Pam Carpenter, Alachua County Supervisor of Elections announces that one of our local residents, Carla L. McKnight was recently awarded a $1200 scholarship from the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections.
Each year the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship Foundation awards three $1200 scholarships to deserving full-time students to assist in furthering their college education. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted in a senior college or university in Florida and majoring in the field of political science/public administration or journalism/mass communications. All sixty-seven (67) counties may participate by nominating an outstanding student to represent their county. The scholarships are named in honor of past Supervisors of Elections.
“We are extremely proud that our own, Carla L. McKnight was selected to receive the Dorothy Walker Ruggles scholarship and that someone of Carla’s caliber serves as the first Alachua County scholarship recipient. Her enthusiasm and commitment to democracy mirrors that of Ms. Ruggles, who helped increase voter participation during elections in Albania and Bosnia”, said Carpenter.
Carla, a junior majoring in Business Administration at the University of Central Florida comes from a 6th generation Alachua County family with a rich tradition that includes voter registration activism. She was selected because of her strong commitment to get-out-to-vote efforts in her church and in neighborhoods with low voter participation. Carla understands the importance of voting and has voted in every election since she was 18 years of age.
The daughter of John and Phyllis McKnight of Gainesville, Carla is a graduate of Santa Fe Community College and has been recognized nationally for her outstanding academic achievements. She was inducted into Santa Fe Community College Hall of Fame and received numerous Academic Excellence Awards. As a student at the University of Central Florida, Carla continues to maintain a strong academic record and was selected as one of two Service Learning Leaders, a Department of Management program.
Her plans are to graduate with a degree in Business Administration and to follow with a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Her desire is to ultimately work in Higher Education Administration and teach Business Administration courses. She looks forward to returning to Alachua County and giving back to her home community.
For further information please contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (352) 374-5252.