Courtesy of Take Stock in Children
Key Points
- Sean Javier will graduate from the University of Florida in May 2027 with a degree in applied physiology and kinesiology and has applied to physical therapy doctoral programs.
- Take Stock in Children provides scholarships, mentoring, and educational support to low-income students, helping 46,000 students statewide since inception.
- Javier avoided student loans by using Bright Futures, Pell Grants, Take Stock scholarships, and other grants that covered most college expenses.
When Sean Javier entered Apopka High School as a freshman, he knew college was somewhere in his future. What he didn’t know was what he wanted to study or how he would eventually finance his education.
Now a senior at the University of Florida, Javier is preparing to graduate in May 2027 with a degree in applied physiology and kinesiology. He has applied to doctoral programs in physical therapy.
Along the way, scholarships, financial aid and guidance from volunteer mentors helped him avoid taking out student loans.
“I didn’t really want to take out loans for college,” Javier said. “Figuring out financial aid and applying to scholarships and making sure that I got all of my Bright Futures requirements done … was super important.”
Javier participated in Take Stock in Children, a statewide nonprofit that provides college scholarships, mentoring and educational support to students from low-income households. The organization works with students beginning in middle or high school and continues providing support through college. to students from low-income households. The organization works with students beginning in middle or high school and continues providing support through college.
For Javier, who joined the program at approximately 14 years old, the mentoring extended beyond financial planning.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he struggled personally early in high school. His first mentor provided regular encouragement and remembered details from their previous conversations.
“Just the fact that he was a constant presence in my life, someone that did not have to be there … that was really important to me,” Javier said.
Bethany Lacey, CEO of Take Stock in Children, said the organization’s approach combines long-term mentoring with tuition assistance rather than providing scholarships alone.
Students must meet household income requirements, maintain their grades, participate consistently in mentoring and remain crime- and drug-free.
According to Lacey, the program provides a two-year tuition scholarship through a partnership with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, which matches the scholarship’s value. Students also receive assistance applying for federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, and other scholarships.
“We want to make sure that once they’re in college, that they have the support they need to stay in college and to graduate,” Lacey said.
The scholarships do not automatically cover every college expense. Housing, textbooks and meal plans can remain substantial financial burdens, Lacey said. However, combining multiple sources of aid can reduce students’ out-of-pocket costs and dependence on loans.
Javier said Bright Futures, Pell Grants, a Take Stock scholarship and other grants helped cover most of his college expenses, significantly reducing his out-of-pocket costs.
In Orange County, Take Stock in Children currently serves approximately 200 students and has assisted more than 1,000 over its history, according to Lacey. She did not provide separate participation figures for Apopka.
Statewide, the organization reports serving approximately 46,000 students since its founding 31 years ago.
Lacey said 99% of the program’s students graduated from high school last year and 92% pursued higher education. She also reported a 73% college completion rate.
The nonprofit relies on volunteer mentors, including more than 100 in Orange County. Mentors receive training and generally meet with students twice monthly, sometimes for approximately 30 minutes.
Javier, who now volunteers with Project Youth Build and serves as a college experience student ambassador for Take Stock in Children, said his experience inspired him to help other students navigate their educational paths.
His advice to students worried about college costs is to investigate scholarships and financial aid before assuming higher education is beyond their reach.
“There are ways forward if you don’t think you can afford it to get a college degree,” Javier said. “There are resources to help you navigate that.”
Apopka-area residents interested in mentoring or learning about student opportunities can visit takestockinchildren.org.