<p>The chance for major merit at UF seems to have gone from extremely slim to none.</p>
<p>Lombardi/Stamps was UF's premier scholarship offered to about 11 incoming freshmen, and last year offered tuition, room and board, if memory serves correctly.</p>
<p>Their website says this year it will grant each awardee $2700 per semester ($5400 per year). </p>
<p>How disappointing. </p>
<p>I think it’s been $2700 or so a semester for awhile (Scholarship + Bright Futures = UF tuition). It still gives access to the enrichment program, which includes two summers abroad, etc.</p>
<p>FL Incentive Scholarship looks promising. I will call UF again in Feb after acceptances come out. Fingers crossed.</p>
<p>Thanks, @Cshecmia !!! </p>
<p>@3boys2go I have confirmation from UF. They will award it to Finalists. Soo happy.</p>
<p>Son did receive a UF scholarship called Gold Presidential, valued at about $44K spread over 4 years. He is class of 2017. We are in state and this would combine with bright futures. We had heard UF did not give merit, but he received this in late March of his high school senior year. He did not accept UF’s offer and is extremely happy at another college. Just wanted some of you who might qualify that UF does give merit. </p>
<p>@SpaceCoastMom Thanks for that info. I knew about the Presidental Scholarships, but to date all the ones I have heard about were awarded to URMs. Is it too forward of me to ask you about that?</p>
<p>I am very happy for you, @Cshecmia!</p>
<p>3boystogo, our student is not an URM. Had high test scores and GPA.</p>
<p>Thank you! Keeping our fingers crossed that the Fl Legislature continues to fund the Fl Incentive Scholarship. And that he gets accepted in Feb, of course lol.</p>
<p>@SpaceCoastMom Thanks for the info. So there is hope!</p>
<p>@Cshecmia I will keep my fingers crossed for you too! </p>
@3boystogo & @Gator88NE You both are partially correct. My daughter won the Lombardi last year. It is $5400 per year and combines with the Bright Futures. However, its been that for several years. It also includes 3-not 2 study abroads and one domestic trip. The summer before her freshman year, my daughter lived in Merida, Mexico with a host family. This coming summer is a trip to Maine, I believe. The next summer will be Peru and the summer after South Africa. It is a fantastic program and she will be assisting in picking the next Lombardi/Stamp scholars this year!
The new (last year) FL Incentive Scholarship is a great deal. Full ride (tuition, room & board, books, supplies, transportation and miscellaneous expenses to National Merit Finalists. What a fabulous opportunity for NMFs.
@kimp70
my daughter has been invited for a phone interview for the lombardi stamps scholarship - I believe 20 will be selected for the on-campus interview from 45-50 phone interviews. And finally 11 are selected and ? no of alternates also. excited about the possibilities. could you/your daughter please share any advice for her? and any other details about the scholarship?
@Cshecmia
my daughter is also a national merit finalist. I believe uf does not work with national merit corporation.
however according to the uf financial aidwebsite they do participate in the florida incentive scholarship.
So after I inform UF that she is a finalist (send proof of it) will they send a letter saying “you are the recipient of
an institutional scholarship of $500 annually, awarded specifically because you are a 2015 National Merit® Finalist”
Because only if she gets this, she gets the FIS isnt it?
@kimp70 my daughter received the invitation yesterday and the phone interview is next week. thanks.
@mominflorida I’m not entirely sure what the process is in terms of informing UF, or if it is automatic. I’m waiting for my son to make a final decision about where he is going to attend and then I will follow up on the specifics.
thanks @Cshecmia
My daughter is doing the interviews so I can’t give unfair advantage but being able to relax so that the Lombardi interviewing can tell their personality would be key 
@kimp70 ok thanks will tell her.
@3boystogo The Lombardi Stamps Scholarship has never offered room and board. I’m not sure where that information came from. Because of the caliber of students it attracts, in combination the bright futures that they all receive, it is a full ride to the University of Florida. The money they give usually covers room and board, but it has never been explicitly defined that way.