Florida 10 for 10 Scholarship Initiative

Each year during the first week of May, U.S. News & World Report releases its state rankings for higher education. Florida has held the #1 spot since 2017, making this the 10th year in a row at the top. Florida also ranks number one in the nation in workforce education, graduation rates, affordability, and attracting and retaining talent.

Comprised of 12 institutions serving more than 431,000 students, we are home to the second-largest public university system in the nation, defined by high-quality, affordable, and accessible education. To celebrate the decade milestone, the System will coordinate a scholarship contest across all 12 institutions, with a total of $120,000 awarded through university Foundations.

Scholarship Critieria:

  • Applicant(s) must be 18 years or older and be currently enrolled, full-time undergraduate students
  • Applicant(s) must submit either a written essay (500 words or less) or video essay (maximum of two minutes) on why they chose to pursue higher education in Florida and why they selected the University of Central Florida. Applicant(s) must confirm that their essay or video submission is their own original work, created solely by them without the use of any means of artificial intelligence.
  • Applicant(s) must confirm that they are not employees, associates, officers, directors, volunteers and agents of the UCF Foundation or any other entity directly involved in the development, administration or execution of this scholarship initiative, and that any members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and households are not eligible to be selected.

Award
10 $1,000 scholarships
College/Department
UCF Advancement & Partnerships
Deadline
10/02/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. Submit an Essay or Video
    • In 500 words or less, share why you chose to pursue higher education in Florida and why you selected the University of Central Florida.
    • In two minutes or less, share why you chose to pursue higher education in Florida and why you selected the University of Central Florida. Please submit your video link as an unlisted YouTube video and ensure that when downloaded from YouTube the file would be no larger than 1GB.
    • Please confirm that your essay or video submission is your own original work, created solely by you without the use of any means of artificial intelligence.
  2. By submitting your application, you grant the UCF Foundation, the University of Central Florida, the Florida Board of Governors, the State of Florida and the University Board of Trustees a non-exclusive, royalty free-license to use, reproduce, and publish submitted essays or videos and to feature winners' names and submissions in Initiative-related materials, including websites, social media and press releases. Select Yes to confirm..
  3. Please confirm that you are not an employee, associate, officer, director, volunteer, or agent of the UCF Foundation or any other entity directly involved in the development, administration or execution of the Florida 10 for 10 Scholarship Initiative.
  4. Please confirm that you are not a member of the immediate family (defined as spouse, parent, sibling or child) or a household member (defined as people who share the same residence at least three months a year, whether related or not) of an employee, associate, officer, director, volunteer or agent of the UCF Foundation or any other entity directly involved in the development, administration or execution of the Florida 10 for 10 Scholarship Initiative.
  5. If selected for the scholarship, you will be notified by an email from A2O@ucf.edu. You must accept the scholarship within 48 hours of receiving the notification of being selected. Please confirm that you understand.