I just got home from the Spruce Creek High School Honors Banquet at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center, for the graduating class of 2008. Why was I at a high school banquet? Well, because my daughter is graduating this year, with honors! =D (She's the redhead on the left)

If you're a real estate buyer who's considering a move to FL, here's some great information you may not be aware of. Florida has a program that enables any graduating student with over a 3.5 GPA (Brittany has a 3.8) to receive a 100% full scholarship to any participating state college, as long as by the time they graduate, they have completed 80 hours of community service and gotten a high enough score on their SAT or ACT exam. It's called the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

There's also a 2nd chance at this program, if all the criteria has not been met. If the student has a GPA, but only completes 40 hours of community service, and scores slightly lower on the SAT or ACT, they may still qualify for a 75% state college scholarship. Some private colleges accept the Bright Futures Scholarships also. The student can apply for other scholarship monies and/or pay the difference.

One more factor to consider is that the SAT can be re-taken if the score isn't high enough the first time. And it's my understanding that the ACT is easier than the SAT, if the desired results are still not achieved.

But back to the Spruce Creek High School Honors Banquet tonight. The principal of the school, Tim Egnor, said that this year, almost half the class was graduating with honors! That's incredible! Those are some hard-working kids!

Congratulations to the Spruce Creek High School, Class of 2008!

Now just to embarrass my daughter and one of her oldest friends, whose family we sat with tonight, I hope you enjoy the following photos, which I've been collecting for a few years. I did take pity on them and deleted some of the oldest ones. After all, a mother needs something to hold back for future blackmail.

Are you interested in buying or selling real estate in Port Orange? We have the best schools in the county, and fabulous neighborhoods to match! Make a Smart Choice today and contact Lisa C. Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

*ALL material, including images are automatically copyrighted. It's advisable to educate yourself on copyright laws. It's easily done through an internet search.

Congratulations Spruce Creek High School, Class of 2008.