Monroe County scholars earn $2 million in college scholarships

Sixty-nine Monroe County seniors walked away from Marathon High School on May 16 with a financial boost that could change the way they move into adulthood: $2 million in Florida Prepaid tuition and dormitory scholarships. The Take Stock in Children class made up about 10 percent of the Monroe County School District’s graduating class, turning the program into one of the county’s most important pipelines from high school to college or career training.

The numbers behind the celebration show more than a ceremonial sendoff. The class posted a collective 3.71 grade-point average, completed 243 Advanced Placement courses and earned 372 dual-enrollment credits. For Keys families facing some of the highest living costs in Florida, those credits and scholarships can mean fewer loans, lower housing pressure and a better chance that students keep moving after graduation instead of being shut out by price.

Take Stock in Children is the flagship program of the Monroe County Education Foundation and has operated locally for more than 25 years. Monroe County school materials describe it as a 501(c)(3) that works to break the cycle of poverty through education, and the foundation says the local network includes more than 370 dedicated volunteer mentors and students.

The model is built for long-term support, not a one-time award. Students commit to staying focused on grades, behavior and avoiding drugs and crime. In return, they receive a volunteer mentor, college and career readiness support and, after high school, a Florida Prepaid scholarship. Local coverage has described the scholarship as covering 120 credit hours of tuition, a significant safeguard for Monroe County graduates who often face steep costs before they even set foot on a college campus.

The ceremony included student remarks from Coral Shores, Somerset Island Prep and Marathon, along with comments from Marianne Finizio, the newly elected president of the Monroe County Education Foundation, and Superintendent Ed Tierney. Their presence underscored how deeply the program is tied to the county’s school system and its workforce future, especially in a community where retaining young people depends on whether college can be made affordable enough to stay within reach.

The 2026 class also marked another step in a steady local pattern. Last year, 81 Monroe County Take Stock scholars were honored, representing 12 percent of the Class of 2025 and earning more than $2 million in scholarships with a 3.65 GPA. In 2024, the county sent 64 scholars to college and reported $1.6 million in Florida Prepaid tuition scholarships. This year’s class pushed the program higher again, with more students, a stronger GPA and another $2 million committed to the next generation of Monroe County graduates.