MARTIN COUNTY \u2014 Martin County School District has received the MVP Trophy in the 2025-26 Florida FAFSA Challenge after increasing its Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion rate by 4.8 percentage points.<\/p>\n
The increase made Martin County the top-performing school district on the Treasure Coast.<\/p>\n
The award recognizes a two-year partnership between the Martin County School District and the Education Foundation of Martin County, which received a Building College & Career Readiness Grant through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.<\/p>\n
Foundation Career Champions, along with school and district staff and community partners, worked to increase FAFSA awareness, assist students and families with applications and remove barriers to completion.<\/p>\n
At South Fork High School, AVID teacher Jennifer Morreale helped lead the school\u2019s effort, encouraging students to complete the FAFSA and understand the financial aid available for education after graduation.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompleting the FAFSA can open doors for students who may not otherwise realize that college, technical education or other opportunities after high school are within their reach,\u201d said Lisa Rhodes, executive director of the Education Foundation of Martin County.<\/p>\n
Lana Barros, the district\u2019s coordinator of College & Career Readiness, said the effort ultimately benefits students by expanding access to education and training opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery effort we make to expand access to education beyond high school graduation creates new possibilities for young people,\u201d Barros said.<\/p>\n
FAFSA completion can help students qualify for grants, scholarships, work-study programs and other financial aid for college, technical education and other postsecondary programs.<\/p>\n
The Education Foundation of Martin County is the nonprofit partner of the Martin County School District. The foundation supports educational programs, classroom grants, scholarships, professional development and college and career readiness initiatives.<\/p>\n