Optimist Club of the Beaches

“Friend of Youth”

Gulf Coast State College (GSCS) – 12 Scholarships

1.     Scholarships are administered through the GCSC Foundation, but awarded by the Optimist Club Scholarship Committee

2.     The deadline to submit applications to the foundation is early to mid-March each year.

3.     The value of the scholarships is set by the Foundation Board of Directors in April or May of each year.  For the 2024/2025 academic year, the value is $700 per semester or $1,400 per year for full-time students

4.     The 12 scholarships:

a.     Aaron Z. Bessant Memorial Optimist Scholarship – preference will be given to mature individuals, for instance, single parents

b.     Chris Barnhart Memorial Optimist Scholarship – voluntary, long-term participation in church, civic, medical or school activities will improve an applicant’s standing

c.     Dana Logan Johnson Memorial Optimist Scholarship

d.     Dennis C. Rich Memorial Optimist Scholarship – Preference to students electing business or education areas of study

e.     Farrell Gibbons Memorial Optimist Scholarship

f.      Henry G. Swicord Memorial Optimist Scholarship – Preference for students with strong interest and aptitude for studies in Math & Science.

g.     James A. Blanchard, Jr. Memorial Optimist Scholarship

h.     Jean Stender Swicord Memorial Optimist Scholarship – Special consideration shall be given to applicants who have demonstrated academic ability in artistic expression such as writing, visual arts, drama or theatrical production

i.      Paul Fritz Gould Memorial Optimist Scholarship

j.      Randolph Phillips Optimist Scholarship

k.     Robert H. Draper Memorial Optimist Scholarship

l.      Thomas G. & Donna P. McCoy Memorial Optimist Scholarship – special consideration will be given to students resuming their education

5.     For more information, or to apply for scholarships to GCSC, go to this site: https://gcscfoundation.org/, click on the “scholarships tab” in the upper right corner, then click on the “scholarship listing” hot button in the upper left corner.  Keyword “optimist” once you get to the list of scholarships