Farah & Farah Empowering Greatness Scholarship
In 2020, Farah & Farah launched the Empowering Greatness Scholarship, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve.” Since its inception, the scholarship has awarded over $200,000 in tuition assistance to 30 exceptional students in Florida who have demonstrated academic excellence and a strong commitment to community service.
The Farah & Farah Empowering Greatness Scholarship will award 5 high school seniors with a Florida Prepaid College Foundation 2-Year College Plan that covers tuition and most fees for 60 credit hours at any Florida public college. The plan value can also be applied to universities or trade schools in Florida.
Scholarship Eligibility
The Empowering Greatness ScholarshipSMis a partnership with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. To apply, students must meet all the following program eligibility criteria:
- Be a resident of Florida for 12 consecutive months
- Be a US citizen or resident alien with a valid SSN
- Be a rising senior, Fall 2024 & under the age of 21
- Meet income eligibility requirements
- Agree to remain drug free
- Agree to remain crime free
- Agree to submit an Online Student Survey annually
- Attend a public or charter high school in Florida
- Be seeking a college degree or certification in Florida
- Be affiliated with a Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the state of Florida
- Have a GPA 2.0 or above
Application Information
Eligible students should submit the completed application and below documentation to info@bbbsflorida.org no later than Friday, February 18, 2025.
- Student and parent signatures
- Signed Farah & Farah “Media Release” form
- Signed “Forms and Agreements”
- Student Essay
Essay Prompt: Higher education can be a powerful tool for creating positive change. How do you plan to use the knowledge and skills you gain to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others? Consider how your education will allow you to address issues in your community or contribute to a cause that is important to you.
Khalil Farah presents the 2024 Empowering Greatness Scholarship award to one of the 5 scholarship winners of 2024.
A scholarship committee will use a rubric to rank all completed applications. The top 10% of applicants will advance to a judges’ panel for review and final selections.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Programs
Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies provide both children and mentors the essential tools to develop lifelong, purposeful relationships. They offer young people positive and life-affirming choices.
Community-Based Mentoring
The core of BBBS programs is community-based mentoring. Littles in need of a mentor are matched with a volunteer Big who develops and maintains a relationship serving as a positive role model and source of reliable support. Matches are based on common interests, backgrounds, and aspirations allowing for a strong connection to grow over time. Bigs and Littles explore the local community and share fun activities they both enjoy at least twice a month for a few hours. Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends, while others meet in the evenings. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them.
Bigs and Littles create memories to last a lifetime. BBBS staff works with the Big and the Little’s family to encourage a continuous relationship and provide opportunities to participate in fun and engaging activities throughout the year. Staff also provide support for Bigs who may not know how to handle certain situations that may arise.
Getting together enriches the lives of both the Little and the Big. Outings do not require a special occasion or an expensive activity – just a few hours of quality time each month to share experiences in our community. These include, but are not limited to:
- Taking a walk or throwing a ball in a park
- Going to a museum
- Listening to music
- Attending a sports event
- Going to the beach
- Getting ice cream
Site-Based Mentoring
Similar to community-based mentoring, site-based mentoring creates one-on-one mentoring matches between Bigs and Littles. However, all mentoring activities take place at a designated site –during the day at school – for one hour each week. The match process and support, as well as the overall impact, is the same as that of community-based mentoring: each Little has a positive role model who offers support and guidance throughout the year. Mentoring activities can include reading, board games, sports, computer games, homework help, or a simple conversation.
Site-based mentoring is not a tutoring program; instead, mentors offer guidance. Research has shown children matched with a Big experience significant improvements in their academic lives. In fact, Littles who participate in the site-based mentoring program:
- Have improved academic performance
- Demonstrate higher levels of self-confidence
- Have a better attitude toward school
Impact on our state
Youth in a long-term, one-to-one mentoring relationship:
0%
Achieved higher grades in both Reading and Math0%
Youth promoted to next grade level0%
Were absent and tardy less frequently0%
Stayed out of the juvenile justice systemFind a Big Brothers Big Sisters Agency Near You
Find and contact your local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency to become a member and apply for the Farah & Farah Empowering Greatness ScholarshipSM, in your senior year of high school. The application period opens December 2024.
Ready to become a Little Brother or Sister? Join one of our programs! Just click the county that you live in on the map below to find the contact information for the Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in your area.
