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Kamillia Crawford was beating the odds of Tangelo Park 麻豆精品 S檚 student statistics, the ones that once pointed to high dropout rates and poor chances of graduation in the historically low-income community south of Orlando.

In high school, Crawford knew she wanted to study law. She had good grades. And she had a family pushing her towards choosing a university.

But how she would pay for college? That question stumped her.

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Crawford found the solution through the Tangelo Park Program, which is funded by hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen and, among other things, provides full college scholarships to students living in the neighborhood.

Crawford on Friday becomes the 18th Rosen Foundation Scholar to graduate from UCF, another success story from a community that has blossomed with Rosen 麻豆精品 S檚 support. The Tangelo Park Program, founded in 1993, is credited with elevating the community 麻豆精品 S檚 early childhood education programs, decreasing crime, and changing the lives of a generation of students who 麻豆精品 S檝e gone on to graduate from college with the financial help of the scholarships.

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Crawford had set her path to law school early. She was drawn to the words of a lawyer at an elementary school career day.

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After her parents divorced, Crawford, her mother and siblings moved to Tangelo Park from Tampa when she was a high school sophomore to live with her grandmother. In Tangelo Park, she attended Cypress Creek High School.

Although money was tight, Crawford said she had a lot of support: Both of her parents have college degrees and encouraged her to work hard and go to college. And her school talked up the Rosen Scholarship, so she applied her senior year. She was accepted to UF, FAMU and other state universities. But when she visited UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 campus one Sunday, she felt at home.

麻豆精品 S淥nce I saw the campus, I knew I wanted to be here, 麻豆精品 S� she said during a break from her job as a UCF resident assistant. 麻豆精品 S淚 liked knowing I 麻豆精品 S檇 be close to my family. 麻豆精品 S�

Crawford has been busy at UCF. Fiercely driven to succeed, she graduates as a legal studies major with three minors: business, aerospace and leadership studies. She 麻豆精品 S檚 a resident assistant at the Libra Community. She 麻豆精品 S檚 in the ROTC and already has been accepted at the University of Florida law school. She 麻豆精品 S檚 a member of the LEAD Scholars Academy, The Burnett Honors College and the President 麻豆精品 S檚 Leadership Council.

Earlier this month, she was awarded UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 highest student honor: the Order of Pegasus award. The award is given to graduating seniors and graduate students who demonstrate exemplary university and community involvement, leadership, academic achievement and service.

Her family was there, cheering her on.

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The Rosen Foundation Scholarship, started when Rosen adopted the community more than 22 years ago, covers tuition, housing and books. Students have to graduate from high school, apply for other federal grants and scholarships, and remain in good academic standing at their respective colleges or vocational schools, among other requirements. Pooled together, the scholarship and other aid can cover all the student 麻豆精品 S檚 college-related expenses, including housing and meal plans.

Since then, Rosen has become one of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 most notable benefactors. He helped found the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and thus far has invested more than $12 million in the Tangelo Park project. He also previously served on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Board of Trustees.

His philanthropy has changed the community, one child at a time. While 22 years ago fewer than half of the high school students graduated, now almost all finish high school and of those who go on to college, 77 percent graduate, according to the program 麻豆精品 S檚 statistics. Crime has dropped dramatically, and the lifetime earning potential of students has risen dramatically.

Crawford plans to go to law school, but it 麻豆精品 S檚 deferred for now. She will commission in the fall as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and serve four years as a personnel officer. After that, she 麻豆精品 S檒l pursue her law degree, and hopes to serve as a judge advocate general in the Air Force. Eventually, she wants to do estate planning as a way to help others.

麻豆精品 S淢y time at UCF taught me that your past situation doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 define you, 麻豆精品 S� she said.

To other students she offers this advice: 麻豆精品 S淕et out of your comfort zone. Don 麻豆精品 S檛 get complacent. This is a great place and a great opportunity. Take advantage of it, and use it to achieve your goals and do what you 麻豆精品 S檙e passionate about. Then, pay it forward. 麻豆精品 S�