Kids’ Minds Matter: Southwest Florida Continued Education Scholarship
The Kids’ Minds Matter: Southwest Florida Continued Education Scholarship supports students at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) who are pursuing careers dedicated to improving the mental and behavioral health of children in the Southwest Florida region.
This scholarship is open exclusively to FGCU students enrolled in LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) or Social Work programs. Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in working or interning with Lee Health and show a deep commitment to giving back to the Southwest Florida community—either through personal connection, lived experience, or long-term career goals.
Kids’ Minds Matter is an advocacy initiative of Golisano Children’s Hospital, managed by Lee Health Foundation, focused on expanding awareness, support, and access to quality care for children facing mental health challenges. As youth mental health needs continue to rise, this scholarship helps ensure that the next generation of mental health professionals are prepared and motivated to meet these challenges with compassion and expertise.
Applicants must submit basic background information and respond to the two-part essay below (maximum 500 words per response):
1. Tell us about your path to pursuing further education at FGCU. What inspired this next step? Please include your program and degree(s) earned, any academic awards or honors received in high school or college, and any prior experience related to the field of mental health.
2. What drives your interest in pediatric mental health, and how do you hope to make an impact in Southwest Florida? Please share your goals for contributing to this field—especially through potential work or internship opportunities at Lee Health.
Well qualified applicants will participate in an onsite interview for final selection.
This opportunity is more than a financial award—it’s an investment in the future of mental health care for children and families in our community.
1. Tell us about your educational journey—what lead you to pursue further education at FGCU?
2. Why are you pursuing this field, and how do you hope to contribute to pediatric mental health in Southwest Florida—especially through work or internship opportunities at Lee Health?
Winners and Finalists
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FAQ
The application deadline is Jul 15, 2025. Winners will be announced on Aug 15, 2025.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Aug 15, 2025. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.
