EFSC Foundation Newsletter April 2020 | Page 4

Foundation Newsletter Page 4 Foundation Newsletter SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT Brevard Achievement Center he Brevard Achievement Center established two scholarships: one to support T students with disabilities and one specifically set aside for veterans. The scholarships will be available beginning Fall Term 2020. The decision to create the two scholarships came from a Brevard Achievement Center Board of Directors meeting, as members brainstormed how to continue to make a positive impact for people with disabilities and the community as a whole. “BAC is honored to be able to expand the reach of our mission by sponsoring these scholarships at Eastern Florida State College,” said Amar Patel, BAC President and CEO. “We hope that this brings us one step closer to an inclusive community, where people with all abilities are able to access higher education and achieve their career goals.” BAC provides persons with disabilities innovative services and opportunities to achieve personal success including employment, transition services, training programs, supportive living services and art programs to build self-confidence. SIMPKINS SPEAKER SERIES 2020 Hyatt Brown H CHAIRMAN, CPCU, CLU BROWN & BROWN, INC. yatt Brown, Chairman of Brown and Brown, Inc., engaged over 250 attendees at the Melbourne Campus Student Union on February 25 as our Spring 2020 Simpkins Speaker. Mr. Brown walked through the aisles, asking questions of the crowd and taking questions electronically. He was not shy about sharing his experiences, ranging from when he was a young child to today. He talked about the influence his family had on his career, the importance of his education and the experience of working at his family’s business. That family business has since grown into a top-performing leader in the insurance industry. As Mr. Brown told the audience, “The only constant is change. Be prepared for change in your education, your career and family, and never shy away from help. We would never have grown without taking the risk of mergers, using consultants and changing our operating structure.” The Simpkins Speaker Series is named after Bernard Simpkins, a highly successful entrepreneur and Brevard County business leader who established the sessions that have brought some of the nation’s top business innovators to Eastern Florida State College. Hyatt Brown’s career has spanned more than 50 decades, and he even found time to become a member of the Florida House of Representatives. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and a proud member of the UF Hall of Fame. The EFSC Foundation was delighted to host Hyatt Brown for the Simpkins Speaker Series. The committee is currently working to select the speaker for our next event. You won’t want to miss it!