Carlos Cordero, a 2024 graduate of Gateway High School in Osceola County, was eligible for an Osceola Prosper scholarship. In high school he heard about FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but thought it did not apply to him and had heard it was a hassle to complete. The Prosper scholarship required him to fill out the FAFSA. It is a last-mile scholarship, meaning it pays remaining tuition not covered by Pell grants and other federal aid.
Cordero and his family completed the form. He learned he had a low Student Aid Index, which made him eligible for a full Pell grant. In 2024-2025, students eligible for a full Pell grant received $7,395. He said his full degree was covered and he received a little extra when funds came in each semester.
Cordero wants to become a middle- or high-school algebra teacher and works part-time as a student leader at Valencia’s Osceola Campus. He said he loves working there and enjoys planning events and forming relationships on campus. He noted that the role offers insights into teaching, including the goal of impacting students in and out of the classroom. Events such as rock-climbing walls give students opportunities they might not have otherwise, and he said Student Development tries to open doors for students who do not have time on their own.
Press release issued by Valencia College:
https://news.valenciacollege.edu/osceola-prosper-fafsa-open-doors-for-valencia-college-student-leader/
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