--- title: "PodcastED: Alum kicks off the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program's 25th anniversary with ed choice success story" description:

On this episode, recent college graduate Jasmine Meriedy shares her inspiring journey as a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship recipient and...

image: https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Image-26.jpg --- [![SUFS-LOGO_circle-1](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/hs-fs/hubfs/SUFS-LOGO_circle-1.png?width=150&height=150&name=SUFS-LOGO_circle-1.png "SUFS-LOGO_circle-1")](https://www.stepupforstudents.org/) English × # PodcastED: Alum kicks off the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program's 25th anniversary with ed choice success story [Lisa Buie](}}) Jul 28, 2026, 11:30:39 AM On this episode, recent college graduate Jasmine Meriedy shares her inspiring journey as a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship recipient and advocate for high-quality education and healthcare. Discover how her experiences with small classrooms, dedicated nurses, and advocacy work shape her vision for future generations. ![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/jasmine-cropped-1024x1024.jpg) Jasmine Meriedy, who graduated from Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, received the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship during her K-12 education. (Photo courtesy of Jasmine Meriedy) [https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/riverside\_magic\_episode-01\_next\_steps.mp3](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/riverside_magic_episode-01_next_steps.mp3) **Episode details:** - Jasmine's early diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes and how that influenced her mother's choice of a private school - The importance of smaller classroom sizes and attentive medical care - How the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program impacted her education and family sacrifices - Her experiences as a student athlete managing diabetes - Advocacy work, including [testifying before Congress](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/healthcare/2019/07/23/jacksonville-area-teens-visit-washington-to-push-for-juvenile-diabetes-research-funding/4626217007/)on insulin costs and her involvement with the[American Federation for Children](https://www.federationforchildren.org/voices-for-choice/jasmine-meriedy/) - The significance of equitable access to tailored education and medical support - Advice to families in states without education choice options - The upcoming federal scholarship tax credit program and its potential benefits - Jasmine's plans to pursue a sports photography career and empower women in sports ![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Image-26-641x1024.jpg) Jasmine Meriedy was diagnosed as a baby with Type 1 diabetes. A Florida Tax Credit Scholarship made it possible for her mother to choose a private school with small class sizes that could best meet her health and academic needs. (Photo courtesy of Jasmine Meriedy) **Resources & Links:** - [Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF congressional advocacy)](https://www.breakthrought1d.org/) - [American Federation for Children](https://www.federationforchildren.org/) - [Step Up for Students](https://StepUpForStudents.org) **Connect with Jasmine:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-meriedy) ## Read On [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Joshua-Jones-PEP-cross-country-meet.webp)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/for-this-family-hybrid-home-education-includes-a-class-at-the-district-high-school) ### [For this family, hybrid home education includes a class at the district high school](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/for-this-family-hybrid-home-education-includes-a-class-at-the-district-high-school) Each school day at 2:35 p.m., Joshua Jones enters a classroom at Crescent City Junior-Senior High... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Andrew-Weber-FES-EO-Jesuit-senior-1024x683-1.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/a-man-for-others-jesuit-high-senior-embodies-the-schools-commitment-to-serve-those-in-need) ### [A Man for Others: Jesuit High senior embodies the school's commitment to serve those in need](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/a-man-for-others-jesuit-high-senior-embodies-the-schools-commitment-to-serve-those-in-need) TAMPA, Fla. — The words on the trophy read “Future Philanthropist,” and Mrs. Finley, who taught... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Andy-Gay-Robert-F-Munroe-head-of-school-1152x1536-1-768x1024.jpeg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/why-retire-when-you-can-breathe-life-into-your-alma-mater-and-save-it-from-closing) ### [Why retire when you can breathe life into your alma mater and save it from closing](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/why-retire-when-you-can-breathe-life-into-your-alma-mater-and-save-it-from-closing) HAVANA, Fla. **–** It was a typical July afternoon in Florida’s Panhandle. The air was hot and sticky,... [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/stepup4students/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/stepupforstudents/) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/StepUp4Students) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/stepup4students/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/StepUp4Students) © 2026 All rights reserved.