UF finance, real estate student wins national commercial real estate scholarship
Finance and real estate student Payton Key (BSBA ‘26, MSRE, ‘27) was awarded the CREW Network Foundation Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year.
“When I first got the phone call, I was in complete shock,” Key said. “This scholarship was something I had been working hard on for months, and I was so beyond thrilled when I got the news that I didn’t even know what to say.”
The Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) scholarship program seeks to award female students pursuing careers in commercial real estate. Since 2008, the scholarship has awarded 1.8 million dollars in scholarship funds to more than 300 female students across North America.
This year, the scholarship awarded $275,000 to 40 female university students. Among the winners were 25 undergraduate students receiving $5,000 and 15 graduate students receiving $10,000 for tuition and books.
“This scholarship means the world to me and means that I can continue pursuing my goals of a career in real estate without the financial pressure,” Key said. “This scholarship has lifted such a weight off of my shoulders and gives me the freedom to jump on every opportunity that presents itself. This program and its access to the CREW network also means that there are people who recognize my passion and potential and are here to support me for every step of my career journey.”
In addition to the funds, the scholarship provides numerous career opportunities for the winners, including a six-month mentorship program, registration to the 2025 CREW Network Convention, a paid summer internship opportunity and more.
“On top of the scholarship I received, I will also be paired with an industry mentor, given a CREW student membership and will be attending their annual convention this fall,” Key said. “All of this will help connect me with an inspiring network of women that can give me the advice, guidance and support I need for a career in commercial real estate.”
Key thanks Dr. Timothy Becker (DBA ‘23), executive director of the Bergstrom Center and Dr. Brian Ray, director of the Poe Business Ethics Center, for their support, personalized guidance and letters of recommendation for this scholarship. She would also like to thank the Bergstrom Center for its strong network of peers, alumni and faculty supporting her even before she was formally admitted into the MSRE program.
“I just really want to encourage any girls considering a career in real estate to get involved with the CREW Network,” Key said. “With commercial real estate still being a male dominated field, it can be incredibly intimidating to try to enter on your own. But just remember that there are thousands of women out there that have been in your shoes and are eager to help.”
