her leadership and commitment to building community through student involvement.

This year, Annabelle began serving as Co-Director of the First-Year Leadership Program within the Asian-American Student Union, helping create opportunities for first-year students to connect, develop leadership skills, and become more engaged on campus. Her work helped lead to the program’s first-ever shadowing opportunity for freshman students, allowing participants to collaborate with AASU officers and gain hands-on experience planning events.

Annabelle’s initiative, leadership, and dedication to uplifting fellow students reflect the many talents and strengths of SSF resident scholars.

With the Florida Lottery's contributions to education, over one million students statewide have been able to achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education. Florida Lottery

Kelvin Amfo, resident scholar of the Mack-Tyner Scholarship House in Gainesville, is an for representing University of Florida in the ASCE Regional Prestressed Concrete Beam Competition—an intensive engineering competition that challenges students to apply advanced structural design, construction planning, and analytical problem-solving in a real-world setting.
As part of the project team, Kelvin contributed to the beam’s design development, construction methodology, and structural analysis, demonstrating both technical precision and collaborative leadership throughout the competition process. His ability to apply complex engineering principles beyond the classroom reflects a strong commitment to innovation, excellence, and professional growth within the field of civil engineering.
Kelvin’s accomplishment exemplifies the dedication, discipline, and hands-on learning experiences that continue to shape SSF resident scholars into future leaders in their professions.
With the Florida Lottery's contributions to education, over one million students statewide have been able to achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education! Florida Lottery

Congratulations to every SSF resident scholar who graduated this Spring. We're proud of all you've built. The future is yours!


𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐟𝐲
⁣𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘵-𝘏𝘰𝘷𝘥𝘢 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦
B.S. in International Affairs, Public Administration concentration. Minors in General Business and Psychology. Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
Highlights: Senior Hall of Fame 2026 Inductee; Founder and Executive Director of Girl Up FSU (UN-affiliated); Vice President of Administration of Garnet and Gold Key Leadership Honorary; Vice President of Membership of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society; interned with GenCLEO, Her Campus, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation; inducted into 1910 Women's Leadership Honorary, Pi Gamma Mu, and Hispanic Honor Society.
Future: Joining Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida as a Centralized Intake Paralegal, with plans to attend law school.⁣

𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐬-𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨
⁣𝘍𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘧𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (Business Manager⁣)
Dual B.S. in Biological Sciences and Spanish. Minor in Chemistry.
⁣Highlights: Mexican American Student Association — President, Vice President, Outreach Coordinator.
Future: Working as a Medical Assistant before applying to Physician Assistant school.⁣

𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞
⁣𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘹 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (Media Coordinator, Treasurer⁣)
B.S. in International Affairs. Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
⁣Highlights: Graduating summa cm laude.⁣
Future: Pursuing study and work abroad in East Asia before a career as a Foreign Service Officer.⁣

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐎𝐛𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐢
⁣𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭 & 𝘕𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦
B.A. in Human Development & Family Sciences.
⁣Highlights: Delta Sigma Theta (Financial Secretary), African Student Association (President).⁣
Future: Attending medical school.⁣

𝐉𝐢𝐧𝐲𝐢 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐧
⁣𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘛𝘺𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (Business Manager⁣)
B.S. in Computer Science.
⁣Highlights: Research internship at UFIT Research & Computing (HiPerGator).⁣
Future: Exploring opportunities in the field.⁣

Part 4 of our Spring 2026 graduate highlights. Engineers, environmental scientists, future lawyers, communicators — six scholars stepping into what comes next. Congratulations to all of them.


𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐚
⁣𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘛𝘺𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (House Cleaning Supervisor 1)
B.S. in Computer Science.
⁣Highlights: Software Engineering Intern at LinkedIn, mentor and peer leader with the First Generation Leadership Program.⁣
Future Plans: Joining Bloomberg in New York City as a Software Engineer, and continuing to record music outside of work.

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐳
⁣𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦-𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (Business Manager)
B.S. in Legal Studies. Minor in Real Estate.
Future Plans: Pursuing paralegal certification before continuing on to law school.⁣

𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥
⁣𝘔𝘌𝘛 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (House Manager⁣)
B.A. in Media Production, Management, and Technology.
⁣Highlights: CaribSA, Gator Salsa, UF Film Festival, Gamma Eta.⁣
Future Plans: Pursuing a Master’s in Mass Communication at the University of Florida Graduate School.⁣

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞
⁣𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮-𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (House Manager, Ambassador, Business Manager, House Cleaning Supervisor 1)
B.S. in Environmental Geology. Minor in Climate Change.
⁣Highlights: K-Company Officer, Geology Club Officer.⁣
Future Plans: Pursuing a Fulbright research study in the Philippines on coastal vulnerability and community engagement or attending the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs.⁣

𝐗𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐳
⁣𝘈𝘋𝘒 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (Treasurer, House Cleaning Supervisor, Fire Marshal⁣)
Dual B.S. in Marketing (Professional Sales) and Business Management.
⁣Highlights: FSU Bilingual Sales Team, National Alliance on Mental Illness (Treasurer), Dean’s List.⁣
Future Plans: Pursuing a career in marketing and sales.⁣

𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲
⁣𝘈𝘋𝘒 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (Secretary⁣)
B.S. in Psychology. Minor in Sociology.
⁣Highlights: Lady Spirithunters.⁣
Future Plans: Beginning her career in Tallahassee.⁣

We're back with Part 3 of our Spring 2026 grads. Congratulations to each of them for everything they've built and everything ahead. 🎓

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐤𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬
⁣𝘏𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦
B.S. in Health Education and Behavior.
⁣Highlights: HEB intern at the UF Center for Research on Perinatal Outcomes, UF Promise Scholar, Preview Staffer, Fundraising Director at CaribSA, Ms. Zeta Kappa 2024–2025.
Future Plans: Enrolling in the Accelerated BSN program at UF.⁣

𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐬
⁣𝘉𝘢𝘥𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (House Manager, Ambassador, Business Manager, ⁣House Champion Liaison, Media Coordinator)
B.A. in English. Minors in Florida Teaching and Environmental Justice and Policy.
⁣Highlights: UF RecSports — developing Challenge Course reservations, Marketing and Media Relations, and serving on the Student Leadership Council.
Future Plans: Moving to Montana to work with a ranch's parks and recreation team.⁣

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐡
⁣𝘉𝘢𝘥𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (Ambassador, Treasurer, Secretary, House Cleaning Supervisor 1⁣)
B.A. in Criminology. Minor in Anthropology.
⁣Highlights: Sports Official with UF RecSports, active participant in Christian small groups through a local church.⁣
Future Plans: Entering the workforce in her field and getting married.

𝐍𝐚𝐨𝐦𝐢 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬
⁣𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭 & 𝘕𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 (House Cleaning Supervisor)
B.A. in Human Development & Family Sciences.
⁣Highlights: Pre-PA Society at FSU, African Student Association (Historian).
Future Plans: Working as a Medical Assistant during a gap year before applying to Physician Assistant school.⁣

𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐣𝐢𝐚
⁣𝘓𝘢𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦
Dual B.S. in Media Communication Studies and Economics. Minors in Business Analytics and Hispanic Marketing.
⁣Highlights: Cum Laude, UROP research, sustainability fellowship, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy Student Council.⁣
Future Plans: Pursuing a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning at Florida State University.⁣