Northwest Florida State College to Award More Than $1 Million in Scholarships for First Time
Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) will award more than $1 million in scholarships this academic year. The scholarships, college leadership announced, will reach 600 students—a first in the college foundation’s history, officials announced at a luncheon celebrating scholarship recipients and donors. The foundation now manages more than 300 endowed scholarships.
Andie Pember, a nursing student, received the Howard and Irene Fisher Nursing Foundation Scholarship. Pember said that receiving care for a chronic illness as a teenager inspired her to pursue nursing. She plans to complete the NWFSC’s associate degree in nursing program and then earn a bachelor’s degree.
“Your investment in us is an investment in our futures,” Pember told the donors.
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Northwest Florida State College Foundation President Chris Stowers also read a thank-you note from another scholarship recipient who could not attend. The student wrote that the NWFSC scholarship helps her pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. With a degree in hand, she hopes to build a better life for her and her sons. Her desire to work in an emergency department grew from watching nurses care for her father during his long illness.
The Foundation recognized Christopher Melvin, a third-grade teacher at Elliott Point Elementary School, with their Rising Star award.
Alumnus Caitlin Fox, Former Crestview City Councilman Ryan Bullard, and Dr. Jennifer Miller with awards at the ceremony.
NWFSC President Mel Ponder said the gifts were investments whose effects can reach beyond the students who receive them. He said a scholarship donor’s generosity could inspire a student who later makes a difference in someone else’s life.
“One word, one exchange, one comment can change someone’s life forever,” Ponder said.
The luncheon also recognized six new endowments, including scholarships honoring a nursing educator, a family caregiver, a military leader and community members committed to education and service. The gifts will support students in fields including nursing and early childhood education.
Former NWFSC foundation board chair Fred Thomas, remembering longtime supporters Wayne Campbell and Major General Don Litke, described the spirit behind that commitment:
“They didn’t show up for board meetings. They showed up to make a difference, and they did,” he explained.
The record-breaking scholarship total, speakers said, represents more than a financial milestone: it gives students greater opportunity to pursue their education and carry that support into their families, careers and communities.
