A Gift That Opens Doors for Cocoa students
DONORS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
A Gift That Opens Doors for Cocoa students
For Guy and Delores Spearman, investing in students is about more than funding programs. It’ s about creating opportunities, removing barriers, and helping young people realize their potential.
That commitment recently took shape through a generous $ 52,500 gift to the EFSC Foundation that will support three initiatives designed to help Cocoa High School students succeed: the Spearman Family Cocoa High Endowed Scholarship, the Cocoa Champions mentoring program, and EFSC’ s Tigers to Titans Welding program.
The transformational donation will provide long-term support for local students as they navigate the path from high school to college and career success. The inspiration for the gift grew from a collaborative effort among Eastern Florida State College, Elevate Brevard, Family Promise Space Coast, and Cocoa High School. Together, these organizations are working to address challenges that often prevent students from pursuing higher education and career training opportunities.
Delores Spearman first learned more about those challenges while attending the Family Promise Space Coast Annual Meeting. There, she heard how community partners were stepping forward to help Cocoa High students overcome obstacles after graduation, particularly through Elevate Brevard’ s Cocoa Champions program.
Launched during the 2024-25 academic year, Cocoa Champions connects high school seniors with community professionals who serve as mentors throughout their final year of school. The program provides guidance with college and career exploration, applications, resumé development, scholarship opportunities, and financial aid paperwork, helping students build confidence as they prepare for life after graduation.
For Spearman, a member of Cocoa High School’ s Class of 1968, supporting the initiative was deeply personal.“ Supporting the Cocoa Champions program was an easy decision because I saw firsthand how it empowers students to believe in themselves and their potential,” she said.“ Investing in
GUY AND DOLORES SPEARMAN young people and helping them realize what they can achieve is something that truly touches my heart.”
The Spearmans’ support also reflects their longstanding commitment to Eastern Florida State College and workforce education. Their gift will help strengthen the Tigers to Titans Welding program, an innovative partnership between EFSC, Brevard Public Schools, and Cocoa High School.
Introduced during the 2025-26 academic year, the program provides students with a no-cost dual enrollment pathway into EFSC’ s Welding Technology Career and Technical Certificate program. Through hands-on training and industry-focused instruction, students earn valuable credentials that prepare them for immediate entry into a high-demand workforce. The initiative was made possible through collaboration among education and industry leaders, including Art Hoelke, vice president of Knight’ s Armament, who helped champion the effort to expand career training opportunities for local students. Through their generosity, the Spearmans are helping ensure that more Cocoa High students can dream bigger, plan further, and step confidently into the future. Their investment is not only changing lives today but also building a stronger community for generations to come.
“ When community leaders invest in students, they invest in the future of Brevard County,” said Dr. Jim Richey, president of Eastern Florida State College.“ The Spearmans’ continued generosity toward our students will help remove barriers and create life-changing opportunities for young people pursuing their educational and career aspirations. Their gift exemplifies the difference that compassionate philanthropy can make in strengthening opportunities for future generations, and we are honored by their partnership and belief in the transformative power of education.”
HELP EFSC BUILD A LEGACY INITIATIVE!
Find out more by calling us at 321-433-7055 or emailing foundation @ easternflorida. edu
14 EFSC CONNECTIONS FALL 2026