SPHA Resident Selected to Receive College Scholarship

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is helping pave the path to higher education for one housing authority resident. Mr. Michael Davis was selected from a nationwide pool of applicants to receive a $2,500 college scholarship from the Housing Authority Insurance Group (HAIG).

Mr. Davis said, “I’d like to thank the St. Petersburg Housing Authority and the Housing Authority Insurance Group for this scholarship. I took the chance, and, with your help, I succeeded. ” 

The scholarship, which is awarded through HAIG’s 2012 Resident Scholarship Program, is for the fall semester of the 2012-2013 academic year. The scholarship program was developed to create educational opportunities for students living in subsidized housing.

SPHA Chief Executive Officer Darrell Irions said, “We share HAIG’s belief in the importance of providing Section 8 and Public Housing residents with opportunities to reach their educational goals and to create a better future. We are very proud of Mr. Davis’ selection as a 2012 Resident Scholarship Program awardee and of his commitment to doing just that.”

An honor student and 2011 graduate of Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Mr. Davis currently attends Florida A&M University. He was informed of the HAIG scholarship through SPHA’s outreach effort to connect eligible residents with national college scholarship resources.

SPHA staff identified all residents between the ages of 16 and 23 who might be interested in scholarship opportunities and provided them with application information and assistance. As a result, Mr. Davis’ application was submitted to HAIG for the 2012 Resident Scholarship Program.

For this year’s scholarship program, HAIG received 737 scholarship applications from eligible students throughout the United States and selected 40 recipients.

More information about SPHA’s Scholarship program can be found online www.stpeteha.org/scholarship.htm. More information about the HAIG scholarship can be found at www.housingcenter.com/riskcontrol/scholarship.aspx.

About St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA):

Founded in 1937, the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is one of the oldest housing authorities in the nation and is continually rated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a “High Performing” agency. Currently, SPHA provides housing assistance to qualifying low-income families within its service area, which includes the City of St. Petersburg and extends in a 10-mile radius outside of city limits. More information about SPHA’s programs and services can be found at www.stpeteha.org.

About Housing Authority Insurance Group (HAIG):
The Housing Authority Insurance Group (HAIG) serves public housing authorities. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, affordable housing providers, low-income housing, and multifamily apartment owners. More information about HAIG’s services can be found online at www.housingcenter.com.