The Florida Lottery used this year’s Florida Classic in Orlando as the backdrop to highlight more than $76 million in educational funding provided to students attending Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
Representatives from the Lottery participated in an on-field check presentation during halftime, standing alongside cheerleaders and school representatives as tens of thousands of fans filled the stadium. The Florida Classic—one of the nation’s largest and longest-running HBCU football rivalries—served as an ideal stage for the announcement, marrying school spirit with a message about statewide educational investment.
Florida Lottery Secretary John F. Davis said the agency is proud to partner with both universities and emphasized that the Classic represents more than just a game. According to Davis, the event reflects “community, culture, and opportunity,” noting that Bright Futures remains one of the most impactful education investments in the state.
The Lottery says that, to date, over $76 million has directly supported FAMU and B-CU students enrolled through Bright Futures. The agency framed the funding as part of a larger, long-term commitment to Florida’s higher-education system and the goal of expanding pathways to success for students statewide.
This year’s presentation also underscored the Lottery’s broader role in Florida’s education landscape. Since its creation, the Florida Lottery has contributed more than $49 billion to education overall and reinvests 99 percent of revenue into the state’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to retailers, and transfers to education programs.
As the Classic celebrated tradition and rivalry on the field, the Lottery used the moment to reinforce its message: continued partnership, continued investment, and continued focus on elevating opportunities for Florida students.
