Pumipat Ratanawetchasit from Eustis High School and Aubrey Shaw from South Lake High School have been chosen to represent Lake County Schools in the Sunshine State scholars Program in Orlando on April 10-11. The two-day program culminates with the Commissioner of Education honoring them for their significant accomplishments. Scholars .
Each Florida school district selects their top 11th grade students in the areas of science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) to participate in the program, which will connect the scholars with schools from Florida's College and State University System. The program will include workshops for college applications, informational sessions on college funding and discussions of higher education opportunities available in Florida.
Sunshine State Scholars must have expressed an interest in STEM related studies, have a weighted grade point average of 3.9 or higher, and be on track to qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars Award, including having documentation to support a minimum of 25 hours of approved community service.
Districts are allotted a scholar count based on student enrollment. Districts with fewer than 20,000 students are allotted one scholar. Districts with 20,001 to 78,999 students are allotted two scholars. Districts with more than 79,000 students are allotted three scholars.