The Winter Haven Chamber Foundation will be facilitating two scholarship opportunities this year for two of our partnering Chamber members, State Farm Insurance and CertiPay. Both scholarships are meant for Winter Haven area high school seniors.
State Farm Scholarship
The Winter Haven Chamber Foundation has partnered with State Farm Insurance to offer multiple $1,000 college and vocational training scholarships to public high school seniors in the Winter Haven area. Students graduating in 2022 who attend Lake Region High School, Winter Haven High School, Polk State’s Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School and New Beginnings High School in Winter Haven are eligible to apply. This scholarship is intended to assist students who demonstrate financial need. Students must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA to qualify. A transcript is required.
Applications are currently closed for 2021-2022. Be on the lookout for the 2023 application! If you have any questions, please call us at (863) 293-2138 or email us at info@winterhavenchamber.com.
Applications are currently closed for 2021-2022. Be on the lookout for the 2023 application! If you have any questions, please call us at (863) 293-2138 or email us at info@winterhavenchamber.com.
CertiPay "Kim Harris Memorial" Scholarship

Kim Harris was a community member whose light shone brightly. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Kim believed that being engaged in and giving back to the community was of the greatest importance. Kim was a team member at CertiPay, a human resources, payroll and strategic business partner headquartered in downtown Winter Haven. Kim passed suddenly in 2021 and CertiPay established this scholarship to honor her commitment to the Winter Haven community.
The Winter Haven Chamber Foundation will facilitate the program, offering multiple $1,000 college and vocational training scholarships to high school seniors in the Winter Haven area. This scholarship is intended to assist students who demonstrate financial need. Students must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA to qualify. A transcript is required.
Applications are currently closed for 2021-2022. Be on the lookout for the 2023 application! If you have any questions, please call us at (863) 293-2138 or email us at info@winterhavenchamber.com.
A candidate can apply for both but will only be awarded one Winter Haven Chamber Foundation scholarship.
The Winter Haven Chamber Foundation will facilitate the program, offering multiple $1,000 college and vocational training scholarships to high school seniors in the Winter Haven area. This scholarship is intended to assist students who demonstrate financial need. Students must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA to qualify. A transcript is required.
Applications are currently closed for 2021-2022. Be on the lookout for the 2023 application! If you have any questions, please call us at (863) 293-2138 or email us at info@winterhavenchamber.com.
A candidate can apply for both but will only be awarded one Winter Haven Chamber Foundation scholarship.
Lem Geathers Memorial Scholarship
The Future Change Maker Scholarship is awarded to a high school senior and Winter Haven resident based on their creative sharing, explanation or interpretation of the significant history of the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved in the United States. The Chamber is sponsoring the $1,000 scholarship but the City is facilitating this one so please reach out to MBarnes@MyWinterHaven.com for more information.
Award Amount: $1,000 (for one semester) & $100 for the teacher or school administrator of their choice
Award Is Open To:
How To Apply:
Award Amount: $1,000 (for one semester) & $100 for the teacher or school administrator of their choice
Award Is Open To:
- Exiting 12th-grade students at a public or private high school
- Restricted to Winter Haven residents
- The student and teacher or school administrator must be willing to present the entry at the City of Winter Haven Juneteenth Celebration
How To Apply:
- Create a body of work that articulates the momentous history of Juneteenth. Submission forms are open but not limited to essays, spoken word/poems, illustrations, musical arrangement/songs, animations, dance ensembles, videos, Tik Toks videos, etc. The submission must be free of vulgar, obscene, lewd, or abusive language or interpretations.
- Submit 1 letter of acceptance to the school that you will be attending post-graduation (university, community college, trade school, or technical school)
- Submit 1 Letter of Recommendation
- Submit all documents, videos, and images along with a completed application to MBarnes@MyWinterHaven.com.