It was a huge day on Thursday for Northwest Florida State College. Roughly an hour after Gov. DeSantis ended his announcement, NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson made his way to ERA American Real Estate’s Shalimar headquarters to receive a $100,000 check from Broker Gloria Frazier.

• The $100,000 is to establish a new scholarship for Okaloosa & Walton County students, allowing them to not have to leave home for their first two years of college.

Funds for this endowment were generated from real estate commissions gifted back to the NWFSC Foundation from the sale of the College Apartments in the fall of 2021.

• Keith Wood, Director of Property Management, Nikki Segraves, Broker with ERA American Real Estate, and Cindy Frakes, Broker with ERA American Real Estate since 1988, contributed many hours to the successful closing of the College Apartments.

“We’ve had a longstanding relationship with the college that began back in 2008 when the apartments were first built,” said Gloria Frazier, Broker/Owner ERA American Real Estate. “ERA managed part of the units that were not being occupied by students.”

Frazier says that while the apartments were great for the students, it was not a great investment for the college. ERA American was given the opportunity to help sell the apartments

“We share a mutual desire to move the college forward,” said Frazier. Divesting in something that the college was not happy with was part of that plan.

“This money is the seed money that’s going to help us be able to keep students at home and learn right here locally,” said Dr. Stephenson. “We know that 85% of the students that study at our institution will stay here and fuel this economy for the future.”

Since its first gift to the College in 1991, ERA American Real Estate has supported a myriad of College programs including the NFSO, Athletics, CBA, and First Generation Scholarships.

• In 1993, ERA established its first endowment with Northwest Florida State College, creating a scholarship to assist Okaloosa County students with financial need pursuing a degree in business.
• With the gift from this endowment, ERA American Real Estate’s total giving to Northwest Florida State College exceeds $200,000.