funds will provide a sustainable funding source for Cocoa High students
The Eastern Florida State College Foundation recently announced that it received a $52,500 donation from local philanthropists Guy and Delores Spearman. This transformational gift will fund the Spearman Family Cocoa High Endowed Scholarship, the Eastern Florida State College Tigers to Titans Welding program, and the Cocoa High School Cocoa Champions program.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Eastern Florida State College Foundation announced the receipt of a $52,500 donation from Brevard philanthropists Guy and Delores Spearman.
This transformational gift will fund the Spearman Family Cocoa High Endowed Scholarship, the Eastern Florida State College Tigers to Titans Welding program, and the Cocoa High School Cocoa Champions program.
The gift was inspired by a special partnership between Eastern Florida State College, Elevate Brevard, Family Promise Space Coast, and Cocoa High School.
The funds will provide a sustainable funding source for Cocoa High students, strengthening their pathway from high school to EFSC and helping them overcome financial barriers to reach their career goals.
While attending the Family Promise Space Coast Annual Meeting, Ms. Spearman learned more about the challenges Cocoa High students face upon graduation and how local organizations like Elevate Brevard are working to remove those barriers through the Cocoa Champions program.
Elevate Brevard launched the program during the 2024-2025 academic year at Cocoa High.
This school-based mentorship and postsecondary planning program connects high school seniors with local professionals who provide encouragement, mentoring, and guidance throughout their senior year, including college and career exploration, application completion, FAFSA and financial aid paperwork, resume development, and scholarship applications.
“As a Cocoa High alum, class of 1968, supporting the Cocoa Champions program was an easy decision because I saw firsthand how it empowers students to believe in themselves and their potential,” Spearman said.
“Investing in young people and helping them realize what they can achieve is something that truly touches my heart.”
Already avid supporters of Eastern Florida State College, the Spearmans were drawn to the Tigers to Titans Welding program.
This special workforce training program launched at EFSC during the 2025-2026 academic year through a powerful partnership between the college, Brevard Public Schools, and Cocoa High, with support from Art Hoelke, vice president of Knight’s Armament.
The program offers students a no-cost, dual enrollment pathway into EFSC’s high-demand Welding Technology Career and Technical Certificate program, providing hands-on training and credentials to enter the workforce upon graduation.
