Fourteen SPHA residents receive scholarships

ST. PETERSBURG – Fourteen St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) residents are one step closer to getting their degree thanks to SPHA’s Scholarship Program and the partnership with St. Petersburg College (SPC) Four residents received $1,000 tuition scholarships, and 10 residents received $250 textbook scholarships.

“At SPHA, part of our mission is to promote resident self-sufficiency, and we believe the best way to do that is to assist our residents with educational opportunities, said SPHA Chief Executive Officer Tony L. Love. “Education is the foundation for creating a better future. We are very proud of the scholarship recipients and wish them the best as they work to advance their education.”

Recipients of the $1,000 tuition scholarship include Yalonda Clark, Christy Lai, Tiffany Ward and Angela Little. Recipients of the $250 textbook scholarship are A’tiana Mason, Seamarshall Hall, Yalonda Clark, Christy Lai, Tiffany Ward, Angela Little, Velma Robinson, Sherika Oliver, Kobirika Williams and Louise Ware.

The scholarships were created as a part of SPHA’s agreement to sell the Center for Achievement and Midtown Youth and Family Enrichment Center to SPC. As a requirement of the sale, SPC will provide four $1,000 tuition scholarships, 10 $250 textbook scholarships and five surplus computers, as they become available, each year to SPHA public housing and Section 8 residents for 30 years.

Another facet of SPHA’s Scholarship Program is to identify residents who are interested in continuing their education and provide them with information about scholarships offered by national housing industry organizations. To date, 20 residents have received scholarships thanks to the program.

More information about SPHA’s Scholarship Program can be found online at www.stpeteha.org/ scholarship.htm.

About St. Petersburg Housing Authority

Founded in 1937, SPHA is one of the first housing authorities in the nation and is continually rated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a “High Performing” agency. SPHA provides housing assistance to qualifying low-income families within its service area, which includes the City of St. Petersburg and extends in a 10-mile radius outside of city limits. More information about SPHA’s programs and services can be found at www.stpeteha.org.