H. Browning Spence Education Award
The H. Browning Spence Education Award was created to help area youth, who are preparing to exit or who have already exited the local foster care system, achieve their educational goals. The program was established in honor of JWB’s late Deputy Director Dr. H. Browning Spence to provide monetary awards to promising youth to help further their education. Each fall, hundreds join JWB to honor award recipients at the Annual KidsFirst Awards Luncheon. The 2026 awardees will also be publicly recognized during the JWB Annual KidsFirst Awards Luncheon on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at The Coliseum, 535 4th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL.
Nominations are open now until Friday, October 2, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Spence Education Winners
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Spence Educations Award Winners!
- Jasmia Evans | 20 Years Old: Jasmia (not pictured above) is currently enrolled at Eastern Florida State College pursuing her associate’s degree in general studies. Her long-term goal is to transfer to a four-year university to complete her bachelor’s degree in psychology and social work.
- Gabriel Green | 20 Years Old: Gabriel (above, left) is attending Pinellas Technical College after being placed in foster care for a year and a half. He also owns and manages his own car detailing business.
- Sayuri Vargas-Hernandez | 21 Years Old: After enduring homelessness while in high school, Sayuri (above, right) is a senior at St. Leo College, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in management.