Able Trust awards RISE scholarships to 34 Florida students with disabilities

By AI, Created 2:26 PM UTC, June 04, 2026, /AGP/ – The Able Trust awarded RISE Scholarships to 34 graduating high school students with disabilities across 17 Florida counties to help cover tuition or credit-hour costs for college, technical school or other training. The awards come as Florida data shows just 29.3% of graduating students with disabilities enroll in postsecondary education, while 61% of High School High Tech graduates said they plan to continue their education.

Why it matters: - The scholarships help close a statewide gap in postsecondary access for Florida students with disabilities. - Each award can cover one full year of tuition or credit-hour costs at a Florida state college or technical school. - The scholarship can also be used at a Florida state university. - The funding supports students moving from high school into college, technical education, apprenticeships and other career training.

What happened: - The Able Trust announced RISE Scholarships for 34 graduating high school students with disabilities from across Florida. - The awards went to students in 17 counties: Broward, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gulf, Hillsborough, Lake, Leon, Levy, Madison, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Polk, Putnam and Taylor. - Recipients were selected from applicants in The Able Trust’s High School High Tech program. - The announcement was made June 4, 2026, in Tallahassee.

The details: - High School High Tech has more than 30 years of history helping students with disabilities transition to college, technical education and other training that can lead to long-term career success. - Lia Cordova-Diaz of Hillsborough County will attend Hillsborough College to pursue a career as an Exceptional Student Education teacher. - Wilneisy Contreras of Orange County will attend Orange Technical College to pursue a career as a Certified Nurse-Midwife. - William Turnau of Leon County will attend Florida A&M University to pursue a career in art and writing. - Jackson Russell of Nassau County will attend Florida State College-Jacksonville and join the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Apprenticeship Program to pursue work as an HVAC technician. - Myra Jerome of Broward County will attend Miami-Dade College to pursue a career in nursing. - The Able Trust said each scholarship recognizes student achievement and supports next steps in education and career development.

Between the lines: - Florida’s latest available statewide data show 29.3% of graduating students with disabilities enroll in postsecondary education after high school. - By contrast, 61% of High School High Tech graduates reported plans to enroll in postsecondary education in the 2024–25 school year. - Allison Chase, president and CEO of The Able Trust, said the scholarships are “more than financial aid” and serve as “indicators of confidence and catalysts for change.” - The results suggest the program is helping students with disabilities see postsecondary education as attainable, while financial barriers remain a major hurdle.

What’s next: - Scholarship recipients are expected to use the awards to begin college, technical school or other career training after graduation. - The Able Trust says its youth programs will continue helping students with disabilities explore postsecondary and career options. - More information on the recipients is available here.

The bottom line: - The RISE Scholarships give 34 Florida students with disabilities money for school and a clearer path into training, college and careers.