Lunceford Family Scholarship @ St. Petersburg College

I established the fund in honor of my parents Wendell and Betty  in 1994 at St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC, now called St. Petersburg College since it has converted to a four year institution).  It is intended that moneys will be placed into the Fund until it becomes self-sustaining. When the fund contains adequate resources that interest earned will support paying the tuition of a single student for two semesters per year and have approximately 20% remaining for tuition growth, etc. the fund will go into operation. The paperwork that established the fund identifies they type of person to be selected (primarily a needy person which shows promise in their ability to improve the quality of their life. The primary target will be single parents).
Good News! The state of Florida has determined that this fund has exceptional characteristics and on three occasions (1998, 1999 and 2003) provided matching funds!
Even Better News!  As a JC, there was enough money in the account to give out a few scholarships!  However, once the JC because a four year college tuition and fees went up, so we are back in a mode of building up the fund with the goal of getting back to being able to provide scholarships adequate to cover a year’s worth of tuition, books and fees.  We will get there.
 Reason for selection of St. Petersburg Junior College SPJC not only maintains a high standard of education, as demonstrated by the top 10 ratings it receives nationally as an academic institution, but as a junior college, it also focuses on providing accessible higher education to the many people that for one reason or another cannot attend a four year institution. Both Dell and his brother graduated from SPJC before moving on to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees from four year institutions. St. Petersburg was the long time home and is the final resting places of both Wendell and Betty Lou.

So far in 2011 we have been able to give out 8 semester scholarships!