FLORIDA EDUCATION FUND INC

MCKNIGHT DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM:GRADUATION AND RETENTION RATESESTABLISHED IN 1984, THE FLORIDA EDUCATION FUND'S MCKNIGHT DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARS WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE PH.D. IN CRUCIAL DISCIPLINES AND FIELDS OF STUDY. SOME 1,711 FELLOWSHIPS HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO SCHOLARS PURSUING THE PH.D. DEGREE AND THE PROGRAM ENJOYS AN IMPRESSIVE NEAR 87% RETENTION RATE WHICH INCLUDED 360 MATRICULATING FELLOWS AND 1,126 GRADUATES.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)PRESENTLY 81 FELLOWS HAVE ADVANCED TO CANDIDACY. 55 FELLOWS GRADUATED IN 2024. 19 FELLOWS GRADUATED SINCE JANUARY 2025. 39 NEW MCKNIGHT FELLOWSHIPS AND 7 DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS WERE AWARDED FOR FALL 2025 TO STUDENTS PURSUING STUDIES AT ONE OF 9 INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. EACH FELLOWSHIP CONSISTS OF TUITION, FEES, AND STIPEND.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITYIN ADDITION, DURING THE 2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR, WE OFFERED FELLOWS OUR OWN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AS WELL AS TRAVEL GRANTS FOR THEM TO ATTEND PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES TO FACILITATE THEIR RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION EFFORTS. PRESENTING PAPERS AT PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES NOT ONLY PROMOTES NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB PLACEMENT BUT ALSO ALLOWS THE FELLOWS TO RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL FEEDBACK ON THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS. FREQUENTLY, PARTICIPATING IN THESE TYPES OF CONFERENCES MAY ALSO LEAD TO COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES ON IMPORTANT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH PROJECTS. WE EXPANDED OUR WRITING SUPPORT SERVICES TO INCLUDE NOT ONLY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WRITING WORKSHOPS FOCUSING ON JOURNAL AND MANUSCRIPT PUBLICATIONS, BUT ALSO EDITORIAL ASSISTANCE ON GRANT PROPOSALS, CONFERENCE PAPERS, AND REPORTS. THESE SERVICES ALLOW SCHOLARS TO WORK WITH PROFESSIONAL EDITORS TO HELP IMPROVE WRITING MECHANICS AND CONTEXTUAL ORGANIZATION, AS WELL AS CONNECT STUDENTS TO CONTENT EXPERTS IN SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES.TO REMAIN CONTEMPORARY, WE EXPANDED OUR CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS TO INCLUDE A SERIES OF SPECIAL TOPIC PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON BEST PRACTICES FOR COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREPARATION AND DISSERTATION DEFENSES AND PROVIDED PRESENTATIONS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE IMPACT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES ON BOOK AND JOURNAL PUBLICATION PROCESSES.FURTHERMORE, TO ENSURE OUR SCHOLARS TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF AMERICA'S GROWING JOB MARKETS AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE EXPOSURE TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, NOT-FOR-PROFIT THINK TANKS, AND PRIVATE SECTOR CORPORATE JOBS, WE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB MARKET EXHIBITORS AND RECRUITERS TO MEET OUR SCHOLARS DURING OUR ANNUAL GRADUATE SCHOOL CONFERENCES.

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE:ESTABLISHED IN 1985, THE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE (COE'S OR CENTERS) ARE COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES WHOSE MISSION IS TO IDENTIFY AND MOTIVATE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS AND ULTIMATELY INCREASE THE POOL OF STUDENTS MOTIVATED AND QUALIFIED TO ENTER COLLEGE. THIS MISSION INCLUDES A) ASSUMING A MORE PROACTIVE STANCE IN THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH; B) EMPLOYING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GROUP ACHIEVEMENT MODEL FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS; AND C) INCREASING THE POOL OF STUDENTS WHO ARE PREPARED, MOTIVATED AND QUALIFIED TO ENTER HIGHER EDUCATION.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)TEN CENTERS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA HAVE INDUCTED APPROXIMATELY 24,500 HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS INTO THE NATIONAL ACHIEVERS SOCIETY. APPROXIMATELY 21,800 STUDENTS HAVE COMPETED IN THE ANNUAL BRAIN BOWL SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITIONS. APPROXIMATELY 12,300 HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SAT PREPARATION AND/OR COMPUTER PROGRAMMING COURSES, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMPS.