Last month, Immokalee High School senior and TIF superstar, Andrea Guerrero, received an email from representatives of the Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida. The letter said, in part, “With the concurrence of the other committee members, [we] are delighted to tell you that you have been awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida. Congratulations!”

This tremendous honor is yet another feather in Andrea’s very adorned cap. She is a top student and a model citizen.

What else makes Andrea so interesting? Read on to find out.

Law enforcement officer Brian Clervoix speaks to TIF students at a recent career planning workshop in Immokalee. From spring 2010 to spring 2011, TIF has hosted 13 career development and skills training workshops.

Milca Bellegarde, a junior at the Florida State University, is a TIF Direct Scholarship recipient who is taking great advantage of the opportunities that college life is providing her. The most recent example of this? Milca has been selected as the head resident of her student residence.

We asked TIF alum and Barry University sophomore Maria Castro to give us ten words or phrases that spring to mind when she thinks of Immokalee. In response, she described the good, the bad, and everything in between. Check out Maria's list. And be sure to let us know what you think of when you hear the word Immokalee. 

In late January, nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate the induction of 32 new students into TIF's Take Stock in Children program. The 32 students, mostly seventh graders, will work with mentors and TIF staff members from now through high school graduation in an effort to help them excel academically and prepare themselves for continued academic success after high school. All students who complete the program — which includes meeting high academic, behavioral, and social standards — will earn a four-year scholarship to a Florida state university.