South Florida Fair Scholarship Program Last Chance
Offered by South Florida Fair and Palm Beach County Expositions, Inc.
About This Scholarship
The South Florida Fair awards a deep slate of scholarships each year — more than 20 named funds ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 — and one application puts you in the running for every award you qualify for. Named scholarships include the Avellana Family Scholarship ($2,500 for students with financial need), the Elizabeth Gilbert Bowling Family Scholarship ($1,500 for nursing), the Virginia Pruitt Fine Arts Scholarship ($2,000), several agriculture-focused awards from local farm bureaus and growers, and a general pool of at least 15 academic-excellence awards.
Eligibility is geographic and specific: applicants must be full-time Florida residents of Broward, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee, or Palm Beach County who have completed their junior year of high school. Public, private, charter, virtual, technical, and homeschool students all qualify. For students in those five counties, the odds here are far better than national contests — dozens of awards drawn from one local applicant pool.
The application asks for two recommendation letters from non-family members, a transcript, a school photo, and a short essay of 300 words or fewer answering one of three prompts. Selected applicants interview in December, and winners are honored at the Fair in January 2027. Awards are paid directly to the student's college, university, or trade program and must be used within five years.
Eligibility
- Full-time Florida resident of Broward, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee, or Palm Beach County
- Completed junior year of high school; public, private, charter, virtual, technical, and homeschool students eligible
- Some named awards carry extra requirements (financial need, nursing, fine arts, agricultural studies, specific hometowns)
- Relatives of Fair staff, sponsors, trustees, and directors are not eligible
How To Apply
- Complete the online application on the South Florida Fair website (one application covers all awards)
- Attach two recommendation letters from people outside your immediate family
- Upload your most recent high school transcript and a recent school photo or headshot (.jpg or .png)
- Write an essay of 300 words or fewer answering one of the three posted prompts
- Submit by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2026, then watch for interview notification by November 21, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Students who have completed their junior year of high school and live full time in Broward, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee, or Palm Beach County, Florida.
Do I apply separately for each named scholarship?
No. One application covers every scholarship you qualify for, including the named funds and the general pool of academic-excellence awards.
How are awards paid?
Funds go directly to an accredited college, university, or trade program, must be used within five years, and scholarships over $3,000 may be paid over multiple years.