2012 Leaders for Life Fellows

Five deserving high school seniors, Vanessa Colchado (Polk), Alfonso Mejia (Broward County), Tyler Dwyer (Clay County), Houng Thuy Nguyen (Manatee County) and Daniel Pierce (Escambia County), have been honored with Take Stock in Children’s prestigious Leaders 4 Life Fellowship at a state conference attended by hundreds of Florida’s top education leaders in Tallahassee. Take Stock in Children is a statewide non-profit organization with a 16 year history of providing scholarships, mentors and hope to low-income and at-risk youth.

These highly motivated scholars, who are amongst several thousand high school students statewide benefiting from Take Stock in Children, were selected based on their demonstration of strong leadership skills, moral character and academic success. The five worthy students were recognized by Governor Rick Scott, Rep. Marlene O’Toole and many other community leaders during a special reception.

“As an extension of our commitment to improve college enrollment and retention, we were proud to honor these outstanding scholars with Leaders 4 Life Fellowships during our state conference,” said Emilio Alonso-Mendoza, President/CEO of Take Stock in Children. “These are truly life-changing awards, generously provided by the Asofsky Family Foundation, which eliminate all financial burdens and allow the students to devote 100% of their efforts to their studies and personal development.”

Take Stock in Children’s Leaders 4 Life Fellowship Program was created last year in partnership with the Asofsky Family Foundation to provide financial resources, services and support needed to ensure student success throughout college. The fellowship provides leadership training and development, as well as funding for unmet college expenses including costs of housing, food, textbooks, supplies, transportation and more up to $40,000 per student award.

“We take great pride in offering our Leaders 4 Life Fellowship as it provides all of the tools necessary to prepare these top-notch students for becoming tomorrow’s great leaders,” said Mark Asofsky, Founder of the Asofsky Family Foundation. “It is out pleasure to be working hand in hand with Take Stock in Children to provide deserving youth the opportunity to achieve their dreams of a college education.”