In honor of Black History Month, two local executives are teaming up to offer a full-tuition scholarship valued at up to $61,178 to a Black entrepreneur with a local or online business. 

The Business Opportunity Scholarship will cover the tuition and fees for a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Florida Technical College. The program covers entrepreneurship, management and marketing. Courses are fully online to accommodate “the diversity of educational needs,” according to the news release. 

In addition to tuition, the scholarship recipient will receive a laptop computer and admission to the annual African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida Empowerment Business Summit. 

The scholarship is being funded by Tanisha Nunn-Gary, president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, and Dr. James Michael Burkett, president of Florida Technical College. The pair describe it as a way to “pay it forward” to the next generation of local Black leaders.

Applicants must be United States citizens, have a high school diploma or GED and be able to demonstrate “leadership and commitment to the community.” The deadline to apply is Feb. 12. The winner will be announced Feb. 22. 

“Talent is evenly distributed, but (access) to resources, such as higher education is not,” Burkett said in the release. “We hear stories about students, especially those from underserved backgrounds, working two or three jobs while attending college full-time and launching their businesses. It is extremely challenging. This scholarship was created to help eliminate economic barriers that limit these entrepreneurs (from fulfilling) their ambitions.” 

Nunn-Gary said the scholarship will provide “the skills, strategies and resources to enable Black entrepreneurs to not only launch successful and sustainable businesses, but also drive positive change and lift up their communities.” 

“We invite aspiring and established Central Florida Black leaders to seize this opportunity and join us in rewriting the narrative and shaping a brighter future,” she said. 

This is the second full-tuition scholarship the organizations have awarded. The first recipient, Eddy Duran, will graduate with honors in 2024.  He began the degree program in 2021, and has launched ArtCycle Kids, a program that uses cycling to teach children teamwork.  

Business Opportunity Scholarship 2021 Award Ceremony Recap from Eleven 11 Communications on Vimeo.

Florida Technical College was founded in 1982. It offers diploma, associate and bachelor’s degree programs in a wide range of professions, including healthcare, construction trades, beauty, hospitality, information technology and business. The college has several campuses including in Lakeland, Orlando, Kissimmee and Tampa. 

The African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida (AACCCF) is dedicated to creating an environment for African American owned companies to thrive. It also seeks to make the public aware of Black-owned businesses.