Dianne Hart Scholarship returns to foster educational access, trade opportunities
- Mark Parker
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
State Rep. Dianne Hart recognizes that not all paths to success require four-year degrees. Her eponymous scholarship uniquely covers trade school costs and prioritizes community service over typical academic requirements.
Local supporters can help ensure more Tampa Bay students have access to post-secondary education on Thursday at the third-annual Dianne Hart Scholarship kick-off celebration. The free event, presented by the East Tampa Business and Community Development Alliance (ETBCDA) and hosted by La Di Da Gastro Pub, serves as a critical fundraiser for the initiative.
The scholarship champions students who might otherwise be overlooked by traditional academic awards. Hart, who earned her degree in her 60s, noted that “every kid will not go to college.”
“I don’t think we let our children know how much money they could earn in trades,” Hart said. “So my thought was, we should include trade schools for the kids who may not want to go on to a four-year university, but would like to go to trade school and be able to earn a good living.”
Hart was a longtime businesswoman before entering politics. The community advocate also began volunteering with the ETBCDA in 1994 and is now the nonprofit’s chief executive.
ETBCDA’s board created the scholarship in Hart’s honor without her knowledge. “They knew how important education is to me,” she said.
“Once they told me about it, then, of course, I sat down with them to talk about what I thought the eligibility requirements should be,” Hart explained. “My thing was, every kid will not go to college. Let’s support trade schools.”
Her children attended Tampa Bay Technical High School, which offers over 19 career-focused programs. ETBCDA provides affordable housing, and Hart said there are never enough skilled brick layers, roofers, plumbers, and electricians.
“So of course, trades are critically important to me,” she added. “And I see them dying every day.”
ETBCDA hopes to award $1,000 scholarships to at least 10 students this year. Awardees can also use the funding to attend colleges or universities.
The scholarships are open to students with a 2.5 GPA. Most post-secondary financial awards require significantly higher grade-point averages.
Hart said she prioritizes accessibility. Students with exceptional grades “never really have a problem getting scholarships.”
In addition, disadvantaged youth often struggle academically due to “so many other things going on in their lives,” Hart said. For example, a lack of stable housing can make it hard to concentrate on school.
Applicants must also submit 500-word essays on an annual theme and two letters of recommendation. Completing 100 community service hours is a key component of the program.
Many students might not have a 3.0 GPA or better, Hart said, but they do “have a heart to give back.” They can fulfill their community service requirement by participating in ETBCDA’s food drives.
Hart explained that interacting with people facing even more difficult circumstances than their own positively impacts disadvantaged youth. “Once they see that, they really like helping people,” she said.
“It stays with them, because we still have some of those same kids who come home in the summer from college, and some who are grown, who still come back and help us,” Hart continued.
Applications are now open to students throughout Tampa Bay and Florida. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30, and ETBCDA will announce recipients in October.
Hart hopes that community supporters with a “love for education” will also offer personal scholarships to students. She said $500 could help cover the cost of books or other supplies.
“The more money we have, of course, the more scholarships we’re able to give out,” Hart said of the tax-deductible donations. “We do accept money year-round.”
The kick-off event is at 6 p.m. on Thursday at 6719 N. Nebraska Ave. in Tampa. For more information, visit the website here.
To apply for the Dianne Hart Scholarship Award, visit the website here.
Share Your News
To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com, and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube.