FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -

AutoNation revealed Tuesday that it has contributed to a new community focused scholarhip program at Nova Southeastern University to benefit students who are financially and otherwise disadvantaged.

With significant founding gifts from AutoNation, founder Wayne Huizenga and Marti Huizenga, the Pathway Scholars program was launched to aid students enrolled in the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

The pledge was announced at the AutoNation Tower in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Monday, Dec. 12 at a special company event.

Mike Jackson, chairman and chief executive officer of AutoNation, and Wayne Huizenga announced major donations to NSU’s Pathway Scholars program, on top of AutoNation’s initial $60,000 gift — which will help sponsor one student through an entire undergraduate experience at NSU.

It is anticipated that as the Pathway Scholars program grows, additional corporate sponsors will participate.

"This is the kind of educational program that AutoNation looks to support and the fact that it’s going to be installed at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University has success written all over it," said Jackson.

"Pathway Scholars will be given every opportunity to succeed in school, in business and in life. That’s our goal. That is our pledge to the students,” he continued.

"More than Just a Scholarship"

Delving into the specifics, the business school will choose students for the program through a partnership with Florida non-profit Take Stock in Children — which specializes in helping low-income children escape the cycle of poverty through education. 

But the program doesn’t just offer financial support. The Pathway Scholars program also provides internships and mentorships with business leaders, academic support, a community network of peers and other resources to ensure recipients’ academic and social success while pursuing their degree, officials shared.

Furthermore, students will have tutors and mentors to give them a general introduction to college life and life away from their home environment, and they will live as a group in an NSU dormitory with access to tutors, mentors and other support personnel.

Commenting on the news, Michael Fields, dean of the Huizenga Business School, said,"This is a fresh way to look at supporting the educational goals of some of South Florida’s most disadvantaged high school students — we are taking a more holistic approach here.

"Everyone is served well by this program, from the students, to the school, all the way to the businesses that will eventually hire these bright young students and the community as a whole,” he continued, stressing what sets this program apart from traditional scholarships.

To get the program started, Taking Stock in Children will selct an initial group of students from its program “who demonstrate leadership, possess emotional strength, are committed to education and success, and show academic promise with a high school GPA that is typically 3.5 or higher,” officials shared.

Then, the business school’s board of governors selection committee will make the final selection.

"By working with an established community partner like Take Stock in Children, we know that we are more likely to bring in students who will be a success both academically and emotionally," Fields further explained.

The program will begin this coming summer.

A current student at NSU also offered his opinion of the new program.

"Programs like these are necessary for the future of our community," said Jeremy Mathis, a junior finance major at the Huizenga Business School, whose twin brother Josh Mathis is a marketing/management major at the school.

"My father wasn’t in the picture when I was growing up, we were in an underserved African-American neighborhood, food was scarce and it would have been easy for me to just become another statistic. But people have believed in me, and thanks to the opportunities I’ve had at NSU, I am able to pursue greatness. The most important thing I’ve learned is how to add value to a company. This will be an invaluable program for students, NSU and South Florida,” he concluded.