On January 7, 2026, Valencia College and Lift Orlando announced the launch of the Lift Scholars program, offering full tuition and fee coverage at Valencia for every graduate of Jones High School’s Class of 2026 through 2029. Whether pursuing an associate degree or short-term technical certificate, students will now have the opportunity to earn credentials without the burden of tuition.

Lift Orlando CEO Eddy Moratin called the initiative a commitment to removing obstacles: “Cost should never stand in the way of a student’s future” (Valencia College, 2026). Valencia President, Dr. Kathleen Plinske, noted that the program builds on the success of Osceola County’s Prosper initiative and affirmed that “the lives of hundreds of Jones students and their families will be transformed by today’s news” (Valencia College, 2026). Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez described the scholarship as “an extraordinary gift” that “opens doors” for students who might have otherwise seen college as out of reach (Valencia College, 2026).

The announcement was met with tears, cheers, and celebration. Perhaps no moment captured the joy more vividly than when OCPS District 5 Board member and Jones High alumna Vicki-Elaine Felder took the mic, pointing to students proclaiming: “You get a scholarship, and you get a scholarship!” On social media, she shared her pride with fellow alumni, calling the news a “wonderful opportunity for my Alma Mater JHS🧡💚🐅🎉🥳🙌🏾.”

Building on Proven Promise Programs

The Lift Scholars model joins a national movement of place-based Promise scholarships. Since Michigan’s Kalamazoo Promise launched in 2005, more than 400 similar programs have emerged nationwide. These scholarships have shown powerful results: Bartik et al. (2021) found recipients were significantly more likely to enroll in and complete college compared to similar students without aid.

Closer to home, Osceola County’s Prosper program has enrolled over 10,000 students since its launch in 2022 and helped more than 1,100 earn associate degrees through Valencia (Mead, 2025). The initiative raised Osceola’s college-going rate from one of Florida’s lowest to among its highest, a compelling model for Lift Scholars’ potential (Valencia College, 2026).

Cost Is Still the Biggest Barrier

Research consistently affirms that financial strain is the top barrier to college enrollment. A Gallup–Lumina Foundation survey found that 85% of adults who never enrolled or who left college early cited tuition and fees as a major factor (Carrasco, 2024). Removing those costs measurably boosts participation.

Even modest scholarship programs have demonstrated impact. A multi-state study by Mayer et al. (2015) showed that performance-based aid increased both persistence and five-year graduation rates. More recently, Berlanga and Corti (2025) found that scholarship recipients earned higher GPAs and graduated at significantly greater rates than peers.

A Personal Lens: Support Must Follow Access

My doctoral research explored how financial support, when paired with meaningful engagement, drives student persistence. I interviewed first-generation online learners who described how virtual co-curricular experiences boosted their motivation, belonging, and academic follow-through (Henlon, 2025). Financial access opens the door, but relationships, visibility, and mentorship sustain the journey.

A Gift That Multiplies

For Jones High families, this is more than a scholarship. It’s a public affirmation that their children’s futures matter. It’s also a community investment with long-term dividends. As Dr. Vazquez noted, this program will empower students “to pursue their goals with confidence” (Valencia College, 2026).

When students are relieved of tuition burdens, they gain freedom to explore careers in healthcare, logistics, education, or advanced manufacturing. To dream, to plan, and to persist. And when communities like Orlando come together to send a bold message of hope, everyone benefits.

About the Author
Dr. Jessica Henlon is an educational psychologist and FNN contributor with over two decades of experience advancing college access and student belonging. Her doctoral research focused on engagement and motivation among first-generation online learners (Henlon, 2025). She is the founder of Dr. Jessica Henlon Consulting Co., which supports schools and nonprofits in creating inclusive, research-based programs that transform outcomes for students.

References
Bartik, T. J., Hershbein, B. J., & Lachowska, M. (2021). The effects of the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship on college enrollment and completion. The Journal of Human Resources, 56(1), 269–310. https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.56.1.0416-7824R4

Berlanga, V. F., & Corti, F. (2025). Impact of scholarships on university academic performance: A comparative analysis of students with and without scholarships. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1554073. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1554073

Carrasco, M. (2024, July 16). Report: The biggest barriers to higher ed enrollment are cost and lack of financial aid. NASFAA News. https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/34147/Report_The_Biggest_Barriers_to_Higher_Ed_Enrollment_Are_Cost_and_Lack_of_Financial_Aid

Henlon, J. (2025). Exploring the learning experiences of online first-generation college students participating in virtual extracurricular activities (Publication No. 32114979) [Doctoral dissertation, Capella University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. 

Mayer, A., Patel, R., Rudd, T., & Ratledge, A. (2015). Designing scholarships to improve college success: Final report on the Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration. MDRC. https://www.mdrc.org/publication/designing-scholarships-improve-college-success

Mead, J. (2025, September 25). Osceola Prosper program helps students receive a college degree for free. Spectrum News 13 (Orlando). https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2025/09/18/prosper-program-opens-doors-for-college-students

Valencia College. (2026, January 7). Jones High students to receive free college education, thanks to Lift Orlando donation. Valencia College News. https://news.valenciacollege.edu/liftscholars/