Maria Gloria, a Take Stock in Children (TSIC) scholar, was recently promoted to operations manager at the Fort Myers Branch of MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. She attributes TSIC for paving her way to college and teaching her about professionalism.

TSIC is a statewide program that provides at-risk children with a mentor and a college scholarship. In return, Take Stock scholars sign contracts in which they promise to remain drug-free, to avoid behavior that would get them into trouble with law enforcement, to attend school regularly, and to earn satisfactory grades. The students’ parents also sign the contracts and agree to provide home environments conducive to education. The SFSC Foundation is the lead agency for TSIC within the College’s service district of DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties. The local program was established in 1996 and has awarded Florida Prepaid college scholarships to more than 667 local students.

Gloria, who calls Lake Placid home, is the child of migrant farm workers, who resided in Michigan and Florida through the agricultural seasons. While in high school, Gloria took dual enrollment courses at SFSC. She graduated from Lake Placid High School in 2017 and continued her education at Florida State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management Information Systems in 2021. She is a first-generation college graduate.

After graduation, Gloria was offered a job with MIDFLORIDA Credit Union as a peak-time teller at its Lake Placid branch. During that time, she learned about MIDFLORIDA’s Associate Manager Program, a rotational development program that is open to recent college graduates who would like to pursue a career at a financial institution. Gloria entered the program and was transferred to work at various Sebring branches as associate manager for 18 months. And now, she is headed to Fort Myers in her new position as operations manager.

Gloria joined TSIC while in sixth grade and continued in the program through 2017, when she graduated from high school. Early on, she was paired with her mentor, Lake Placid attorney and SFSC alumna Pam Karlson.

“TSIC itself was an amazing program that encouraged me to consider college options not only through workshops, but quarterly check-ins, academic mapping, and college exploration,” Gloria said. “But more importantly, it brought me an amazing mentor who guided and encouraged me through middle, high school, college, and all the way to today. Mrs. Karlson has significantly influenced my life. She guided me in career options, encouraged me to get involved in school and the community, helped me with college applications, and has always been someone who I can turn to for advice. The advice and time she poured into me for over half of my life has been pivotal in my development as a professional and, more importantly, the person I am today. I am eternally grateful that TSIC brought Mrs. Karlson into my life.” Continue Reading