A $2 million donation will put the name of Venice resident Dr. William H. "Bill" Jervey Jr. on the State College of Florida Collegiate School buildings in Bradenton and Venice, the college announced Aug. 14.
The gift supports the tuition-free charter high school program that lets Manatee and Sarasota county students, including those from Lakewood Ranch High School, earn an associate degree alongside their diploma. Lakewood Ranch High already partners with SCF for dual enrollment, and the Collegiate School's lottery-based admission is open to any student in the district.
"Within the buildings that bear Jervey's name, generations of young people will learn, grow and prepare to become future educators, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists and community leaders," SCF President Tommy Gregory said in the announcement, according to SRQ Magazine.
Jervey has also committed a planned legacy gift to the college. The amount has not been disclosed.
What students get from the Collegiate School program
The SCF Collegiate School in Bradenton serves grades 6 through 10; the Venice campus, located inside the Wellen Park master plan, enrolls about 75 students per grade in grades 9 through 12. Students begin full college coursework in 11th grade and pay no tuition.
The program has been A-rated since 2010.
In the 2024-25 school year, Bradenton campus students scored 92% proficiency in math, 88% in science and 84% in English language arts, all above Manatee County and state averages, according to an SCF Board of Trustees packet from September 2025.
Venice campus set to trade portables for permanent buildings
The Venice Collegiate School currently operates out of aging portable classrooms. The SCF Board of Trustees approved a capital project Sept. 30, 2025, to replace those portables with permanent structures. Jervey's $2 million gift supports that effort, and the new buildings will carry his name.
How Jervey's connection to SCF began
Jervey's connection to SCF began with a campus visit that grew into what the college called a deep relationship with its students and mission. He has described the Collegiate Schools as an embodiment of the academic excellence he has valued throughout his life. As a young reader in Hawaii, Jervey discovered Andrew Carnegie's story in a Carnegie-funded library and was inspired by the industrialist's philosophy of using success to benefit others.
How families can enroll
Enrollment in the SCF Collegiate School is open to all district students through an annual lottery. SCF's separate Accelerated Dual Enrollment track is available to qualified rising juniors at any Manatee or Sarasota County public high school, including Lakewood Ranch High. Both programs are tuition-free. Families can find details at the SCF Collegiate School website.
