CRESTVIEW — While some high school seniors are figuring out which college to apply for or stressing about tuition costs, Cameron Wakeland knows where her future lies.
The Crestview High senior earned the University of West Florida’s Pace Honors Presidential Scholarship. The scholarship will pay for full tuition, room and board for up to eight semesters, a $600 book stipend each semester and a $4,000 stipend to travel abroad.
The award didn’t come easy. First, Wakeland had to be accepted into UWF’s honors program. The program requires a 3.5 GPA, a letter of intent and high SAT or ACT scores. She was accepted the day she applied.
Then, she had to apply for the scholarship competition, an invitation-only event. Wakeland was invited to the Pensacola campus to compete for the award. A faculty member then interviewed the teenager, who was given a timed essay prompt.
Wakeland’s essay focused on the confidence and excitement of being a student. She also discussed how people should use resources available to them and not hesitate when presented with opportunities.
Two weeks later, she was awarded the scholarship.
Originally, Wakeland leaned toward attending medical school but she’s since decided to pursue environmental science and conservation. She believes the field will allow her to use her skills and passions for a cause with impact.
She isn’t sure where she will travel abroad. Once she gets closer to completing her degree, she plans to look into internship programs overseas that will offer her the most benefit, Wakefield said.
In addition to graduating from CHS this spring, Wakeland will receive her Associate of Arts from Northwest Florida State College. She’s been taking general education courses along with her high school studies.
The classroom isn’t Wakefield’s only focus. She’s a drum major in the CHS band, treasurer for the National Honor Society and president of the Juniorettes, an all-girls service organization that raises money for Relay for Life.
So, what would she tell prospective students?
“Start planning ahead of time,” Wakeland said. “I was a sophomore when I started worrying about college.”
By planning early, students are better aware of requirements and can navigate their high school path appropriately, she said. This is true for scholarship requirements as well, according to Wakeland. She called universities early on to learn what she needed to do to qualify.
So, why UWF?
Wakeland said other universities would discuss their rankings, or what the school had accomplished, while she toured them. Her tour of UWF focused on what the students had achieved and what they did.
“They cared about their students, not their rankings or numbers,” Wakeland said.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHS student earns full UWF scholarship