Over 2,000 Osceola County students enrolled at Valencia College this fall as part of “Osceola Prosper.”
That was the plan, inspired by the county using $11 million in COVID-19 recovery funds, to send any county 2022 graduate to Valencia or Osceola Technical College for free.
Valencia College President Dr. Kathleen Plinske told county commissioners that 2,067 students were part of it this fall, which represented about 40 percent of the county’s graduating class last May.
“That’s the highest number for an incoming fall class, and it gets our enrollment back to pre-pandemic levels,” Plinske said. Many of those in the program had received the $500 stipend authorized by the county in 2021.
Plinske noted that 69% of participants are Hispanic — which parallels Osceola County’s demographic of 64% Hispanic residents.
On Monday, County Manager Don Fisher said the county still has $5 million in uncommitted CARES Act funding, possibly funding it again for 2023 graduates with some buy-in from the school and community.
Ian’s effect on Valencia: Plinske said that while the school’s campuses fared well in the storm, many students were significantly impacted.
Over 300 students who could respond to the school said flooding led to the loss of homes, cars, laptops, other technology and internet access.
After being closed most of last week for the storm, Valencia classes resumed Tuesday.
