THA EFFORTS Scholarship
The EFFORTS application is now live!
Dec 1st - Feb 15th
The Tampa Housing Authority's Educational Fund For Our Residents to Succeed (EFFORTS) scholarship is an employee-funded grant designed to support THA resident students pursuing higher education. The EFFORTS program awards up to $12,000- distributed in increments of $3,000 per academic year-to deserving students to help them graduate and leave college with less debt. EFFORTS seeks to encourage and reward young adults who are dedicated to their academic pursuits and committed to community service.
Eligibility Requirements
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The EFFORTS scholarship helps THA's Public Housing, RAD, and Section 8 residents who are undergraduate degree-seeking students and trade school students only. High school seniors pursuing an undergraduate degree and current first year undergraduate students at colleges, universities and trade schools are eligible to apply. A GPA of 2.0 is required. |
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FROM THA SCHOLARS
"The money I received from this scholarship has helped me to pay for my meal plan, rather than my parents having to stress. You have to pay out of pocket for the meal plan. I really appreciate this. "
-  Ti'Liyah Veal, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)
"This scholarship has covered essential expenses such as tuition, textbooks, and other materials - allowing me to focus more on my studies without the constant worries about my financial situation."
- Jamar Randolph, Florida State University
"The scholarship helped with things that my Pell grant didn't cover, and that my mother couldn't manage to pay out of pocket, you guys were definitely there for us. I was able to get books, plus a computer for school."
- Kiara Daniels, Hillsborough Community College
Current EFFORTS Awardees
Anthony Dunkley - Florida A&M University
Arkese Parks - University of South Florida
Ti'Liyah Veal - Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Journey Horton - Hillsborough Community College
Kiara Daniels - Hillsborough Community College
Jamar Randolph - Florida State University
Application Process
Fill out the online application form, add supporting documents required and your essay expressing the importance of secure and affordable housing in furthering your education after high school. Ready? Apply Now!
Application Period
Applications are accepted every year from December through February 15th, with winners announced in April.
How Scholarships Are Awarded
Scholarship selections are made by an independent committee consisting of Tampa Housing Authority employees who are donors. Winners are chosen based on academic achievement, demonstration of leadership abilities, and their commitment to community service and activities. Students that exemplify these traits are encouraged to apply.
Program Administration
To assure complete impartiality in the selection of recipients and to maintain a high level of professionalism, the program is administered by a Tampa Housing Authority EFFORTS Committee and applications are scored by a combination of committee members and non-committee donors. The Committee collects, organizes, and stores all applications.
Questions?
For additional information regarding the scholarship program, please read through the FAQs below or email us at EFFORTS@thafl.com.
Tips for a Standout Essay
Your essay response will account for 50% of your final application score - therefore you will want to take these few extra steps to ensure your essay stands out! Hover over the icons below to learn more.
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Wordcount Originality Revision
WORDCOUNT: Not meeting the 650 to 750 wordcount range is the quickest way to have your application disqualified. Before you submit your essay, copy and paste it into Microsoft Word or an text processor to make sure you have met the required length.
ORIGINALITY: Tampa Housing Authority employees are passionate about giving back and want to hear what drives you to give back. If you are passionate about a certain cause or organization, tell us why. If you have taken time to serve while managing your own hardship - let us know. Consider sharing a heartwarming story from your own experiences. Show your originality by speaking from the heart about the value and importance of stable housing.
REVISION: The judging panel of Tampa Housing Authority employee-donors will be reviewing your essay, so take a moment to double-check your spelling and grammar. Text processors like Microsoft Word and Apple's Page have this feature built-in. You may even want to ask a close friend or family member to give your essay a second look.
