Educators Scholarship Application The Retired Educators Foundation of Orange County, Florida , will award a $2,000.00 scholarship to a teacher working with students in the Orange County (Florida) Public Schools system who is pursuing a Master’s Degree and will continue to work in the classroom for a period of two years. Eligibility ​ Limited to active OCPS teachers Currently enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited college/university and has completed a minimum of one course Requires a letter of recommendation from an administrator, supervisor, or individual who knows about the quality of the applicant’s teaching Requires an essay of fewer than 300 words discussing the following: The attributes or circumstances that qualify you to be a recipient of this scholarship Your educational and career goals Any clubs, chairmanships, professional associations, community, and or religious organizations may be included Scholarship Award ​ The amount of this scholarship will be $2,000, one time only, and will be given to the recipient. Upon selection, the money will be awarded upon proof of enrollment in the program. Use the online Educators Scholarship Application form below to apply: Educators Apply

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Florida State Retired Educators Association Board Officers info@frea.org www.frea.org Florida State Retired Educators Association (FREA) Purpose is to promote the economic, social, and professional status of retired teachers, exchange of information of value to them; safeguard and improve retirement benefits through legislation; and to promote the involvement of retired teachers in community service. Florida Retired Educators Foundation (FREF) The foundation was established to provide for future teachers; Grants to current teachers for special projects; Grants to Educators in Financial Crisis. 2024-2026 FREA State Board Officers Harriet Jenkins President ​ ​ Carrie Frye Preside nt-Elect ​ ​ Melanie Waite Secr etary ​ ​ Dr. Gayle Hodges Trea surer ​ ​ Linda Stephens West State D irector ​ ​ Sheila King District VIII Director ​ ​ Anne Fagan Executive Director 8950 9th St. N. Suite 105 St. Petersburg, FL 33702-3047 ​ ​ Division Of Retirement ​ 1-866-446-9377 (TRS 711) https://www.dms.myflorida.com/workforce_operations/retirement/contact_us FREA Annual Convention May 20-22, 2025 Renaissance World Golf Village Resort 500 South Legacy Tr. St. Augustine, FL 32902 FREA Meetings

OCREA Membership Application Membership Information for 2024 - 2025 OCREA has unified dues with FREA. The annual amount is $65 (FREA $45 & OCREA $20) $2 fee for processing PayPal/ Credit Card payments. OCREA offers two types of membership. One is Active Membership for retired teachers and professors. The other is associate membership for people who are not in the education field but are interested in the wellbeing of retired and aspiring educators. Details of the membership types are shown below. Annual membership fee is $65. Active Membership The following people are eligible to join OCREA as active members: Any person who has retired from the education field under the Florida Retirement System or the Teacher Retirement System with five (5) or more years of service. Any person who has retired from a professional education system including privately funded or parochial school with five (5) or more years of service. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member can download the application form and submit it together with the membership fee of $65 per annum. Associate Membership Any person interested in the work of the Association and is approved for membership by the Board of Directors of the Association may become a member upon payment of dues and shall have all rights and privileges of Active Members, except the right to vo te, to hold office, or to serve as a delegate to the State Assembly. ​ Retired people and other people who are not involved in education are therefore welcome to join us as associate members. The annual membership fee is $65. ​ ​ There are two payment options below for becoming a new member, a renewing member, or an associate member. ​ ​ For Check Payment Members hip Submission Click here to complete the form online, print it out, a n d then mail it in with a check . ​ Make check s payable to: OCREA (Orange C ounty Retir ed Educato rs As sociation) Mail to: OCREA, P.O. Box 464 Lake Helen, FL 32744 ​ ​ For PayPal or Credit Card Payment Membership Submission Complete the f orm below and click the Submit button ​ Online membership Form Thank you! ​ Jennifer Cunningham treasurer.ocrea@gmail.com 407-712-4529

Scholarship Programs Learn More About Our Higher Learning Education for High School students who wish to pursue a career in teaching, technical students, and teachers who wish to pursue a post-graduate degree in education can apply for the scholarships using the forms available on this website. Retired Educators Foundation of Orange County Florida The leadership of Orange County Retired Educators Association (OCREA) formed a nonprofit foundation to manage funds received from the sale of property that was purchased to house retired teachers. The interest, after expenses have been paid, is used for scholarships. The Foundation has identified three non-renewable types of scholarships: Academic Scholarships for Orange County Public School (OCPS) graduating seniors Technical Scholarships for students from Orange Technical College Educators Scholarship for an OCPS teacher working on a graduate degree. The number of scholarships given, and the dollar amount is dependent on the interest generated from the funds in the Foundation account. Florida Retired Educators Foundation The Foundation (FREF) is a not for profit autonomous are the FREA. It provides scholarships to high school seniors planning to become teachers, assistance for retired educators facing financial crisis, and publishes scientific works of significance that relate to education. FREF is made up of ten trustees, one from each district. They manage scholarship monies, screen applications from the local units, and grant one-year renewable scholarships as monies are available to graduating high school students who plan to become teachers. This scholarship program is managed by an OCREA Committee. It was named for Ernest and Ruth Hawk, long-time local promoters of teaching scholarships. The goal is to support young people who wish to become teachers. The recipient of the local FREF nomination will also receive this one-time-only scholarship of $2000. Monies to fund the scholarship are raised from the Little Red School House donations and the sale of used books. Ernest & Ruth Hawk Scholarship The FREF Foundation Board is made up of nine directors elected from OCREA membership and the current OCREA President (Ex Officio). In turn, they elect their own officers. REFOC Board of Directors: ​ David Magee, Chair Cathy Thompson, Vice Chair Janice Quint, Treasurer Brenda Alston, Secretary Christie Woods, Ex Officio Cynthia Hubbard Prince Kelley Gwen Mercer Gary Moser Nancy Pelser-Borowicz District VIII Trustee Debra Dykes Kornhaus unionlady4ever@gmail.com ​ FREF Local Committee Chair Kim Stutsman stutsmankim85@gmail.com

Who We Are We are a non-profit organization of retired teachers and university professors who are affiliated with the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) and the National Retired Teachers Association. Learn More What We Do Our objectives are to: Operate for educational and charitable purposes Promote the health and safety of retired educators V olunteer in our community Provide scholarships to high school seniors, technical college students, and practicing teachers Learn More

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About OCREA Orange County Retired Educators Association is a non-profit organization, an affiliate of the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) and the National Retired Teachers Association. The Association was formed in 1958 and has grown significantly in over 60 years. We are an association of retired teachers, university professors and any person who has retired from the education field. Our mission is to promote professional, intellectual, and social well-being of our members, encourage community involvement through volunteerism, and provide educational scholarships. Please donate today to support OCREA activities. Our Objectives To operate for educational and charitable purposes. To promote the health and safety of retired educators in Florida, as well as their social, professional, educational, and economic well-being. To help retired educators to maintain their identity with the educational profession, retain their professional concern for the education of young people, and promote lifelong learning for mature adults. To encourage positive involvement in the community and respond to community needs through existing OCREA programs. By volunteering their time and energy, retired educators have something to look forward to. To provide social opportunities for fellowship among retirees. To assist in preparing active educators and prospective retirees for retirement by promoting and assisting in pre-retirement seminars and workshops. To provide leadership in promoting and monitoring legislation that will affect current and future members’ retirement and health benefits and educational issues. To provide scholarships to high school seniors planning to become teachers. To provide scholarships for educators who wish to continue their education in a master’s degree. To raise funds and donate them to several activities and scholarships. To promote the local programs of the Florida Retired Educators Association and the National Retired Teachers Association. To disburse OCREA funds in the furtherance of the objectives of the Association, as set forth above and in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1976. Our Activities Members of our local association, OCREA and our parent FREA, participate in many activities and projects to promote our mutual goals. The following are just a few of them. ​ We support the state legislative committee in various ways. Some of our legislative activities include visiting, calling, writing, and emailing legislators concerning our positions on issues pertaining to retirement legislation and other educational issues that are important to us. We donate regularly to several activities to support both state and local scholarships. Monetary collections at all meetings, and fund-raising activities at district and state meetings are just a few of our activities. Volunteering our time to assist others such as working in schools, hospitals, or churches, tutoring non-English speaking individuals, and serving as docents at local museums and meals-on-wheels, keep our spare time occupied. Providing desserts, other goodies, and household and personal items to The Russell Home for atypical Children and The Ronald McDonald House for families of hospital patients is a popular project. We also collect pop-top tabs for their collection.

Scholarship Programs We offer a variety of scholarships to support your educational goals! High School Seniors: Explore our academic scholarship and the Ernst and Ruth Hawk Education Scholarship, specifically designed for those interested in a teaching career. Technical Students: Pursue your technical education with the help of our dedicated scholarship program. OCPS Teachers: Further your education with our scholarship for teachers seeking a postgraduate degree. Applying is easy! All application forms can be found conveniently on this website. Don't forget! This website also provides information for the FREA state essay contest for fifth graders. Retired Educators Foundation of Orange County The leadership of Orange County Retired Educators Association (OCREA) formed a nonprofit foundation to manage funds received from the sale of property that was purchased to house retired teachers. The interest, after expenses have been paid, is used for scholarships. The Foundation has identified three non-renewable types of scholarships: ​ Academic Scholarships for Orange County Public School (OCPS) graduating seniors. Technical Scholarships for students from Orange Technical College. Educators Scholarship for an OCPS teacher working on a graduate degree. The number of scholarships given, and the dollar amount is dependent on the interest generated from the funds in the Foundation account. ​ This scholarship program is managed by an OCREA Committee. It was named for Ernest and Ruth Hawk, long-time local promoters of teaching scholarships. The goal is to support young people who wish to become teachers. The recipient of the local Florida Retired Educators Foundation nomination will also receive this one-time-only scholarship of $1,000. Monies to fund the scholarship are raised from the Little Red School House donations and the sale of used books. Ernest & Ruth Hawk Scholarship The FREF Foundation Board is made up of nine directors elected from OCREA membership and the current OCREA President (Ex Officio). In turn, they elect their own officers. REFOC Board of Directors: ​ David Magee, Chair Cathy Thompson, Vice Chair Janice Quint , Treasurer Brenda Alston, Secretary Christie Woods, Ex Officio Cynthia Hubbard Prince Kelley Gwen Mercer Gary Moser Nancy Pelser-Borowicz District VIII Trustee Debra Dykes Kornhaus unionlady4ever@gmail.com ​ FREF Local Committee Chair Kim Stutsman stutsmankim85@gmail.com

About OCREA Orange County Retired Educators Association is a non-profit organization, affiliated with the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) and the National Retired Teachers Association. The Association was formed in 1954 and has grown significantly in over 60 years. We are a non-profit association of retired school employees and individuals who may not be affiliated with the school system but want to support the mission of the Association. Our mission is to promote professional, economic, intellectual, and social well-being of our members, encourage community involvement through volunteerism, and provide educational scholarships to local Orange County students. Please donate today to support OCREA activities. Our Objectives To operate for educational and charitable purposes. To promote the health and safety of retired educators in Florida, as well as their social, professional, educational, and economic well-being. To help retired educators to maintain their identity with the educational profession, retain their professional concern for the education of young people, and promote lifelong learning for mature adults. To encourage positive involvement in the community and respond to community needs through existing OCREA programs. By volunteering their time and energy, retired educators have something to look forward to. To provide social opportunities for fellowship among retirees. To assist in preparing active educators and prospective retirees for retirement by promoting and assisting in pre-retirement seminars and workshops. To provide leadership in promoting and monitoring legislation that will affect current and future members’ retirement and health benefits and educational issues. To provide scholarships to high school seniors planning to become teachers. To provide scholarships for educators who wish to continue their education in a master’s degree. To raise funds and donate them to several activities and scholarships. To promote the local programs of the Florida Retired Educators Association and the National Retired Teachers Association. To disburse OCREA funds in the furtherance of the objectives of the Association, as set forth above and in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1976. Our Activities Members of our local association, OCREA and our parent FREA, participate in many activities and projects to promote our mutual goals. The following are just a few of them. ​ We support the state legislative committee in various ways. Some of our legislative activities include visiting, calling, writing, and emailing legislators concerning our positions on issues pertaining to retirement legislation and other educational issues that are important to us. We donate regularly to several activities to support both state and local scholarships. Monetary collections at all meetings, paperback book sales, and fund-raising activities at district and state meetings are just a few of our activities. Volunteering our time to assist others such as working in schools, hospitals, or churches, tutoring non-English speaking individuals, and serving as docents at local museums and meals-on-wheels, keep our spare time occupied. Providing desserts, other goodies, and household and personal items to Russell Home for Children for families of hospital patients is a popular project. We also collect pop-top tabs for their collection.

Academic Scholarship Application The Retired Educators Foundation of Orange County, Florida (REFOC) will award $2,000.00 scholarships to qualifying students from the Orange County, Florida, public high schools. The scholarship check is paid to the recipient, not the institution, following proof of college enrollment — college ID and schedule. The following requirements must be met. Eligibility ​ Minimum requirements: Weighted GPA of 4.0 and SAT score of 1200 or ACT of 25. ​​ Comple ted application form. Minimum SAT score of 1200 (reading and math) or minimum ACT score of 25 (no Super scoring). Minimum WEIGHTED GPA of 4.0 — to be circled but NOT HIGHLIGHTED on transcript. Updated and stamp ed official high school transcript. One letter of recommendation from a high school teacher. A typed one page essay of no more than three hundred words. An acceptance letter from a college that is accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges or similar regionally accredited association. Attach a typed sheet titled Extracurricular Activities listing your activities using four columns: Activity Position Held School Year Approximate Hours Attach a typed sheet titled Community Leadership listing your positions and participation in church, community activities, and volunteer services using four columns: Activity Position Held School Year Approximate Hours Attach a typed sheet titled Work Experience listing the following: Position Place of Employment Responsibilities School Year Approximate Hours Use the online Academic Scholarship Application form below to apply:

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