University lands grants totaling $2.3M

FORT MYERS — The federal government awarded Florida Gulf Coast University $2.3 million to help students who are the first in their families to attend college, who come from low-income households or are disabled.

The university's student support services will receive $247,584 a year for the next five years, which will help 160 students. Another federal grant provides $213,180 a year over five years and will help 120 students majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

“We are honored that FGCU is one of only 38 colleges and universities in the United States to receive the SSS STEM grant and one of only three awarded in Florida,” says Michele Yovanovich, dean of students, in a statement. “This is in part due to the success of our graduation and retention rates.”

FGCU in Fort Myers now has more than 14,000 students on its 800-acre campus near Southwest Florida International Airport. Nearly half the students are from Southwest Florida.