News Summary
A new digital platform by Profferfish is changing how Hillsborough County students document their community service hours. By allowing high school students to log their hours online, the platform simplifies the often cumbersome process, proving especially beneficial for those applying for college and scholarship opportunities. Profferfish has successfully logged over 2 million volunteer hours within the county and introduced features to encourage parental involvement and independent logging for non-affiliated students. This innovation aligns with current educational technology trends, supporting student engagement in community service.
Tampa – A new digital platform developed by Profferfish, a startup based in Tampa, is transforming the way students in Hillsborough County log their community service hours. The platform allows high school students to submit their volunteer hours online, replacing traditional paper forms that have long been seen as cumbersome and outdated.
Profferfish aims to simplify the documentation process for community service, which is often a critical requirement for students applying to colleges and scholarships. The introduction of this platform comes as a timely solution to help students navigate the logistical challenges they face during the college admissions process.
Since its launch, Profferfish has already proven its efficacy, facilitating the logging of over 2 million volunteer hours at dozens of schools across Hillsborough County. This tool is particularly beneficial for students applying for the Florida Bright Futures scholarship, which mandates verified service hours for eligibility.
Emerson Shepherd, a recent high school graduate, noted that the use of Profferfish significantly streamlined the process of proving her volunteer hours. The platform eliminated the need for cumbersome paper forms, thereby making it easier for her to compile and share her community service records.
The founder of Profferfish explained that the platform was designed to reduce friction in the tracking of community service hours for both students and school staff. As a result, districts utilizing the Profferfish system have seen up to an 80% increase in the number of students logging their hours. Additionally, there is a reported 60% reduction in the time required for school counselors to manage service hour records.
Profferfish also provides users with a consolidated view of their service activity over four years, making it easier to share this information with colleges and potential employers. This comprehensive tracking feature can be a game-changer for students preparing for their future outside of high school.
In a recent expansion of services, a new feature was introduced allowing students who are not affiliated with participating schools to create personal accounts. This feature grants them the ability to log their hours independently, as well as access tools to find both volunteer and paid opportunities. These personal accounts also support the generation of shareable records of their volunteer engagements.
The platform is designed to encourage parental involvement as well, allowing parents to view and approve their child’s logged hours. This feature enhances transparency and helps families stay engaged in their children’s community service activities.
The adoption of Profferfish signals a substantial shift towards digitizing the college admissions process for students in Hillsborough County, aligning well with current trends in technology integration in education. By easing the documentation of volunteer work, Profferfish aims to boost student engagement in volunteer opportunities nationally, while also meeting the requirements of various scholarship programs.
Students and their families can access the Profferfish platform through its dedicated website, profferfish.com, making it easier than ever to manage and document community service hours. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, tools like Profferfish represent a necessary advancement in supporting students’ educational journeys and future endeavors.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Angel Foundation FL’s 20th Annual Evening of Hope Gala
Nominations Open for Women of Distinction Awards
St. Petersburg Unveils $159.8 Million Hurricane Recovery Plan
Liberty Group Concludes Hospitality Era with Hotel Sales
Growth and Developments Amid Florida’s Evolving Business Landscape
Back to School Essentials for Students in Tampa Bay
AdventHealth’s Starlight Gala to Boost Pediatric Care Funding
AIF Endorses Emily Duda Buckley for House District 38
St. Petersburg to Host Founders Live Pitch Event
Florida Small Business Owner Emphasizes Importance of Tax Deductions
Additional Resources
- St. Pete Catalyst: Hillsborough Students Can Now Log Volunteer Hours Digitally
- Wikipedia: Volunteerism
- ABC Action News: Women Supporting Each Other to Find Success in Tech World
- Google Search: Digital Community Service Platforms
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Community Service
- Google News: Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Author: STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER
The TAMPA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETampa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Florida State Fair, and Tampa Riverfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and United Way Suncoast, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and technology that power the local economy such as BayCare Health System, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, and KnowBe4. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERESTPetersburg.com, and HERETallahassee.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
