Florida Prepaid College Foundation is sponsoring the Governor's Recognition Scholarship Essay Contest in Baker County this year and soliciting entries from local 7th and 8th graders in the free or reduced lunch program.

Baker County was one of three counties selected statewide (in addition to Broward and Sumter counties) for the annual contest now in its fifth year. Students must submit essays about the legacy of a past Florida governor.

The author of the winning essay from Baker County will receive a 4-year Florida College Plan that covers tuition, registration fees and local fees for 60 lower division semester credit hours and 60 upper division semester credit hours at a Florida college.

The deadline to submit entries is October 14.

The winning essay, to be selected by the foundation's board of directors, will be chosen based on how well its written and how well the author stays on topic. "They'll also be looking for the authors to show they've done some research on the governor and the impact they had on Florida," said Maggie Gaby, a foundation spokesperson.

Essays should be no more than 500 words.

"The scholarship contest connects students to a former Governor in the state and allows them to gain inspiration to use toward success in their own futures," said board chairman Duane Ottenstroer. "By revisiting the state's past, students position themselves to receive a life changing reward."

Entry forms can be obtained through middle school English teachers or at www.myfoundationessay.com. Essays and entry forms can be submitted through the website or mailed to Florida Prepaid College Foundation, GRS Essay Contest, PO Box 1117, Tallahassee, FL 32302.

Winners will be selected in November and scholarships awarded at a school board meeting.

The Governor's Recognition Scholarship began in 2006 to provide at least one child from each county in Florida a full college scholarship. The foundation is a nonprofit direct-support organization for the Florida Prepaid College Board and was created in 1990 as a public-private partnership.