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The Community Foundation administers a number of endowed scholarship funds that are established by people and organizations wanting to assist Palm Beach and Martin County high school students in continuing their education beyond high school. The original charitable gifts are invested and the income earned each year is paid out annually in the form of grants to qualified scholarship recipients. For more information please contact, Carolyn Jenco, grants manager/scholarship coordinator.
Who is eligible?
The eligibility criteria are given under each of the funds listed on the Community Foundation application form, which is distributed to all high school guidance counselors by mid-December. Each fund has specific eligibility requirements that must be met before one is eligible for a particular scholarship. Some are restricted to students from a specific school or those pursuing a particular field of study, while others are more general. Most of the scholarships, however, require that applicants:
- Be a graduating high school senior in Palm Beach or Martin County
- Be a resident of Palm Beach or Martin County
- Demonstrate financial need
- Plan to attend an accredited two or four-year college, university or vocational school
- Be a full-time student
- Demonstrate academic achievement
All scholarships are for colleges, universities, or vocational schools in the United States. Individual awards vary from a one time award of $750 to multiple year awards of $2,500 per year. Scholarship awards may be used for tuition, fees, room and board. These awards are charitable grants that are not required to be paid back. Students may apply for more than one scholarship.
What are the selection criteria?
Scholarship recipients are selected by Community Foundation Scholarship Committees on the basis of the applicant's academic record, potential to succeed, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of education and career goals, and unusual personal or family circumstances. Recipients are selected on an objective and competitive basis considering academic and non-academic factors. A personal interview for finalists is required. All scholarships are approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors.
How is financial need determined?
A needs analysis is conducted by the Community Foundation that considers the total cost of education, the expected family contribution, and other grants and loans awarded to the student. Scholarship finalists will be contacted in March or April and asked to provide information to the Community Foundation on other grants or loans awarded by schools and other funding sources. This data is used in determining the amount of each award from the Community Foundation's Endowed Scholarship Funds. The information is held in strictest confidence.
How does a student apply?
Interested students must complete the application and mail it with all required information to the Community Foundation. Completed applications must be delivered to the Foundation office on or before February 1. No faxes permitted.
How are scholarships announced?
Recipients of the various scholarships are announced at awards ceremonies in May, at the Community Foundation offices in West Palm Beach. Notices are also sent to area newspapers.
What is the payment process?
The scholarship payments will be sent by the Community Foundation directly to the student's college, university or vocational school. In subsequent years, eligibility for continuing awards will be determined when a satisfactory transcript of the previous grading period and verification of full time enrollment has been submitted to the Community Foundation.
Each area high school guidance counselor has several copies of the most current "Scholarship Directory", an annual listing of locally funded sources for Palm Beach and Martin County high school seniors. The directory can be downloaded by clicking here. You can also purchase a copy from the Community Foundation. Send $10.00 plus $2.00 for postage and handling to:
Carolyn Jenco
Development Associate/Scholarship Coordinator
Community Foundation
for Palm Beach and Martin Counties
700 South Dixie Highway, Suite 200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
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