JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville University will award a presidential scholarship worth more than $90,000 to valedictorians of each high school in seven northeast Florida counties, beginning with the 2008 graduating class.

"Jacksonville University is committed to supporting the educational goals of the highest achieving graduates of First Coast high schools," JU President Kerry Romesburg said in a statement.

The university's board of trustees said the scholarship is help encouraging local students to continue their education.

"We want to honor the best and the brightest students of the First Coast by continuing to invest in the community," said Mike Shad, chairman of the JU board of trustees.

Similar program years ago honored exceptional students.

Carol Poindexter, now president and CEO of Baker Distributing Company, recalled how she felt about receiving a scholarship when she was graduating from high school.

"The presidential scholarship granted me the opportunity to attend a great university locally without putting financial stress on my parents," Poindexter said. "While we were all honored by such a generous award, it strengthened my own ties here and encouraged me to stay in the community."

Students may be nominated by their high school principal who must also verify that the student has achieved the highest rank in the class. Awards will be announced at the time of high school graduation.

Finalization of the award is contingent upon recipients' acceptance to the university and enrollment as a full-time undergraduate.

The scholarship is renewable for four years as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic progress and is enrolled full time as a degree candidate in an undergraduate program. The award value is the cost of tuition for full-time undergraduates minus any grants and scholarships for which the student is eligible.

The scholarship offer is limited to public and private high schools in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties with a graduating class of 100 students or more. JU said principals and counselors at qualifying high schools will receive information for nominating their top student for the scholarship.

Anyone with questions about the scholarship can call the JU admission office at 904-256-7000.