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Centennial Bank Establishes Scholarship Fund for Florida High School Graduates

Centennial Bank recently launched its Financial Literacy Scholarship program with a pledge of $100,000 over five years to graduating high school seniors throughout Florida. The college scholarship is part of the bank’s commitment to financial literacy and the local community. The scholarship program will be available to schools participating in the bank’s current financial education program that caters to schools with 51% or more students receiving free or reduced lunch. The program will be available starting with the class of 2023. High school seniors who excel in their designated math class can be nominated for the scholarship by the course instructor or school counselor.

Along with April being Financial Literacy Month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ recently signed a bill requiring Florida public high school students to complete a personal finance course to graduate, set to commence for incoming first-year students of the 2023-2024 school year. Students chosen for the scholarship will be allocated funds each semester throughout their college education for four years.

“With bi-partisan Senate approval and the entire state’s attention, there is no better time to showcase the importance of financial literacy for the next generation and reiterate our commitment by taking action,” David Druey says, Florida regional president for Centennial Bank. “Through this scholarship, we will help more than 25 high school students throughout Florida continue their education while raising awareness for fundamental and lifelong personal finance skills.”

The launch of the scholarship program is an extension of Centennial Bank’s commitment to financial literacy. Last year, the bank partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness, a national nonprofit focused on financial education and Banzai Inc., an interactive, award-winning course on real-world finance. The partnerships provided valuable, complementary resources, such as virtual courses and educational materials, to more than 43 schools, retirees and first-time homebuyers in Florida.

“As champions for the communities we serve, our Financial Literacy Scholarship reaffirms our core values and commitment to bolstering our backyard,” J.C. de Ona says, Southeast division president for Centennial Bank. “With this scholarship, we are simultaneously investing in prospective bankers, lenders, and visionaries for generations to come. We hope other financial institutions, organizations, and businesses will join us in this effort.”

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.