Representatives of Victims of Communism Florida presented a countywide scholarship and workshop program during the Nov. 10 School Board meeting, urging Manatee County high‑school students to register for a mandatory workshop and apply for four scholarship awards.

Mark Stanek, Jack May and Tamara Fitzgerald described the program’s goals to increase student awareness of the history and harms of communist regimes, and they cited a 2025 Cato fiscal policy survey showing increased sympathy for communism among younger cohorts. They noted Florida statutes that the presenters named as HB 395 (establishing Nov. 7 as Victims of Communism Day and a 45‑minute requirement in high schools) and SB 1264 (extending instruction on communism in coming school years) as the state context for the program.

The program offers four scholarships: best essay $1,000; best oratory $1,000; best exhibit $1,000; and best overall $5,000. Presenters said the awards may be used for trade school, college or other post‑secondary education. For the first time this year the student’s teacher will receive a $250 award. The mandatory workshop is scheduled for Dec. 6 at the State College of Florida; the application deadline was reported as Dec. 4 and current enrollment at the time of the presentation was 37 students from both Manatee and Sarasota counties. Presenters said the group has awarded nearly $16,000 in scholarships over the past two years and reached almost 200 students to date.

Stanek said they use Peachjar to distribute flyers to students and provided a website, vocflorida.org, for applications and information. Board members thanked the presenters and discussed ways district staff and principals could help promote the workshop and increase student participation before the deadline.

What happens next: Presenters invited board members to the Dec. 6 workshop and to related judging and awards events in January; district staff said they would continue outreach through principals and communications channels.