@blue44 I don’t think it’s true that UF only selects 70 kids to give the award to. I have no proof that they don’t, but I’ve already heard of a few people receiving it, including myself, and I only have access to interaction with a small minority of UF NM applicants, so it’s statistically unlikely that I just happen to know multiple recipients of a very exclusive statewide award. Therefore it’s probably not exclusive at all. You’re right in saying that UF would want as many FIS kids to come to their school as possible. Also, in the email I received from Max Mauney (it’s posted a couple pages back) he said that last year UF gave it to all finalists and intended to do the same this year 
@anglograce Hi! Is the FIS or Benacquisto showing up on your financial aid report yet? My son checked yesterday and he still had the predicted National Merit scholarship but not the FIS or Benacquisto as I think it is now called. When we spoke to someone at UF last week, they were vague as to when it would show up on his financial aid report, but I was under the impression that it would be sometime this month.
@momfromfla I also do not have the FIS/Benacquisto and I don’t know when it will show up, but I assumed it would actually be sometime in May, because that is when the college-sponsored NM awards are “officially” sent out according to NM’s website. Then when we “officially” receive the NM award - which will probably come with a letter like the one saismom posted in the start of this thread - the FIS/Benacq. will follow suit.
Yes I agree and apparently Jennifer Roth was out of the office for part of last week, Patience young ones. The money will come…
If I already have all my Gen Ed requirements done, could I hypothetically start taking grad classes junior year and get some of those out of the way? Or does it not work like that? I don’t want to waste two years of fully funded undergrad by graduating early 
Hi everyone, I just checked my kid’s Financial Aid at UF website and the Benacquisto Scholarship is showing up as of this morning. Hopefully your awards will also be updated soon… I know we are relieved to see it finally posted.
You can take grad classes as early as Junior year PROVIDED you have all prerequisites completed and I believe you also need permission depending on the department… Just understand that those classes are more expensive and the scholarship is at a set amount based on total cost of attendance minus (Bright futures + NM) but bright futures only pays at the undergraduate rate. The same goes for pre-paid.
Thanks @yasmin9903! I had my son check and it is showing up too!
I still haven’t seen a letter or email though stating the terms of the scholarship, and if you have to formally accept it just like the Honors Program, Presidential scholarship, etc. The amount just showed up in financial aid but from the first post by @saismom, I thought they would send out a formal letter of acceptance. Has anyone received the scholarship letter yet?
Hi, It seems like when my son showed me his financial aid page it said something about most of these scholarships from financial aid didn’t need you to formally accept them, unlike ones coming from admissions, i.e. Presidential, that you had to accept in writing. And there wasn’t a way to accept them on the page last week – only to cancel them! But I would keep an eye out for any emails or paperwork because, like you said, @saismom said they eventually got a letter they had to sign last year. This whole process is a little nerve wracking because of the amount of money involved and my fear that we will somehow make a mistake!
Thanks @momfromfla ! I agree, not the most transparent process :). Can’t wait for all this college application/acceptance process to be over…
My daughter did not receive the email and then subsequent print letter from UF until mid May. Now please recall this was under a different scholarship person. Jessica Roth is the new person in ADMISSIONS ( not financial aid) who is handling the Benacquisto Scholars.(formerly FIS). This letter which had to be signed was ONLY for the kids who needed the UF NM scholarship in order to qualify for the FIS… We disregarded the letter since my kid was a corporate NM scholar. The Benacquisto is a state scholarship program, not a UF program. The letter was specifically for the UF $500 NM award and it came from admissions. I hope they do not change everything this year but this is how it was handled last year.
FYI: My daughter started the FIS last year. A few notes from memory
You can do deferred payment on housing and food so you don’t have to put any money down.
The remainder of the money after tuition, housing, etc. are deducted show up fairly soon after add/drop week.
UF does all the paperwork. The FL education department barely knows anything at all.
UF gave every finalist a scholarship last year. I expect it will be the same this year, it is in their financial interest to do so.
You don’t have to reapply every year.
The actual cost of books and supplies is lower than the estimates.
My daughter roomed at Hume and didn’t require any additional funds.
Read the fine print. Example…dropping a class voids the scholarship…forever. Be careful overloading first year.
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/FIS_FAQ.pdf
The scholarship works as intended…she would be going to GT if UF didn’t offer this.
I’m still kind of amazed this even happened. UF offered her basically nothing, we are in the not too poor, not too rich donut hole. My thought process is go to UF for free and save the money you would have spent going OOS for grad school.
- Make sure you are a MS finalist (have a letter from NMSC) and have listed UF as your first choice.
- Wait for NMSC to send the roster to UF, about once a month.
- Wait a week or two for UF to show it on ISIS (have they not renamed this yet?)
- Return a signed copy of UF agreement .
- UF will show it as anticipated scholarship, this just means they haven't received state funds yet.
Predicted Benacquisto Scholarship up on Awards/Disbursements for me!!
@ambersky When did you designate UF as your first choice?
My daughter’s Benacquisto is showing up too. I forgot to post it showed up maybe a week or so ago. She designated in early Sept when she first sent in her Finalist application. I spoke to National Merit yesterday. They said May 2nd the first set of Collegiate Scholars would be posted online. Fingers Crossed!
@collegegirl61 in September
@fbhsmom, what are Collegiate Scholars?
@fbhsmom what is Collegiate Scholars?
Son received his national merit scholarship offer from UF in an email today. Has been signed and submitted!
@collegegirl61 it is the term for someone who gets a NMF scholarship from UF