In 2021, over 1,000 LSSC students benefited from a Foundation scholarship. The LSSC Foundation currently has over 200 scholarship funds and endowments available to LSSC students, who must meet a diverse range of eligibility criteria. Foundation scholarships are available to students in all programs.

“We are incredibly grateful to our donors who make this possible,” said Dr. Laura Byrd, Sr. VP of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the LSSC Foundation. “Over the last year, the Foundation has expanded efforts to raise funds in support of the educational goals and basic needs of LSSC students. The College’s strategic plan prioritizes ensuring that every student has the opportunity to receive a college education and we are committed to supporting that important effort.”

The LSSC Foundation has more than doubled its scholarship awards in the last four years – providing $471,750 in 2017.

“We appreciate our donors and value our community partners who help us make students’ dreams a reality,” said Carl Specci, president of the LSSC Foundation board of directors. “We believe education is one of the best investments you can make. We hope to make 2022 a million-dollar scholarship year!”

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Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity forecasts hundreds of job openings in Central Florida each year for Medical/Clinical Lab Technologists and projected job growth of over 15% through 2028. LSSC’s planned program would help fill this workforce demand and will be the only AS in Medical Lab Technology offered by a Florida College System institution in Central Florida.

“Throughout our workforce region and the state of Florida, we are seeing growing demand for a wide range of healthcare professions and the new medical lab tech program is an important addition to our existing allied health offerings,” said Dr. Michael Vitale, Senior VP of Academic Affairs at Lake-Sumter State College.

“The Live Well Foundation Board of Directors chose to support Lake-Sumter State College’s Medical Laboratory Technology program to solve a need for this health-related service,” said board chair Dr. Kasey Kesselring. “There is currently an extensive list of employment opportunities for this profession in Lake and Sumter Counties, including all four hospitals. Our community will now have the resources to prepare students for employment as medical/clinical laboratory technologists or medical laboratory technicians.”

“On behalf of the College and the LSSC Foundation Board of Directors, I am extremely grateful for this significant support from the Live Well Foundation of South Lake,” said Dr. Laura Byrd, Senior VP of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the LSSC Foundation. “This grant allows us to begin working toward the launch of the Medical Lab Tech program as early as Fall 2022.”

Medical Lab Technologists work in clinical lab settings in doctor’s offices or hospitals and perform a wide array of tests on blood, tissue, and other bodily fluids. These results can then be used by doctors to diagnose and treat patients.

In Florida, Medical Lab Techs must earn an AS degree in a program such as Medical Lab Technology to be eligible for employment and licensure by the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel. Students must also pass a national certification exam.

As a standard part of the academic program planning process, this degree program still requires approval from the LSSC District Board of Trustees and the College’s regional accrediting agency, SACSCOC.

To learn more about the Live Well Foundation of South Lake, visit www.LWFSL.com.

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A growing partnership among the LSSC Foundation, Mount Dora Community Trust, and the Guardian ad Litem 5^th Judicial Circuit led to this new opportunity. The Mount Dora Community Trust donated $2,500 matched by an additional $2,500 from the W.T. Bland Jr. Charitable Trust to a new Kids’ College scholarship fund at the LSSC Foundation for Lake County children in the Guardian ad Litem program.

“The Foundation is pleased to facilitate this gift on behalf of Kids’ College and Guardian ad Litem,” said Dr. Laura Byrd, LSSC VP of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the LSSC Foundation. “We are pleased to bring these two programs together to have a positive and meaningful impact on children in our community.”

Children in the Guardian ad Litem program are in foster care, often as the result of abuse or neglect. Volunteer Guardians ad Litem advocate for the best interest of the child in dependency court proceedings.

“The Guardian ad Litem Program is exceedingly grateful to Lake-Sumter State College and their donors for making this offering possible,” said Marcia Hilty, Circuit Director for Guardian ad Litem 5^th Judicial Circuit. “The classes and experience provided will expose our children to positive, life-enhancing activities that will benefit them for years to come.”

Kids’ College offers exciting and interactive classes that mix in academic concepts for children in grades 1 through 6. For example, the Creative Design class allows students to virtually decorate a room and create their own personalized décor piece, while learning principles of design. Another class allows students to come up with a superhero and create their own comic book.

Kids’ College is available at LSSC’s Leesburg and South Lake campuses during June and July in two-week sessions. Registration is still available at www.lssc.edu/kidscollege.

Over 400 children are currently involved in dependency court proceedings in Lake County. Only about 85% of those children receive advocacy with the current volunteers in the Guardian ad Litem program. Visit www.guardianadlitem.org to learn about volunteering.

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“We are appreciative of the generosity and leadership of the Florida College System Foundation for facilitating these scholarship programs on behalf of our students at Lake-Sumter State College and all FCS schools,” said Dr. Laura Byrd, VP of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director, LSSC Foundation. “These scholarship programs enable us to support students in achieving their dreams of earning a college degree.”

Mr. Tim Morris, Treasurer of the Florida College System Foundation and member of the LSSC District Board of Trustees, presented the check to LSSC on behalf of the FCS Foundation earlier this month.

The Bank of America Dream Makers Scholarship is awarded to first-generation students for tuition, fees, books, transportation, and childcare.

The Helios Education Foundation First Generation Scholarship is award to scholars who are first-generation students to cover their tuition, fees, and books. Preference for this scholarship will be given to students who intend to become a teacher in the State of Florida.

The Florida Blue Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship covers tuition, fees, and books for students pursuing a degree in nursing.

In the 2018 – 2019 academic year, the LSSC Foundation awarded over $546,000 in scholarships to students at Lake-Sumter State College.

Tim Morris presents a scholarship check to the LSSC Foundation on behalf of the Florida College System Foundation. Pictured (left-right): Swoop the Lakehawk; Dr. Laura Byrd, VP Institutional Advancement/Executive Director, LSSC Foundation; Mr. Tim Morris, Treasurer, FCS Foundation & Member, District Board of Trustees; Mr. Josh Gonzales, President, LSSC Foundation; Dr. Stan Sidor, LSSC President

About Lake-Sumter State College

Founded in 1962, Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) offers high-quality education at an affordable price to the communities of Lake and Sumter counties. As a proud member of the Florida College System, LSSC serves more than 6,000 students annually at three locations: Leesburg, South Lake (Clermont), and Sumterville. LSSC offers certificate and degree programs designed to support and prepare students for today’s dynamic workforce. LSSC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Through a DirectConnect^TM partnership with the University of Central Florida, students graduating with an Associate in Arts are guaranteed admission to UCF. Learn more about LSSC at www.lssc.edu.

About Lake-Sumter State College Foundation, Inc.

The LSSC Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides support to Lake-Sumter State College through the funding of scholarships and projects to advance the College’s mission of student success. The Foundation’s work is possible thanks to the generous support of individuals, businesses, and organizations.

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