Endowed Scholarships & Fellowships
Paula Porcher Criser Scholarships
History
Paula Porcher Criser, wife of Dr. Marshall M. Criser Jr., was UF’s First Lady from 1984-89. A native Floridian, she attended UF for two years prior to her marriage to Marshall Criser. She enjoyed a brief career as a photographic and fashion model in Palm Beach. Beginning in 1961, Mrs. Criser was a member of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches, and served in numerous committee and board positions of this organization. She also served on the YWCA Board of Directors, the Science Museum and Planetarium BOD and served as president of the North Palm Beach Chapter of American Field Services.
Paula Criser was an especially active first lady and served on numerous university and civic boards, including the University Gallery Guild, Friends of Music, and the Florida Arts Celebration BOD. She served on the St. Francis House Inc. Council of Trustees and the American Cancer Society Board of Directors. She also was the honorary chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, which was established in downtown Gainesville. She was tapped for an honorary membership in Florida Blue Key.
Upon retirement from UF in 1989, Marshall and Paula Criser moved to Jacksonville where Mrs. Criser continued her civic involvement. Among other activities, she served on the Jacksonville Symphony BOD, the Hospice of Northeast Florida BOD and the Baptist Medical Center BOD.
Three of the six Criser children attended UF. The oldest received his B.S.B.A. in finance; the second and third sons earned their Juris Doctorates. The other children received their degrees at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Georgia State University and Florida State University.
The Paula Porcher Criser Scholarship is awarded for excellence in scholarship and leadership. As Mrs. Criser is particularly interested in elementary and early childhood education, two additional scholarships were established by Dr. and Mrs. Criser and are awarded annually by the UWC for excellence in education.
Criteria
1) Juniors or seniors with a 3.6 GPA or greater who demonstrate responsible leadership and give service to the university and/or the community.
2) Junior and senior female students in the College of Education (Elementary/ Early Childhood) with a 3.6 GPA or greater who demonstrate responsible leadership and give service to the university and/or the community.
Application Information
Contact the Dean of Students Office.
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