Documenting Volunteer Service
Students enrolled in our High School Diploma Program who are seeking a Bright Futures Scholarship are responsible for maintaining an accurate account of the volunteer service hours completed during high school. Students must identify a social or civic issue or professional area of interest, develop a plan for personal involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area of interest, and, through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon their experience. Volunteer service activities must be approved. Students may not receive remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work performed unless earned through service-learning courses. The number of hours that must be completed vary by scholarship, and specific rules apply.
Service Hour Requirements
All initial Bright Futures Scholarship applicants must have a specified number of documented volunteer service hours. Service hours are completed during high school (grades 9, 10, 11, and/or 12) and must be documented in writing. The required number of completed hours depends on the award. No waivers of this requirement can be granted. The number of hours needed to meet the initial eligibility requirements for the 2021-2022 school year are as follows:
| Award | Requirement* |
|---|---|
| Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS) | Completion of 100 hours |
| Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS) | Completion of 75 hours |
| Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSV) | Completion of 30 hours |
| Gold Seal CAPE Scholars Award (GSC) | Completion of 30 hours |
| *These requirements are subject to change. Visit https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPBFMAIN/SAPBFMAIN for more information. | |
Documenting Volunteer Service
Please download our Volunteer Service Packet for the required forms. The Program of Volunteer Service Work Approval form is used to identify and plan the program of volunteer service work and must be submitted to us for approval. The Volunteer Service Record is used to document service hours. Service hours must be documented in writing, and the document must be signed by the student, the student's parent or guardian, and a representative of the organization for which the student performed the service. (Organizations may indicate the dates of service and number of completed service hours on the organization's letterhead, and students may attach it to the Volunteer Service Record in lieu of listing out the hours on the service log.) The Volunteer Service Evaluation and Reflection form is completed on completion of the volunteer program.
Approved Activities
Volunteer service hours may include, but are not limited to:
- Participating in a business or government internship
- Working for a nonprofit community service organization
- Performing activities on behalf of a public office candidate
- Performing activities that directly address the student's identified social or civic issue
Ineligible Services/Activities
The following services/activities are not eligible:
- Service performed prior to entering grade 9
- Service to family members
- Service provided as a result of court action
- Service for which the student is compensated financially or materially
- Service during events that include an admission charge (unless it is a charitable fundraising event)
- Service during events in which fees are required to participate (unless the fees are donated to charity)
- Activities in which the primary purpose is to proselytize
- Activities required as a prerequisite to employment
Places to Volunteer
Here are a few of many organizations looking for volunteers.
- American Red Cross
- Animal Shelters / Humane Societies
- Aquariums
- Botanical Gardens
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Florida State Parks
- Food Banks
- Habitat for Humanity
- Hospitals
- Libraries
- Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
- Nursing Homes / Assisted Living Facilities
- Ronald McDonald House
- Salvation Army
- Special Olympics Florida
- Teen Court
- Wildlife Sanctuaries
- YMCA
- Zoos
These requirements are subject to change with each legislative session. It is your responsibility to be aware of the Bright Futures Scholarship program requirements. For more information and to find out what rules apply to a specific graduation year, please visit https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPBFMAIN/SAPBFMAIN.
