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About the Program

Established in 2017 by Florida Atlantic University President Emeritus John Kelly, Ph.D., and Carolyn Kelly, together with Boca Raton philanthropists Aubrey and Sally Strul, the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program is a scholarship program based on our Boca Raton campus which provides financial support and the opportunity for qualified Florida high school students to graduate from Florida Atlantic debt-free. The amount each student receives depends on the student’s expected family contribution as determined by FAFSA, along with other grants or scholarships the student receives.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Be a first-generation college student, defined as a student whose parent(s) or guardian(s) have not attended college.
2. Be a Florida resident.
3. Be enrolled as a full-time student (registered for at least 12 credit hours per semester).
4. Be a graduating high school senior in the Class of 2026.
5. Submit a completed FAFSA application, be Pell Grant eligible, and have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 6,655 or lower. FAU’s school code is 001481.
6. Be admitted to Florida Atlantic University for the Fall 2026 semester.
7. Commit to completing at least 30 credit hours per academic year in order to graduate within four (4) years or less.
8. Commit to living on the Boca Raton campus during the Fall and Spring semesters. (Students attending the Wilkes Honors College in Jupiter are not eligible to apply.)