MIAMI (Sept. 19, 2019) - FIU and the Florida Lottery have continued a highly successful partnership, aligning one of the largest universities in the country to one of Florida education's greatest contributors.  Since 1988, the Florida Lottery has provided more than $35 Billion dollars to education all throughout Florida. The Florida Lottery's sole mission is to maximize revenues for the enhancement of public education in Florida.

As part of the partnership, FIU and Florida Lottery recognizes the impact of how the present influence we provide our students today will reflect on their futures. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program was created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition of high academic achievement. 

Cristina S. Estevez is attending Florida International University on a Bright Futures Scholarship seeking a Bachelor's Degree in English. She is currently the Academic Coordinator at the Student-Athlete Academic Center, which is an essential part for all student-athletes to ensure that school comes first.

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship allows students to accomplish goals that otherwise may not have been attainable.  For Cristina Estevez, "Bright Futures has been a great asset to me in college. While I did work as a student, I was able to save money, and I was also able to study abroad in Salamanca, Spain, which is something I wouldn't have been able to do if I didn't have Bright Futures."

For more information, please visit www.fiusports.com or www.flalottery.com/brightfutures.

About FIU Athletics
The FIU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics adheres to the belief that intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of the educational framework of the institution and the program exists to support and compliment the mission and goals of the University. In addition to augmenting the academic, athletic and personal development of students, events sponsored by the Department are conducted to facilitate unity, promote camaraderie and further social bonding within the community, foster and maintain institutional support from FIU alumni, University affiliates and external constituents positively increase the visibility of the University and enhance international and cultural understanding.
 
About Bright Futures Scholarship Program
The Florida Lottery is dedicated to make Florida one of the brightest states in the nation.  The Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which is primarily funded by the Florida Lottery, was created in 1997 by the Florida Legislature to assist students in pursuing postsecondary educational and career goals. Since the program's inception, the Lottery has contributed more than $5.6 billion to send over 808,000 students to college.