Rotary Club creates scholarship for Habitat home student
Tallahassee, Fla. (February 22, 2018)— Rotary Club of Tallahassee has established a new scholarship at Tallahassee Community College to support students who are residents of a home built by Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. The $10,000 gift comes from a bequest of the late Leon Gilchrist, a former president of the Rotary Club of Tallahassee.
According to current president Steve Liner, Gilchrist supported the club in many ways. He was particularly passionate about supporting and volunteering for the local Habitat for Humanity home builds. In fact, the rest of Gilchrist’s $50,000 bequest was directed to support the building of a Big Bend Habitat Home in his name. The Rotary Club of Tallahassee-Leon Gilchrist Habitat home was completed this week, and the new residents are scheduled to move in on February 24.
This TCC scholarship is unique because it has been designated to assist students who are residents of a home built by Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. Scholarship recipients may be enrolled in a credit program or a workforce development program at TCC.
“When our neighbors have access to safe, affordable housing and meaningful educational opportunities, they can achieve their dreams for themselves and their families. This scholarship will be a wonderful legacy for a remarkable man,” said Heather Mitchell, executive director of the TCC Foundation.
Gilchrist, who died in 2015, had been a captain in the U.S. Navy. His last assignment was as commandant of the Naval ROTC program at Florida A & M University. After retiring from the Navy, he served as director of the Selective Service Administration for Florida.
For information, contact Heather Mitchell at [email protected] or (850) 201-6067.