The widow of a former Florida Senate President has endowed a scholarship at the University of North Florida to fund need-based and merit scholarships.

Catherine Brantley's gift of $250,000 to UNF established the Catherine and Lewis Brantley Endowed Scholarship Fund. The donation is eligible for matching funds from the state and will bring the total to $375,000.

Lew Brantley, who died in 2004, was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served for four years, and then to the Florida Senate in 1970. He served as president of the Senate from 1976 to 1978. He also served on the UNF Foundation Board from 1975 to 1978.

Catherine Brantley said she wanted to fund the scholarship now so that she could meet some of the students who will benefit from it.

"I wanted to see the scholarship fund established in my lifetime and I'm just thrilled to be able to do this," she said.

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