The St. Joe Community Foundation, an organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life of the people in Northwest Florida, recently announced the creation of a new scholarship program designed to encourage area high school students to engage in leadership and community service. Designated the “No Ordinary JOE Scholarship,’ the program will offer scholarships to dozens of public high school students in Bay and Walton Counties to assist in the cost of college tuition.

Students from both counties in every public high school will be eligible for the scholarship which will be awarded based upon student history of leadership and community service, and a GPA of at least 3.0.

Three seniors from each eligible school will be selected to receive a $500 scholarship. Of those, one student from each school will be selected to receive an additional $2,500 scholarship. One recipient from each county will be awarded the No Ordinary JOE Scholarship in the amount of $10,000. Scholarship funds will be paid towards a degree program at the recipients’ chosen college. The program will commence with the high school graduating class of 2022.

“This new scholarship allows the Foundation to make an impact in every part of Bay and Walton County on an annual basis,” said April Wilkes, Executive Director of The St. Joe Community Foundation in a recent press release about the new scholarship program. “Education is one of the primary focus areas of the Foundation and the No Ordinary JOE Scholarship enables us to recognize and reward these extraordinary students as they prepare to further their education.”

“We applaud the creation of the No Ordinary JOE Scholarship by our great friends at the St. Joe Community Foundation and we know this incredible program will truly change the lives of many of our students,” said Bill Husfelt, Superintendent of Bay District Schools in a press release. “The St. Joe Community Foundation has been a trusted partner and supporter of Bay District Schools for many years, and we are exceptionally grateful for their dedication to our students and their commitment to our community.”

Since its inception in 1999, the Foundation has granted over $30 million in Northwest Florida. The Foundation provides charitable grants toward the civic infrastructure of communities in Northwest Florida. To learn more about the Foundation and the No Ordinary JOE Scholarship, visit www.joefoundation.com.