A Passion for Promotion

Bright Futures graduate now helps others succeed

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA LOTTERY Bright Futures was instrumental in helping Carly Hammer reach her goals.

Bright Futures scholarship recipient Carly Harmer discovered that attending college unleashes a process of self-discovery that pays dividends for years following graduation.

Carly’s parents — her father was a police officer and her mother did warehouse work — had no money for tuition. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program made it possible for Carly to enroll at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

A native of Jensen Beach, Carly majored in Family and Child Sciences and taught for a time. Then, working for a nonprofit organization, she realized she could combine her passion for helping others with event marketing.

Carly now works for The Hive Creative Consulting, a Santa Rosa Beach marketing and business development firm specializing in creatively connecting clients with their target audiences.

“Bright Futures gave me the extra support I needed while pursuing my degree,” Carly says.

“During my time at FSU, my mom battled cancer (non-Hodgkins lymphoma, now in remission) and my scholarship made it possible for me to pursue my education despite the stress my family was under.”

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