Page 9 - Jupiter Spotlight - March '24

Jupiter Spotlight, Page 9
Florida Prepaid College Plan Monthly Prices Reduced Up

To 25 Percent This Open Enrollment

• Prepaid plan monthly prices reduced up to 25 percent. customers will have plan prices lowered by more than $1.3 If a child attends an out-of-state college or private
• This is the lowest prepaid plan prices in 10 years, billion. Nearly half of these customers now have their plan college, a prepaid plan will pay the same amount as it
starting at $34/month for a newborn. paid in full and will receive refunds totaling more than would pay at a public college or university in Florida.
• More than 280,000 current customers will have $350 million. The average refund per customer is $2,600. Every prepaid plan is protected by the State of Florida,
prepaid plan prices lowered by $1.3 billion. Any customers who have already submitted their prepaid and a child has up to 10 years after high school graduation
• Florida Prepaid celebrates 35 years of helping Florida plan application between May 1, 2023 and Jan. 31, will to use a plan.
families save for college. receive notice of their new prepaid plan price in February. “Florida families have been squeezed by housing and
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Florida “Every day we strive to support Florida families by food costs over the past few years, and we are glad to
Prepaid College Board, and today the Board announced it is making college savings simple and affordable,” said Board be able to ease their budget concerns by providing even
lowering prepaid plan monthly prices by up to 25 percent for Chairman John D. Rood. “This price reduction reflects our more affordable plan prices. Florida Prepaid is the largest
this year’s open enrollment period, now through April 30. commitment to that goal. We thank Gov. Ron DeSantis and longest-running prepaid program in the nation, and
Prepaid plan prices are now the lowest in 10 years, and the Florida Legislature for their continued efforts to we hope that with the reduced prices even more Florida
starting at just $34/month for a one-year university plan make a college education attainable for Florida students families can start saving for their children’s future,” said
for a newborn. The price reductions are primarily due to during these past few years of economic uncertainty and Executive Director Kevin Thompson. “For 35 years, we
successive years of lower than anticipated tuition and fee heightened inflation.” have stayed true to the mission of our founder, Stanley G.
increases for Florida colleges and state universities. Gov. DeSantis applauded the price reduction, which is Tate, to provide Florida families with an affordable means
While Florida families continue to face inflation across aligned with his administration’s goal of making sure a to save for their children’s higher education.”
many areas of everyday life, the lower plan prices will postsecondary education is affordable for Florida families. Eligible account owners will receive a notification from
allow even more Florida families to prepare for the cost Prepaid plans provide a simple, affordable way to save the Board regarding their refund and/or payment reduction.
of higher education for their children. The popular four- for college tuition and fees and/or dormitory housing and For more information about how your plan will be affected,
year university plan now starts at less than $135/month, allow families to lock in their plan price and make fixed go to myfloridaprepaid.com/lowprices.
and the two-year college plan is just $39/month. monthly payments. To get started saving for college today, visit
In addition, current customers with plans purchased Families can use the prepaid plan online pricing tool to myfloridaprepaid.com. Open enrollment ends April 30.
since 2008 that have not yet started utilizing benefits, will determine what the various plans cost based on a child’s age,
also have a lower plan price. More than 280,000 existing as well as explore the different payment options available.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center Celebrates Strides In Marine

Conservation At 15th Annual Go Blue Awards

Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) honored local and The 2024 Go Blue creator of the daily comic strip
national achievements in marine conservation during its Awards and their “Sherman’s Lagoon,” which
prestigious 15th Annual Go Blue Awards presented by Tampa recipients are: is syndicated in more than
General Hospital. This year, four individuals, businesses, Eleanor Fletcher 150 newspapers across 20
and nonprofits were recognized with exemplifying a “blue” Awa rd (L i fe t i m e countries and in six languages.
lifestyle of marine conservation. Each award recipient has Achievement): Jim Blue Ambassador of the
significantly impacted, improved, and protected our oceans, Toomey, Alexandria, Year Award: Nan Hauser,
beaches, and wildlife. Va. ─ Toomey is the Brunswick, Maine – Hauser
is president and director of the
Center for Cetacean Research
and Conservation (CCRC),
and director and principal
investigator of Cook Islands
Whale Research (CIWR).
Blue Hatchling Youth Rebecca Mott with Inwater
Award: Asa Miller, Hartsdale, Research Group
N.Y. ─ A 16-year-old high
school junior, Asa is a coral reef restoration specialist, diver,
and filmmaker, particularly known for his work and research
in his homeland of Cuba.
Blue Business of the Year Award/Nonprofit of the Year
Award: Inwater Research Group, Jensen Beach, Fla. ─ The
small, nonprofit organization is dedicated to rescuing and
researching numerous marine species, including sea turtles,
elasmobranchs, and bony fishes.
For more information on this year’s winners, please visit
marinelife.org/goblue.
Photos by Tracey Benson Photography

Jim Toomey Asa Miller

Andy Dehart, president and CEO of Loggerhead
Marinelife Center