George Edgecomb Bar awards scholarships to African-American students.

• Author: Hall, Summer
• Position: Florida

Charlie D. Connally was seven years old when he started to watch Perry Mason with his father. This daily ritual inspired him to become a lawyer. However, the rising cost of college tuition sometimes deters students from fulfilling lifelong dreams. Not so for Connally, who received one of four scholarships from the George Edgecomb Bar Association.

GEBA, founded in 1983, was started by friends and colleagues of Judge George Edgecomb to carry on his legacy. Edgecomb, who became the first African-American judge in Hillsborough County, overcame challenges that hindered the success of men and women of color in the legal profession.

GEBA's mission is aimed at improving opportunities for African-American lawyers throughout the county. Now the association's 90 members are trying to reduce the obstacles for African-American high school students trying to pursue a college education through its annual scholarship program.

Connally, who attends the University of Tampa, aspires to become a criminal prosecutor. "I believe I can do the most good in this area of law because I love to talk and argue my position," Connally said. "I am really thankful that GEBA is helping to fund my education."

The GEBA scholarship program, which has awarded over $100,000 in 10 years, typically selects four deserving students from Hillsborough County. Each applicant must meet rigorous criteria set by the GEBA scholarship committee. The selected students display excellence in their academics, excel in extracurricular activities, and involve themselves in charitable organizations. "With these students there is definitely evidence that the teachers and parents are working hard to help their students achieve," Julie Sneed, GEBA scholarship coordinator, said.

One of the scholarships GEBA awards is a four-year prepaid tuition scholarship that is given to a ninth-grader. This scholarship is cosponsored by the Hillsborough Education Foundation.

The 2005 recipient of this scholarship is Danielle L. McIntyre of Plant High School in Tampa, who maintains a 4.36 grade point average and has already achieved numerous honors including outstanding achievement on the FCAT. Sneed said this scholarship is awarded at the beginning of the student's high school career to ensure the student will "keep their grades up, continue to contribute to the community, and...