Benacquisto at UF questions

Is there anything that the student needs to get the ball rolling on this scholarship? Does the NM organization notify UF on their own? When would UF award the $500 NM scholarship, clearing the way for the Benacquisto? What is the timeline for all of this? I’ll feel better when it is all in writing.

I recommend you talk with UF admissions but this is the response I received when I asked basically the same thing - wanted to know if I should email a copy of S19’s NMF letter.

“No, we do not require the National Merit Finalist letter. I receive from National Merit Scholarship Corporation periodic rosters of students who have indicated UF as their first choice. From those rosters, I post the qualifying scholarship and our Office for Student Financial Affairs (SFA) will follow-up to post the Benacquisto Scholarship about a week after. Both of these awards will update in the student’s One.UF account on the Financial Aid Awards page.”

Has anyone seen a report on how many NMFs enrolled at UF and the other Florida colleges this year?

In regards to in state NMF finalists and Benacquisto, I too will feel much better when we see all of this in writing. My daughter did call NMS office yesterday and was told they would be sending out an updated roster around 3-15, not sure if that will include UF. I don’t understand why there is such a large window of time for the roster notifications.

Florida Statutes Title XVIII, 1009.893 7 c): “If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the maximum allowable award to each eligible student, awards must be prorated using the same percentage reduction.” Am I reading it right that if not enough money is appropriated by Florida legislature,the student’s stipend is reduced by a potentially significant fraction (20%? 50%? 90%?)

Benacquisto info was finally posted to kid’s financial aid portal. The total award is approx 7K less than UF’s estimated COA. I thought the Benacquisto was supposed to cover full COA. Does anyone know anything about this?

Because the funds are from a state agency and not from the schools. The schools run on their timeline for admissions and school funding, the agency is dependent on the state budget.

BF was never posted to the accounts or paid until way into the semester. The school gave the student credit, but it hung out as an amount due until way into September/last January.

@negsplits18, On my son’s account, the full cost of attendance listed includes summer, which Benacquisto doesn’t cover, but he will also not be attending in the summer so the amount posted for Benacquisto does cover full cost of attendance for Fall and Spring. Maybe that’s where the $7k difference on yours comes from? Did UF include the cost of attending the summer term?

@SE1619: yes UF included the cost of summer 2020. My son had printed out the pages and none of us noticed that until after I submitted my post. He’s a fall 2019 admit.

@negsplits18 Most likely if you add the total shown for Benacquisto and the BF it will equal COA.

What was the total amount he received? Was it the $21K shown for COA?

Hi! I’m a national merit semifinalist in Texas and am in the process of completing my national merit application. I’m interested in UF and the Benacquisto scholarship, but I am not sure if I should list the school as my first choice or remain undecided. If I choose to put undecided, will this affect me potentially receiving the Benacquisto scholarship? Thanks!

You only have to have UF listed as your first choice by May 1st to get the Benacquisto. You have time.

I was curious about NMF AND Lombardi combined, but looks like it can be I- son applying for NMF now (made the semi cut-off). Trying to figure out if it can also be combined with Lombardi and sounds like it can, so he’ll go ahead and apply for it. Any words of wisdom to offer on the Lombardi? Is it a difficult application?