Given Monica's dedication to a variety of charitable and volunteer causes, the family believes she would have preferred a lasting contribution to others in lieu of flowers. Three endowed funds now carry her name: two at the University of Florida, where she studied wildlife ecology, and one at Florida State University, where she spent her freshman year.

University of Florida · Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation · Fund #F014233

This was the first fund established in Monica's memory, endowed in 2009 and awarding its first scholarships in 2010. It supports undergraduates in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, with preference given to students who demonstrate a passion for wildlife ecology through practical forestry or conservation work. The department notes that the scholarship "promotes education of women in natural resources and wildlife science", and awards it to juniors and seniors who have given significant service to the department or the discipline. Recipients are announced each year at the department's awards barbecue at Lake Wauberg.

Contributions may be made to the University of Florida Foundation, Inc. with memo that they be used for the Monica Stokely Memorial Scholarship (Fund #F014233) and mailed to :

        The Florida Fund
        P.O. Box 14425
        Gainesville, FL 32604-2425.

You may also donate online by noting in the comment field that this is for the "Monica Stokely Memorial Scholarship Fund #F014233".

Endowment Basics

4% of the endowment will be given out as scholarships each year, 1% is used for administrative expenses, and the remaining investment income is used to grow the endowment over time so that the scholarship in future years will offer larger awards.

Impact

As of 2026, over 90 students have received scholarships from this memorial endowment to pursue studies at the University of Florida. The endowment continues to grow in size and at the current rate approximately 9 student scholarships will be funded each year in perpetuity.

State Matching Funds

At the time this scholarship was funded, the Florida Legislature had a "Major Gifts Matching Program" that specified that $50,000 in matching funds would be made for the donation to this scholarship.

On February 24, 2011, notes from the Florida Senate budget subcommittee meeting show that the UF Monica Christina Stokely Memorial Scholarship Fund was approved for $50,000 matching funds on October 27, 2009

The 2022 Florida Statues mention that:

"Effective July 1, 2011, state matching funds are temporarily suspended for donations received for this program on or after June 30, 2011. Existing eligible donations remain eligible for future matching funds."

The donation was made before the legislature suspended this program, but unfortunately they have not released any funding for the backlog of matches. There were several class-action lawsuits and news articles (1, 2, 3) in 2017-2018 about the state not making the promised matches. At this point over 10 years have passed, and it is unlikely that the state of Florida will follow through with the matching funds. Fortunately this fund has received generous corporate matches from Google, John Wiley Publishers, and Apple.

University of Florida · Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation · Fund #027903

Established in 2025, this endowment extends Monica's memory to graduate work. It supports fellowships for graduate students pursuing an education in wildlife ecology or a related field, again with preference for those who have shown their commitment through practical forestry or conservation work. Where the undergraduate scholarship spreads smaller awards across many students each year, the fellowship makes a single larger grant: its first award, in 2025, was $10,000 to one researcher. The fellowship is ongoing.

Florida State University · College of Social Sciences and Public Policy

Monica spent her freshman year at Florida State University, and this fund supports study abroad for students in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy's International Affairs program. It recognizes exceptional International Affairs students and helps pay for their international learning experiences, in awards of $1,000 each.

Since its first award in 2014 the fund has supported 18 students through 2025, with three more named for the 2026-2027 academic year. Seven students were supported in 2025, the fund's largest year so far.