CLEWISTON — Four Clewiston Middle School students and their parents signed contracts May 14 that will earn them a four-year college scholarship upon graduation, if they stay crime and drug free and maintain their grades through high school.

Aimed at middle school students in grades 6-9, the "Take Stock in Children" scholarship program, offers scholarships to children from low-income households. The students sign a contract promising to remain drug free and crime free throughout their scholastic career. The children meet with a mentor once a week and when they graduate from high school they are guaranteed four years of tuition—two years of community college and two years of university.

The students, most of whom are the first in their families to attend college, must maintain a 2.0 GPA. If the students fail to maintain their grades or get into trouble, the scholarship can be taken away and assigned to someone else.

Clewiston's first "Take Stock in Children" scholarship was awarded last year to Natalie Pass, whose mentor is Sharon Flynn of the Hendry County Health Department. Mrs. Flynn meets with Natalie once a week on Thursday for an hour talking about school, homework, and life in general.

Friday, three new children were inducted into the program. They are 8th grader Jessica Rios, 7th grader Audriana Edwards, and 7th grader Oscar Flores.

Currently First Bank and U.S. Sugar Corporation are the only Clewiston businesses participating in the scholarship program. Each company has donated $4400, which is invested in the Florida Prepaid College Scholarship fund and matched by the State of Florida.

For more information on the Take Stock in Children Scholarship Program, contact Mr. Burnett at 983-1530.