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Immokalee Middle School students earn shot at free college education

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Tristan Spinski/Staff Maria Flores, left, of Immokalee, hugs her daughter, Jennifer Flores, 13, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, following a scholarship announcement on Wednesday afternoon. Flores was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years. Flores, if she follows the guidelines of the scholarship and maintains her grades, would be the first of her family to attend college. 'It's such a blessing,' said Maria Flores about her daughter's new educational opportunity as she choked back tears. 'We didn't have a chance like this. We had to work in the fields and we had to work hard. It's a new generation. I'm so emotional and I'm so happy.'

Photo by TRISTAN SPINSKI

Tristan Spinski/Staff Maria Flores, left, of Immokalee, hugs her daughter, Jennifer Flores, 13, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, following a scholarship announcement on Wednesday afternoon. Flores was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years. Flores, if she follows the guidelines of the scholarship and maintains her grades, would be the first of her family to attend college. "It's such a blessing," said Maria Flores about her daughter's new educational opportunity as she choked back tears. "We didn't have a chance like this. We had to work in the fields and we had to work hard. It's a new generation. I'm so emotional and I'm so happy."

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  • Tristan Spinski/Staff Maria Flores, left, of Immokalee, hugs her daughter, Jennifer Flores, 13, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, following a scholarship announcement on Wednesday afternoon. Flores was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years. Flores, if she follows the guidelines of the scholarship and maintains her grades, would be the first of her family to attend college. 'It's such a blessing,' said Maria Flores about her daughter's new educational opportunity as she choked back tears. 'We didn't have a chance like this. We had to work in the fields and we had to work hard. It's a new generation. I'm so emotional and I'm so happy.'
  • Tristan Spinski/Staff Mary Gonzalez, of Immokalee, starts to cry after learning her son, Frankie Gonzalez, not pictured, 13, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, was a scholarship recipient on Wednesday afternoon. Gonzalez was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years. If Gonzalez holds to his pledge to stay drug and crime free and maintains his grades through high school, he will be the first in his family to attend college.
  • Tristan Spinski/Staff Brian Reyes, left, 12, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, tries to express his gratitude to the audience after receiving a scholarship on Wednesday afternoon. Reyes was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years.
  • Tristan Spinski/Staff Maria Flores, of Immokalee, starts to cry after learning her daughter, Jennifer Flores, not pictured, 13, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, was a scholarship recipient on Wednesday afternoon. Flores was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years. Flores, if she follows the guidelines of the scholarship and maintains her grades, would be the first of her family to attend college. 'It's such a blessing,' said Maria Flores about her daughter's new educational opportunity as she choked back tears. 'We didn't have a chance like this. We had to work in the fields and we had to work hard. It's a new generation. I'm so emotional and I'm so happy.'
  • Tristan Spinski/Staff Lourdes Reyes, center, of Immokalee, hugs her daughter, Irian Reyes, 12, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, after Reyes received a scholarship on Wednesday afternoon. Reyes was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years.
  • Tristan Spinski/Staff Jean Sanon, center, 12, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, laughs with his friends after receiving a scholarship on Wednesday afternoon. Sanon was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years.
  • Tristan Spinski/Staff Maria Espinoza, 12, a 7th grade student at Immokalee Middle School, laughs with her friends during a scholarship awards ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. Espinoza was one of 27 students selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years.

Twenty Seven Immokalee Middle School students were selected for the Take Stock in Children in Immokalee program, a scholarship provided by the Immokalee Foundation that pledges four years of tuition-free college education to students who remain drug and crime free through their high school years.

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