Anyone worried about the next generation and its ability to lead our community, state and nation will only be heartened by a happy truth emerging in Tallahassee. Our young people are among those who will surely step up to lead – because they already know how important service to others is in this life.
As Leon County enters the great eighth year of “The Best & Brightest Awards” scholarship program, the project received a rocket boost of new fuel this week from title sponsor Envision Credit Union. Envision CEO Darryl Worrell announced a stunning, continued leadership commitment to the scholarships for at least the next five years and presented a $175,000 check — to a surprised and grateful room of public and private school principals, project coordinators and volunteers.
The Best & Brightest, which has recognized and honored nearly 1,000 deserving high school seniors and awarded a breathtaking $300,000 in scholarships, is positively changing Florida’s capital region by creating and nurturing a healthy culture of service among young people — as an ethic to embrace for life. Indeed, our inspiring high school seniors’ many good works are now awakening the call to service among middle school/eight graders, who now also participate in the project through an essay contest about the meaning and value of service.
We’re so pleased that our firm helped to conceive and create The Best & Brightest as a way to foster service and recognize and reward it – in partnership with World Class Schools at the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, The Tallahassee Democrat, Leon’s public and private schools and Envision’s proud pool of other sponsors, including Credit Union 24, among others. More information about the project, readily available on www.thebestandbrightestawards.com.
Clearly, everyone who ‘wins’ Best & Brightest recognition in this terrific program earns a scholarship ranging from $100 to $2,500 for the “Spirit of the Best & Brightest” top award. But along the way, our entire community is learning from these great young people that service is also its own best reward – at a level that is truly priceless.
For more information about The Best & Brightest Awards, please visit Tallahassee.com.