| June 2008 Student Spotlight
Avery DeShazier
Heritage Preparatory School
Orlando, FL
The typical Step Up For Students scholarship family has an average income of $24,489 for a family of four, and more than 60 percent of the scholarship recipients come from single-parent homes. The typical scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. Many are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and care about their future, look for viable options.
Parents apply for Step Up For Students Scholarships so their children can attend the school best suited for their special needs, beliefs, and abilities, and to address negative trends in their child's learning skills and/or environment.
Although New Jerusalem was able to help Avery get back on track, Rose felt that another school, Tampa Bay Christian School in Brandon, had an academic program more tailored to his needs. Since the scholarship is awarded to parents, not schools, it is transferable to other private schools, and so Rose was able to enroll Avery in Tampa Bay Christian when he was in fourth grade. During his time at Tampa Bay Christian, Avery continued to excel and became an honor roll student.
This summer, Rose and Avery relocated to Orlando indefinitely to be closer to family, where Avery will be attending Heritage Preparatory School on the scholarship program. Rose believes that the school’s unique college-preparatory programs will help Avery continue on his path to success all the way up through high school and prepare him for a successful future. In fact, at the young age of 10, Avery has already identified his goals for the future; he plans to become not only a professional football player, but also pursue a career as crime scene investigator in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Although she makes personal sacrifices to send Avery to a school of choice – including paying the remaining tuition costs and other fees not covered by the scholarship, as well as transportation costs – Rose knows it is worth the improvements she has seen in her son’s academic performance. She is thankful to the donors and supporters of the scholarship program for giving her son the opportunity to receive the educational tools necessary to lead a successful life.
About Heritage Preparatory School
Established in 1969, Heritage Preparatory School serves Orlando-area students in grades preschool through 12th grade. Heritage Prep students take college entrance examinations and prepare with testing such as the Stanford 10, PLAN, PSAT, ASVAB and EXPLORE. During the 2007-08 school year, Heritage Prep served 250 students, 125 of which were Step Up For Students scholarship recipients. The annual cost of tuition at Heritage Prep for the 2008/09 school year is $5,050 for grades Kindergarten through 12, plus the cost of books. th
About the Step Up For Students Scholarship Recipients
Step Up For Students Scholarships are funded by corporations that redirect up to 75 percent of their corporate state income tax liability to a qualified Scholarship Funding Organization in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. For more information or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.stepupforstudents.org/donors.php, or call 1-800 782-9140 for more information. |
