SCF Collegiate School graduates eligible to attend USF Sarasota Manatee tuition-free

MANATEE -- Students who graduate from the State College of Florida Collegiate School will now have a second university they can attend tuition-free upon acceptance: the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.

The announcement was made during Friday morning's high school graduation ceremony.

The collegiate school already has a similar partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.

"This opportunity will be available to our collegiate school students who are graduating today and beginning in the fall," SCF President Carol F. Probst

feld said. "We are excited that our students will have another financial advantageous choice when continuing their education after graduating from the State College of Florida Collegiate School."

Andy Telatovich, director of admissions and financial aid at USF Sarasota-Manatee, made the announcement to the 98 graduates before the ceremony got underway.

"There was one girl with tears in her eyes," Telatovich said. "That was amazing to see."

Four graduates have already confirmed they will enroll at the university on the scholarship. Those accepted to USF Sarasota-Manatee to take advantage of the opportunity will also receive a $600 book allowance each semester.

"We are excited to have the ability to offer this opportunity to the terrific students in SCF's Collegiate School," said Sandra Stone, regional chancellor of USF Sarasota-Manatee, in a statement to the Bradenton Herald. "These dedicated and hard-working students are exactly who we are looking for at USF Sarasota-Manatee. This scholarship and our growing partnership with SCF allows local students to stay in our region to complete their degree and enter the local workforce with minimal debt."

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 11:37 PM with the headline "SCF Collegiate School graduates eligible to attend USF Sarasota Manatee tuition-free ."