The Governor Jeb Bush Award for Outstanding Achievement
The Jeb Bush Award, named for a former Governor and founder of the Gubernatorial Fellows Program, provides a $5,000 scholarship to innovative Fellows who identify critical state concerns and address them with outstanding policy proposals.
The award is granted each year for one proposal.
Previous recipients of the Governor Jeb Bush Award include:
- Class XX (tie): Austin Dillon, Freeing the Front Porch: Amending Ch. 163, F.S., to Make Our Streets Safer, Our Families Stronger, and Our State More Free
- Class XX (tie): Alexis Agramonte, Critical Economic Infrastructure Mapping
- Class XX (tie): Joseph Visconti, Realigning Data-Driven Governance: Establishing Florida’s Office of AI Readiness (OAIR)
- Class XIX: Cristen Chandler Mejia, S.K.A.T.E. Act: Safeguarding Kids Against Technological Exploitation Act
- Class XVIII: Noah Schwab, F.A.S.T.T.: Flexible Alternative Small-Town Transit
- Class XVIII: Benjamin Young, Florida’s Hospital T.I.P. Act (Transparency in Pricing)
- Class XVII: Stephen Marante, Florida S.E.A.P.O.R.T.S Act: Strategic Economic Advancement to Protect Our Residents from Threatened Supply Chains
- Class XVI: Christina Castillo, Florida T.R.O.O.P.S Program: Teacher Recruitment Opens Opportunities Post Service
- Class XV (tie): Brandon Brown, Closing the Skills Gap: Utilizing Financial Incentives to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs
- Class XV (tie): Destiny Goede, Funding Florida’s Future
The Hoffman Public Service Incentive Award
Florida Fellows are naturally inclined to continue a public service career path following their fellowships. This award, a $2,000 gift from the Hoffman Endowment, is just a little extra encouragement.
To qualify, a Fellow must obtain salaried employment in state, local or federal government within six months of graduation from the Fellows program or graduation from school. (In the latter case, the Fellow must graduate within three years of completing the Fellowship.)
Previous recipients of the Hoffman Public Service Incentive Award include:
- Matthew Toplak, Class XVIII
- Julia Canady, Class XVII
- Courtney Francis, Class XVII
- Alberto Garcia Marrero, Class XVII
- Zachary Loyed, Class XVII
- Stephen Marante, Class XVII
- Elizabeth Pearce, Class XVII
- Shaina Ruth, Class XVII
- Christina Castillo, Class XVI
- Margaret McCormick, Class XVI
The Governor’s Washington, D.C. Fellowship Award for Outstanding Leadership
In 2011 beginning with Class VI, the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Board of Directors introduced a new award titled The Washington, D.C. Fellowship Award for Outstanding Leadership. This award was established to give one member of each class the opportunity to continue their Fellowship in Washington, D.C. for six months after the completion of the traditional nine month Fellowship in Tallahassee. Those selected for this award and Fellowship extension are paid $15.00 an hour and are placed in Governor DeSantis’ Washington, D.C. office. Here they gain valuable experience working in our nation’s capital and quickly become an important member of the Governor’s federal relations team.
Interested Fellows must submit an application and essay by the posted deadline and are interviewed by the Director of the Washington, D.C. office and Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Board of Directors. Winners are selected by the Board of Directors at their spring board meeting and are traditionally announced at the annual Gubernatorial Fellows reception held each year at the Governor’s mansion. In addition to being personally recognized by the Governor, winners receive a $10,000 dollar stipend to help offset living expenses in Washington, D.C.
Previous recipients of the Governor’s Washington, D.C. Fellowship Award for Outstanding Leadership include:
- Brooks Elson, Class XIX
- Keerthana Kallarackal, Class XVIII
- Julia Canady, Class XVII
- Robert “Chase” Brannan, Class XVI