University Archives now houses the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program records

Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars records

In anticipation of its 15th anniversary, the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program is officially documenting its history in the University Archives as well as partnering with the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program to collect the stories of individuals and beneficiaries of the early days of the program. This effort further recognizes the central role that this program plays in the fabric of the University of Florida.

The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program records are now housed in the University Archives, housed in Smathers Library. The collection contains records documenting the beginning and administration of the Florida Opportunity Scholars Program, now the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program (MFOS), at the University of Florida.

The collection includes presentations from the MFOS Program, annual reports, demographic information, publicity in the form of brochures, flyers, and newspaper and magazine articles from the MFOS program and fundraising efforts.

“This effort preserves the history of the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program, and we are delighted that for years to come, interested individuals can learn about UF’s lasting commitment to access and success for first-generation students,” said Dr. Leslie Pendleton, senior director for the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program.

Also included in the collection are transcripts of oral histories conducted by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program with scholarship recipients from the first few years of the program. Additional interviews will be captured in a Spring 2021 internship course in which the MFOS Program will be the focus. Paul Ortiz, director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program and scholar, said, “Our goal for the spring semester internship course is to showcase this program’s history as it stands as a testament to the values that UF has as an institution.”

To learn more about the collection housed in the University Archives, or to inquire about digital reproductions from the collection, please contact the Archives at special@uflib.ufl.edu.

The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program helps ensure a vibrant future for the state by enabling qualified Florida high school graduates to attend the state’s flagship university. Learn more at https://opportunity.ufl.edu/.