Each of Florida’s school districts selects their top 11th grade students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM). Each scholar, along with their parents, will travel to Orlando for an extraordinary two-day program designed to bring together scholars from around the state, connect them with employers that specialize in the STEM fields, and create a networking opportunity between the scholars and schools from Florida’s College and State University System. This year’s program will bring 103 high school STEM scholars together to conduct a “think tank” on tough Florida challenges. The two-day program honors each scholar for their significant academic accomplishments and celebrates the potential they represent for our communities and state. In addition to the honor the scholars receive from the Commissioner of Education, the Chancellor of K-12 Public Schools and the Chancellor of Innovation, representatives from Florida’s colleges and universities meet with the students to discuss higher education opportunities available to them in Florida. This includes workshops for college applications and informational sessions on college funding for students and their parents!
Save the Date! This year's conference will be held April 13- April 14, 2023.
October 18- Scholar Selection Criteria Released to Districts
October 23 - December 16 - Districts Make Scholar Selections
November 21- January 13 — Districts Submit Scholar Information
January 25 — Scholar Packets e-Mailed
January 25 - February 8 — Scholar Responses Due
February 1- February 28— Recruitment Fair Table RSVPs Accepted from Higher Ed Institutions
March 1 - March 17 — Scholar Pre-Event Survey Open
April 13- April 14— Sunshine State Scholars 2022
April 17- April 28— Scholar Post-event Survey Open