Charlotte High Students can benefit from Scholarships from the Generosity of a Couple who arrived in Southwest Florida over 100 years ago

In 1908 in Marietta, Ohio two high school sweethearts who were to have significant impact on Southwest Florida married. It was in the following year that William (Bill) Selby brought his bride to the west coast of Florida. He had visited Sarasota and stayed in a  hotel there for his  hunting and fishing trips into the wilds of Florida.

During the first year of their marriage, Bill and Marie Selby paid close attention to the first transcontinental automobile race between Seattle and New York City. That sparked them to travel the same course themselves in a well-stocked touring car with spare parts and camping equipment. They made the trip in six days less than the car that won the race. Marie Selby became the first woman to cross the country by automobile. In 1921, they built a home in Sarasota.

Selby was one of three oilmen who came to Sarasota around the same time and ultimately impacted the shape and character of the the region. Selby partnered with his father, who had formed the Selby Oil and Gas Company, which operated wells in Texas and Oklahoma. In 1946, Selby Oil and Gas merged with the Texas Company to form Texaco. Needless to say, the Selbys were very well off, and they had no children. That is why they established a private charitable foundation in 1955 that has helped to foster arts, education, human services, historic and environmental initiatives in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSota and yes in Charlotte County.

Each year, this Sarasota-based Foundation following the wishes of the Selbys seeks out applicants from all four counties for the Selby Scholarship, which is a very generous scholarship that aids students in need that meet the academic and community service level criteria.  The Founation is  typically  looking for applicants from Charlotte County who may not be aware that this Sarasota-based Foundation provides scholarships to Charlotte County Seniors.

So if you are a parent of or a Senior at Charlotte High or another Charlotte County high school yourself, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.  The scholarships are awarded in May and are renewable each year for students awarded them as Seniors.  The application will be available this month and the deadline for applying is April 1.  More information can be found at http://www.selbyfdn.org/scholarship-programs.aspx