Contact us
401 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33606-13490
(813) 253-3333
Erika Hofelich ‘11 didn’t know much about the Florida Resident Access Grant other than it helped her attend the private university close to her home. It wasn’t until she was selected as a fellow for the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, and tasked with organizing a grassroots effort to ensure the grant’s viability, that Hofelich realized its importance. “People have stereotypes that private schools are for rich, snobby kids,” Hofelich said. “But ICUF schools provide more funding to underprivileged families than state schools.” Hofelich chose UT because of the small class size, the intimacy with the professors and the proximity to her home. That’s because Hofelich has a severe bleeding disorder that requires frequent blood infusions. “The University of Tampa was perfect for me. I love that my professors understand my conditions and work to make sure I am still able to participate, even from a hospital room,” said Hofelich who is majoring in government and world affairs. But to attend UT, Hofelich needed financial aid. As a bright student, she received several academic scholarships, and as a Florida resident who wanted to attend a private school, she qualified for the Florida Resident Access Grant. When she started school, Hofelich said the grant was about $5,000. Now it’s almost half that. As an ICUF fellow, Hofelich is organizing a grassroots campaign starting at UT, to educate her classmates on the grant and to let their elected leaders know how important the funding is for pursuing their academic goals. “If our representatives aren’t going to increase the funding, they should at least maintain it,” she said. Each ICUF school has a fellow leading this grassroots campaign. The most active leaders, including Hofelich, were selected to go to Tallahassee Jan. 19 to meet with ICUF leaders and Florida politicians. As part of her plan, Hofelich said she is writing press releases and drafting editorials for local media, organizing a letter writing campaign for UT’s Student Government and National Panhellenic Council, and reaching out to community groups in Tampa as a way to educate and bring attention to the issue. Included in her talking points are the following:
More UT News