Bartow International Baccalaureate Senior Vanessa Colchado was recently recognized as one of five statewide recipients of the $40,000 Take Stock in Children’s Leaders 4 Life Fellowship.

Ms. Colchado was notified of her selection in December and travelled to Tallahassee, FL Jan. 11 for a special reception during the Take Stock in Children’s annual State Leadership Conference. The Leaders 4 Life Fellowship will provide Colchado a $40,000 scholarship that is split over four years of college.

The finalists and recipients were selected based on their demonstration of strong leadership skills, moral character and academic success. Take Stock in Children’s Leaders 4 Life Fellowship Program was created last year in partnership with the Asofsky Family Foundation to provide financial resources, services and support needed to ensure student success throughout college.

“We take great pride in offering our Leaders 4 Life Fellowship as it provides all of the tools necessary to prepare these top-notch students for becoming tomorrow’s great leaders,” said Mark Asofsky, Founder of the Asofsky Family Foundation.

Every successful graduate of the Take Stock in Children program receives a two-year or four-year tuition scholarship through the Florida Prepaid Foundation. The Fellowship will provide additional funding to unmet financial college expenses including costs of housing, food, textbooks, supplies, transportation and other college-related expenses. The Fellowship also provides leadership training and development for recipients.