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Coldwater High School
Local Scholarship Packet
2019-2020
Part 1
2019-2020
How to Apply for Community Foundation Scholarships Please read the How to Apply Instructions completely before submitting any scholarship applications. Applications are to be submitted electronically
as noted in the instructions. We cannot accept paper copies.
An expression of interest or the provision of an application should not be considered a guarantee of funding. All scholarship requests go through a
complete review process before any funding decision is made.
Early Middle College (13th Year)
If you will be in a college program while still enrolled in high school during the 2020/2021 school year, you are not yet eligible to apply for a
scholarship. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact us.
Important Dates for Community Foundation Scholarships
*Application submission deadline is Friday, March 6, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
This means you have 15 WEEKS to complete the application…
…or 101 DAYS…
Please DO NOT WAIT to apply!!!
2020 Instructions for Applying for Branch County Community Foundation Scholarships
If you have any technical difficulties while filling out the application, you may contact our staff at 517.278.4517 or by e-mail: [email protected]
General Eligibility To be eligible for ANY Community Foundation scholarship you must be one of the following:
• U.S. citizen • U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain’s Island) • U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C (Permanent Resident Card)
Please note: You will be asked to provide documentation if you are the selected applicant for any scholarship.
Early Middle College (13th year) If you will be in a college program while still enrolled in high school during the 2020/2021 school year you are NOT YET eligible to apply for scholarships. If you have questions about your eligibility please contact us.
Beginning the Application Process 1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (https://fafsa.ed.gov/). 2. PLEASE NOTE: We use financial need as one factor in awarding scholarships, and OFTEN THOSE WHO DO
NOT QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID ARE GIVEN PREFERENCE. Therefore, we cannot accept applications without the page of the Student Aid Report (SAR) that shows the estimated amount of family contribution (EFC).
3. Get copies of your academic transcripts showing your GPA, and any report showing your SAT/ACT scores. 4. Write down your work history, including any volunteer work, and your volunteer and extracurricular
activities. 5. Applicants must have a recommendation form. References cannot be family or friends; they should be
from an employer, teacher, professor, etc. 6. Your personal resume including a personal statement. 7. One recommendation form (Found on the BCCF website) from a teacher, counselor, employer, pastor, etc.
Additional recommendation letters or forms may also be required for a few of our scholarships.
The application must be completed in its entirety and must be submitted online. You will not be able to submit your application unless all the required information has been provided. You save your application at any time and return to it.
There are additional attachments that are required for some of our scholarships. A list of attachments is available on our website. Please note these are not required, however, if you submit any of the essays or other attachments that apply to your situation, they will qualify you for more scholarships.
Complete an Application Online Page 1 of 6
1. Click on this scholarship link to access the application online.
2. If this is your first time visiting the website, please create a new account. DO NOT USE YOUR SCHOOL E-MAIL ADDRESS. PLEASE USE YOUR OWN PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS OR A PARENT’S EMAIL TO CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT. It will be important to use an address that will be valid throughout your college career for further communication from the Branch County Community Foundation’s staff.
3. If you have created an account before, please refer to the instructions for returning applicants found on our website, please do not create a new account; instead use last year’s credentials. If you cannot remember your login information, please contact staff to reset it for you. Please make sure to check the appropriate box if you have received a scholarship from the Branch County Community Foundation before.
4. To start the application process, click on Opportunities tab on the left side of the menu. Then click on the 2020 Scholarship Application.
Applicant Information 5. Under Applicant Information, please enter your personal information. All questions with a red asterisk (*)
must be answered.
Please attach your personal resume. In order to be considered for the Branch County Community Foundation Scholarships, applicants must use the format below for their resume. If they do not use this exact format, their application will not be considered for any scholarships. The instructions in the scholarship application ask the applicant to attach a two-page maximum résumé the following format:
Name Mailing Address Personal Email Address (DO NOT USE A SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS)
Personal Statement/Profile Tell us why you are attending college; your career goals; how your prior education, work, and/or volunteer experience prepared you for college and/or your chosen career; and why you believe you will be successful in college.
Education Please list the schools you have attended starting with the most recent. Include certification or degree obtained and dates of attendance, and graduation date or anticipated graduation date.
Employment List the last three PAID work experiences you’ve had, starting with the most recent job, and include position title, responsibilities, years of involvement.
Community Involvement List community volunteer work (outside of school) you are doing or have done. Be sure to list those that relate to your degree or career goal FIRST. Include position title, responsibilities, years of involvement.
Activities • List up to 5 organizations you are a current member of such as … Student Council, Interact, 4H, etc, and include
how long you have been involved and any current titles • If you participate in sports, music, arts, etc. list those, how long you have been involved and any pertinent titles
(ie. Captain)
Awards
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• List any honors and awards received Include the year received in the last 5 years. You may include the nature of honor/award (in school or outside school)
6. You will be required to attach a new recommendation form: a copy of the recommendation form can be found on our website. Please make sure to give yourself ample time to request a recommendation from a teacher, counselor, employer, etc. As a reminder recommendation forms cannot be completed by you or by family members.
7. Make sure to click on the three boxes below the attachment option if they apply to your personal resume.
8. Please attach the recommendation form. A copy of the recommendation form can be found on our website. Please make sure to give yourself ample time to request a recommendation from a teacher, counselor, employer, etc. As a reminder recommendation forms cannot be completed by you or by family members.
9. When you are done entering your information you may click Next. If you need to gather the attachments, you can save your application and log back in at a later time to continue your application by using the log in you created in the first step.
*As a reminder, if you are not done, but need to stop here, you can save your application and return to it.*
Educational Information High School 10. Please enter your Educational Information. Please select the high school you are currently attending or
from which you have graduated. If you are enrolled or graduated from a high school not listed, choose other and put the name of the school in the box below. Please enter your GPA. Please attach your high school transcript.
11. If you have completed two years of a foreign language, please check the box below the high school transcript option to be considered for an additional scholarship.
Career/Technical Education 12. If you attended a career/technical school while in high school, please enter the information requested.
Post-Secondary (College) Education 13. If you were dual-enrolled in college while in high school, or if you are a graduate and already in college,
please enter your post-secondary information. Please attach a copy of your college transcript, if applicable. Click Next to continue to your work history.
Applicant Work History 14. Please enter all your work history beginning with the most recent position. 15. If you have had any volunteer experience, please enter it in the next section. 16. If you are a teammate of the Asama Coldwater Manufacturing, Inc. or Gokoh Coldwater, Inc., or if you are
related to an Asama or Gokoh teammate, please make sure to click the box at the bottom of the work history tab.
Page 3 of 6
17. If you are employed by Southern Michigan Bank and Trust or if you are related to an employee of SMB&T, please make sure you click the box also located at the bottom of the work history tab.
18. Click Next to enter information about the college or university you wish to attend or are attending.
College/University Enrollment & Career Information 19. It’s now time to enter your current or future college information. Enter the semester and year you plan to
enroll (for example, fall 2020), whether you are attending part- or full-time, the degree you expect to receive and the career the degree will help you obtain. If you do not have a career or degree goal, please make sure to select other/undecided.
20. If you are a high school student, please make sure to enter the college(s) you have applied to. Make sure to select the State your College is located in from the drop-down. Click the “Accepted” box, if you have any letters of acceptance, and make sure to attach them. For the Degree or Certificate, let us know if you expect to get a bachelors or associates degree or other type of post-secondary certification.
If you are currently in college, you may enter the same college or if you are transferring to a new college, please make sure to enter the new college information.
21. If you are currently, or have been accepted to a nursing program, please make sure to attach your proof of acceptance into a nursing program to be considered for an additional scholarship, and check the box.
22. At the bottom of this section, there are several check boxes. Please make sure to check all that apply. Click Next
As a reminder, if you are not done, but need to stop here, you can save your application and return to it.
Financial Information Part 1: Cost of Degree and Plan to Finance 23. Under Financial Information, please enter the total cost of your college degree (Example - All four/two
years to obtain a bachelor’s degree/Associate Degree) and what your plans are to help you pay for the cost of your degree.
24. From your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), please attach the first page of your Student Aid Report (SAR) which shows the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).
25. Please also enter your EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) number in the box (required).
Part 2: Cost of Degree and Plan to Finance 26. Now please tell us what the cost of your first year of college is, and answer all the other questions about
the cost of your degree for first year.
27. Please let us know your plan to cover any remaining balance and give any mitigating reason you may not have worked to earn money for college. Although these questions are not required, the more information you give our scholarship committee members the better they will understand your circumstances. Click Next.
Page 4 of 6
Additional Attachments The information requested for these attachments is not required to submit a basic application. However, submitting this information may help qualify you for additional scholarships. On our website, we have provided a list of all the attachments and which scholarship these apply to. You are encouraged to submit as many essays and other attachments that are applicable to you so that you have the opportunity to qualify for more scholarships.
Submission Instructions When you are ready to submit, please make sure you have attached all the documents. The system will NOT allow you to submit your application without the required documents.
If you have any technical difficulties while filling out the application, you may contact our staff at 517.278.4517 or by e-mail: [email protected]
Due Date for Submissions Scholarship applications are due by 3:00 PM on March 6, 2020.
If you have difficulty applying electronically, please contact the Community Foundation for instructions---517.278.4517 or [email protected].
Paper applications or e-mailed applications WILL NOT be accepted.
Review Criteria Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Ranked by order of importance, reviewers will use the following factors in making recommendations for awardees:
1. Complete application – all sections are filled out with appropriate information or N/A if section in not applicable.
2. All required submissions were included. Please read the Instructions for Applying and the documentation noted above regarding what is to be submitted to verify each eligibility requirement.
3. Application meets baseline eligibility criteria for the scholarship. 4. Degree to which the application and/or attached documentation demonstrates scholarship-specific
preferences/considerations 5. Strong work history or volunteer history, with preference to applicants whose history is related to
career goal 6. Academic standing, e.g. overall Grade Point Average (GPA) 7. Application and personal resume are well-written (good spelling and grammar). 8. Applicant has chosen a degree (e.g. Associates in Business Management or Bachelors in Accounting) 9. Applicant has chosen a career (e.g. CPA, Attorney, Nurse, etc.)
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10. Extent to which course work is related to career goal, (e.g. those who have attended Branch Area Careers Center in a career pathway related to career goal)
11. Workforce need (in-demand career) 12. Preference to those attending Michigan colleges or universities 13. Demonstrated community involvement 14. Strong ties to the region (e.g. applicant expresses a desire to return to the area at some point in career)
Final Tips Scholarship selection committees may have hundreds of personal statements to review. It is YOUR job to get their attention. Remember to: • Think before you write. Brainstorm to generate some good ideas and create an outline to help you get
going. • Be original and be creative in your answers. Show, don’t tell. Use examples to individualize your
statement. Demonstrate the point you want to make. Avoid vagueness to make a strong impression. • Proofread. This is very important! You do not want to have any typos on your statement. Check spelling
and grammar. Share your statement with a friend, parents, or teachers. Another pair of eyes can catch errors you might miss!
• Create your portrait. By doing this on paper, you create a vivid portrait that will depict the person behind the grades, activities and awards. If a committee member feels like he or she knows you, you have done your job and created a powerful emotional connection that elevates your application, and makes it stand out from others.
Page 6 of 6
2020 Scholarship Recommendation Form We respectfully request your assistance through your evaluation in determining of the applicant named below possesses abilities and attitudes that demonstrate potential for successfully completing postsecondary education. Please print or type your recommendation and sign. Deadline to return form for Scholarship Application Submission is March 6, 2020. Recommendations cannot be from a family member or from the person applying for a scholarship.
Please return your recommendation form to the student. Students: This form must be uploaded to eGrant when prompted.
Applicant’s Name Last First Middle
Initial
Applicant’s Address Street City State Zip Code
Recommender's Name
Last First Middle Initial
Recommender's Address Street City State Zip Code
1
Title and Organization
Recommender's Signature
Length of Time Known Applicant
Relationship to Applicant
Depth of Knowledge (circle one)
Very Well Fairly Well Superficially
Please mark an "X" for the appropriate level of recommendation in each category:
Enthusiastically Strongly Fairly Strongly
With Reservation No Basis
Academic Performance Intellectual Potential Communication Skills
Creativity & Originality Esteem in the community
Potential for growth in college
Overall Potential
COMMENTS:
2
ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS NEEDED WITH SCHOLARSHIPS
Lyndsay Sharp Bingaman Scholarship: College transcript showing attendance in a nursing program or letter of acceptance in a nursing program. Open to St. Joseph and Branch County applicants.
Jason Gentz Memorial Scholarship: Handwritten resume with personal statement including future goals, intended major, and expected college graduation date. Open to St. Joseph County applicants.
Coldwater on the Run Scholarship: -Recommendation Letter from a Coach that includes the following: adescriptionof the applicant’s track and/or cross country with the following details: how the applicant got started, how the applicant improved over time, any memorable team experiences, and the applicant’s leadership on the team. AND Essay on: What has being a member of your track or cross-country team meant to you; what lessons have you learned; and how have you changed as a person because of your participation on the team? Preference to participants of a Coldwater Mini-Triathlon, and athletic programs. Open to Branch County applicants.
Bud Barnes Journalism Scholarship: Copy of writing sample, or student publication, or an essay written for a school course. Preference to Journalism Majors. Open to Quincy High School applicants.
Schragg Memorial Scholarship: Recommendation letter from a coach or counselor that reflects Varsity Letter AND National Honor Society membership. Open to female athletes from Union City High School.
Kenny Ryan Scholarship: Recommendation letter from basketball coach or athletic director recommending applicant on the basis of her showing the best team playing spirit and enthusiasm. Open to female athletes from Colon High School.
Weston, McCurley, Gerth Scholarship: Documented attendance at a Head Start Program for at least one year, AND three (3) letters of recommendation (job, school, club, church, etc), AND an up to date photo. Open to Branch County Residents.
James F. York Memorial Scholarship: Letter of Recommendation from pastor or youth pastor on applicant’s demonstrated active participation in church activities AND personal essay stating personal faith in Jesus Christ and how it applies to career goals. Open to Graduating Seniors in Branch County.
Kenneth Michael Daugherty Scholarship: Essay that must include strong interest in off-road vehicles and at least two years of riding experience. Open to State of Michigan applicants.
Asama Gokoh Scholarship: Essay to include why the applicant is pursuing a secondary degree (motivation) and their goals. Preference will be given to Asama teammates and family of teammates and those with manufacturing related career goals. Open to Branch County applicants.
Fiorell Johnson Scholarship: Essay to include what your goals are now and long term goals. Open to Colon High School applicants.
Annette Clarke Diaz Scholarship: Essay relating to applicant dealing with a documented learning disability, or applicant’s struggle with learning and how the applicant overcame the difficulty. Open to Coldwater High school applicants.
Phillip & Jeanette Sattler Scholarship: Two letters of recommendation demonstrating the student’s interest, accomplishments and/or ability in the qualified area of study, A personal essay that includes why the student feels s/he is deserving of the scholarship with a description of his/her personal and career goals. Preference to student who is planning to attend a college or trade school and study in the area of industrial electronic repairs and troubleshooting. Open to Quincy High School applicants.
Questions? Contact us! 517.278.4517 or
49036 • 517.278.4517
Name Mailing Address Personal Email Address (DO NOT USE A SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS)
Personal Statement/Profile Tell us why you are attending college; your career goals; how your prior education, work, and/or volunteer experience prepared you for college and/or your chosen career; and why you believe you will be successful in college.
Example I am attending college so that I can become an elementary teacher. I would also like to get a minor in special education. My career goal is to be a first-grade teacher in a big city like Detroit or Chicago. I attended the Branch Area Career Center my senior year and was in the Education Academy Program. This gave me classroom experience and helped me confirm my decision to be an elementary teacher. I taught lesson plans, helped struggling kids get to the correct reading level for their grade and got to observe a special education environment. This also prepared me for college because I was not with my teacher every day and the assignments were very in depth and complex. I believe I will be successful in college because I have taken two online college courses and the work from my Education Academy class has prepared me for future college assignments. Since Sophomore year I have worked a part time job along with sports and school. This has made it possible for me to balance a busy schedule but still succeed in all parts of my life. I have had a job in food and retail so this has prepared me for other jobs during college and after.
Education Please list the schools you have attended starting with the most recent. Include certification or degree obtained and dates of attendance, and graduation date or anticipated graduation date.
Example Pansophia Academy (September 2017 to present) Attending high school and early college at Kellogg Community College. Expected graduation date: June 2021.
Employment List the last three PAID work experiences you’ve had, starting with the most recent job, and include position title, responsibilities, years of involvement.
Example McDonald’s (April 2016 - present) Front Counter Representative. Responsible for taking customer orders, making change, preparing orders for drive-thru and dining, tracking waste, reconciling cash drawer at end of shift.
Community Involvement List community volunteer work (outside of school) you are doing or have done. Be sure to list those that relate to your degree or career goal FIRST. Include position title, responsibilities, years of involvement.
Example BC Church (January 2014 - present) Childcare. Take care of children ages 0 – 2 while parents attend church services.
Activities • List up to 5 organizations you are a current member of such as … Student Council, Interact, 4H, etc,
and include how long you have been involved and any current titles • If you participate in sports, music, arts, etc. list those, how long you have been involved and any
pertinent titles (ie. Captain)
Example 1. Student Council, 2 years, President 2. Youth Advisory Council, 3 years, Member 3. BC Youth Group, 5 years, Member 4. XYZ 4H Club, 1 year, Vice President 5. HOSA, 1 year, Treasurer • AYSO Soccer, 3 years • Varsity Volleyball, 2 years, Captain • Piano Lessons, 6 years
Awards • List any honors and awards received Include the year received in the last 5 years. You may include the
nature of honor/award (in school or outside school) Rising Cardinal Award, Fall of 2015 Honor Roll, 2015-2019 Attendance Award, 2016-2018
SCHOLARSHIPS The following scholarships are available by completing the Branch County Community Foundation’s online application.
• Asama - Gokoh Scholarship• Bud Barnes Journalism Scholarship• Max W. Benjamin Memorial Scholarship • Evelyn Jean Broker Memorial Scholarship • Orla & Cholie Burke Memorial Scholarship• Lucile Burnside Scholarship Fund• BCCF Catalyst Scholarship Fund• Annette Marie Clarke-Diaz Scholarship• Shawn R. Cockrell Wrestling Scholarship • Coldwater on the Run Scholarship Fund• Robert Corson Memorial Scholarship• Kenneth Michael Daugherty Scholarship• Fiorell/Johnson Scholarship • Jason Gentz Memorial Scholarship• Hillquist Family Scholarship Fund• Mildred G. Hutchins Loan Fund • Blanche Marie Jones Garn & Glema E. Jones
Scholarship• John & Marguerite Kenyon Scholarship • Blaque & Arlouine Knirk Educational Fund• May E. and John Losey Moore Family
Scholarship• Marie Green McMahan Scholarship • James E. Rice Memorial Scholarship• Catherine E. Russell Scholarship• Kenny Ryan Memorial Scholarship• Philip and Jeanette Sattler Scholarship• Rowena Moore Schragg Memorial
Scholarship• Emory L. Sechrist Scholarship Fund• Lyndsay Sharp Bingaman Nursing
Scholarship• Southern Michigan Bank & Trust Lester Wise
Scholarship• Janette Molby Stephens Scholarship• W. H. Judd Memorial Scholarship • Weston, McCurley, Gerth Scholarship • James F. York Memorial Scholarship • Reeder Theater Arts Memorial Scholarship• Clifford E. and Charlotte L. Colpetsir
Scholarship Fund• Straehly/Hantz Memorial Scholarship Fund
On behalf of Southern Michigan Bank & Trust• George Scholarship Trust • The Hensley Scholarship Trust • George & Sadie Marie Juhl Scholarship Trust • Burl Salisbury Charitable Trust • Shakleton Family Scholarship Trust
Branch County Community Foundation • 2 W Chicago St, Ste E-1 • Coldwater, MI 517.278.5985 • wwwBrCoFoundation.org
Updated 11/15/2019
Applying for Community Foundation Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for scholarships as a Early Middle College (13th year) Student? If you will be in a college program while still enrolled in High School during the 2020/2021 school year, you are
not yet eligible to apply for scholarships. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact us.
Do you have any scholarships available for books and other materials needed when enrolled in the
early college program through the local high schools?
No. The Community Foundation is investigating the possibilities as we understand some students will have to
pay out of pocket and then be reimbursed by the school district for required college materials.
Is there any specific Information that I need prior to applying for a scholarship?
Yes. At minimum you will need the following:
• SAR and estimated amount of family contribution, for financial need based scholarships.
• GPA. academic transcript(s).
• Personal Resume including Personal Statement
• Work history.
• Recommendation Form
• List of volunteer and extracurricular activities.
• Your top three colleges and the tuition cost for your top one.
How do I apply?
The Branch County Community Foundation's application will be available online starting in December until the
deadline (usually first week in March). When you visit our website www.brcofoundation.org and click on the
“scholarships” tab you will have access to the link which will direct you to a new page to the online application.
Where is the list of scholarships and the criteria for each scholarship?
There's no need to sort through tons of information and decide if you qualify. Each student fills out one
application, answering a variety of questions. The online system will then determine which scholarships the
student qualifies for based on the information and attachments submitted within their application.
What if I click "submit" but I need to make changes or edit the Information before the deadline?
You will not be able to make changes or edit your information once you click "submit". Therefore, it is
very important you review all your information, and review all your answers before you click “submit”. BCCF's
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staff will not be able to retrieve your application and make changes on your behalf either. Submitting a new
application will not be allowed and may disqualify you.
Can I hand deliver my application or e-mail It to the Community Foundation?
No. Hand-delivered paper applications or e-mailed applications WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. All Branch County
Community Foundation scholarship applications must be submitted by using our online application by visiting
our website www.brcofoundation.org and following the instructions online.
I am an adult looking for a scholarship to help me further my own education. Where should I start?
Some Community Foundation scholarships are available to graduates of Branch County and Colon, Michigan
schools. If you are an adult who graduated from a school in these areas then you may qualify. Please visit our
website and submit your application by using our online software.
Do you have any scholarships available for Graduate/ Masters level college offered?
No. We do not have any funding set up specifically for a Graduate/Masters level college program.
I am a College Student. Do I still need to submit my high school transcript?
Yes. The high school transcript is a required document. Please contact your high school to obtain a copy of
your transcript.
I received a scholarship from the Community Foundation last season; do you still need all my
documents?
Yes, we need all your documents. Please make sure to have an updated recommendation form, your high
school transcript, a copy of your college transcript, an updated resume, and any other document requested.
I am a returning applicant; do I have to make a new account to apply for this scholarship year?
No. Please do not create a new account. If you have forgotten your Username or Password credentials, please
contact the BCCF email at [email protected] to reset. Once logged in to your account each
applicant will need to create a new application for 2020. Many fields including: Name, Address, Phone, Email,
etc., will carry over into any application that the applicant starts. Some of them may need to be updated.
Everything else will need to be entered or uploaded new.
Do I need a different recommendation form for each scholarship?
No, you can use the same recommendation form when you submit your application. Please make sure to
submit your recommendation form with your scholarship application. Make sure to allow yourself lime when
asking for recommendations from teachers, employers, or others.
What can I use the scholarship funds for?
Scholarship funds are sent directly to the college you have requested in your acceptance form after you have
been selected. Under IRS regulations, scholarships can only be used for tuition and fees required to enroll at
or attend an eligible education institution, and can be used for course-related expenses, such as fees, books,
supplies, and equipment that are required for the course.
Expenses that do not qualify are room and board, travel, research, clerical help, or equipment and other
expenses that are not required for enrollment in or attendance at an eligible education institution.
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Do I need to include a recommendation form AND a letter?
All our scholarships require one recommendation form that can be downloaded from our website. However,
keep in mind that some scholarships require other recommendation letters (i.e. from a pastor or a coach). A list
of scholarships that require a recommendation letter and other additional attachment is located on our website.
Should I redact (black out or remove) my social security number from my transcript if it is included?
Yes. Since your application is being distributed to community committee members for review we cannot
guarantee the privacy of any information that you supply. We suggest that you remove any private information,
such as social security numbers, from all documents you provide.
Should I have someone else proof-read my application for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors?
Yes. Writing ability is one consideration of potential success in college, and is therefore used to score
applications.
Do I have to complete the FAFSA If I know I won't qualify for federal financial aid?
Yes. A complete application includes the portion of the SAR (student aid report) which shows the EFC
(estimated family contribution). A copy of the first page of the SAR (student aid report) must be included with
your application.
In addition, we hold some scholarships for which you have to prove that you do not qualify for financial aid.
How much of the SAR do you need? Is it necessary to provide all 7+ pages of the SAR?
We ask that you submit only the portion of the SAR that shows the estimated family contribution (EFC). This
usually will be the first page, but might be on a separate page, depending on the stage of the filing process.
If my EFC Is too high, will I be disqualified for Community Foundation scholarships?
No. Actually submitting this information helps qualify you for many of the BCCF Scholarships. For the majority
of the scholarships we hold financial need is not an eligibility criterion. We hold some scholarships for which
you must prove that you do not qualify for financial aid.
Do I need an Official Transcript or can I submit "Course History Report"?
No. You don't need to submit an official transcript. You may submit the course history report if it contains the
applicants GPA and the classes you're currently taking. As long as the GPA reported is the cumulative GPA
and as long as it is apparent that “course history report” is generated by the educational institution, this report
would be an acceptable substitution for an official transcript. Please contact your high school guidance
counselor to obtain high school transcripts. Most college students' unofficial transcripts can be located in online
web-portals through the students login credentials (KRIS/Blackboard/etc.).
If applicants have done resumes for college applications, is it necessary for them to follow your
specific format? Will they be penalized If they submit them without changing to your format?
In order to be considered for the Branch County Community Foundation Scholarships, applicants must use the
format below for their resume. If they do not use this exact format, their application will not be considered for
any scholarships.
The instructions in the scholarship application ask the applicant to attach a two-page maximum resume the
following formal:
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Name Mailing Address Personal Email Address (DO NOT USE A SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS)
Personal Statement/Profile Tell us why you are attending college; your career goals; how your prior education, work, and/or volunteer
experience prepared you for college and/or your chosen career; and why you believe you will be successful in
college.
Education Please list the schools you have attended starting with the most recent. Include certification or degree obtained
and dates of attendance, and graduation date or anticipated graduation date.
Employment List the last three PAID work experiences you've had, starting with the most recent job, and include position
title, responsibilities, years of involvement.
Community Involvement List community volunteer work (outside of school) you are doing or have done. Be sure to list those that relate
to your degree or career goal FIRST. Include position title, responsibilities, years of involvement.
Activities
• List up to 5 organizations you are a current member of such as…Student Council, lnteract, 4H, etc,
and include how long you have been involved and any current titles
• If you participate in sports, music, arts, etc. list those, how long you have been involved and any
pertinent titles (ie. Captain)
Awards
• List any honors and awards received Include the year received in the last 5 years. You may include the
nature of honor/award (in school or outside school)
What file formats will you accept for my uploaded attachments?
We suggest that you upload any scanned attachment as a PDF file. However, we will also accept: jpeg, doc
and docx file formats. (Please make sure PDF's are not locked.) NO GOOGLE DOCS!
If you need help scanning or converting to these file formats contact the Community Foundation for assistance.
Do I apply for Southern Michigan Bank and Trust offered scholarships and loans through the
Community Foundation? Who will contact me If I am awarded one of these scholarships?
Yes. The Branch County Community Foundation is acting as the facilitator only and will be accepting these
scholarships applications through our eGrants system:
1) Juhl Scholarship
2) Shackleton Scholarship
3) Hensley Scholarship
4) George Scholarship
5) Salisbury Scholarship Loan
Students will not need to submit any additional information than they are already entering in their current
application. The scholarship eligibility standards are set up within the software and will be sorted based on the
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information students submit. The initial computer software eligibility sort will simply compile the list of student's
applications that meet the guidelines given to us by SMB&T.
After this initial list is compiled, the Community Foundation will be forwarding these applications directly to
SMB&T. They will finish the review process, and contact those chosen to receive an award.
I can't find my current Degree Goal or Career Goal In your system? What do I select for those
questions? Will I be eligible for scholarships if I select other or undecided?
Most of the specific Career Degree Goals in this drop down are for scholarships that are limited to only
applicants planning on pursuing that exact career or degree goal.
There will not be choices in drop down menu for all potential Career Goals or Degree Goals.
If your degree or career goal does not appear on the drop down menu, you should select a field with a
"General" option. For example, if you are going to become an Occupational Therapist, you would select
"Healthcare Field (General)". If you do not see a "General" option for your specific Career, select
"Other/Undecided".
Some applicants have expressed concern that choosing "Other/Undecided" will affect their eligibility for any
scholarships. However, choosing this option potentially makes applicants eligible for a wider assortment of
scholarships - rather than those open to only a narrow field or career. Applicants have the option of further
explaining their careers goals in their personal statements or personal resumes and in many other places in
the applicants.
How do I get my handwritten resume, transcript, and other paper documents Into electronic format so
that I can attach them and submit with my application?
Please scan all documents, save to your computer or other electronic device, and then attach to the application
when prompted. Because everything must be attached to the application in eGrants, document like transcripts
and handwritten resumes will need to be scanned and attached. We realize that not everyone has access to a
scanner; however, most of the high school counselors have said they would scan documents for their students.
The local libraries will also scan documents into electronic format. Just check out the hours and their process
at Branch District Library in Coldwater, Quincy Branch Library, Union Twp. Library, Bronson Branch Library,
and Colon Township Library. Also the UPS store here in Coldwater will scan documents so that you can submit
them electronically. There will be a slight cost, but you can contact them at (517) 279-9080 to see what the fee
is and how the service works (for example, if they will email it to you or if you need to bring a flash drive).
I am going into nursing school but I have yet to receive my acceptance letter Into the program, will I
still qualify for the nursing scholarships?
No. These specific scholarships require current enrollment in the program or an acceptance letter into the
nursing program to be awarded. However, you will be eligible once you're in the program to re-apply for the
next scholarship year.
Can I log in early to start working on my scholarship application in your eGrants online system?
No. In an effort to be fair to all scholarship applicants we have a set time period where the system will be open.
The lime period is over three months. See below for dates.
December 1, 2019 @ 9AM - Begin accepting applications.
March 6, 2020 @ 3 PM - Deadline to submit your application
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Can I print or save a copy of my online scholarship application submission?
Yes. After you submit your scholarship application navigate to back to the home screen. Select the view action
at the top of the page and ii will automatically download a PDF version of your full scholarship as well as any
attachments you may have uploaded. Feel free to print or save this for your records.
How do I contact the Community Foundation if I have any further questions?
We are here to help you with your scholarship application process. If you have any questions you may contact
us by phone, email, or by stopping in at the office. We are involved in many community activities, and there
may not always be someone available in the office or by phone. If you leave a message please leave your
name, return phone number, best time to call, and your question so that we can be prepared with an answer
when we return your call.
Phone: (517) 278-4517 Email: [email protected] Office: 2 W. Chicago Street, Coldwater, Michigan
NEED HELP SCANNING YOUR DOCUMENTS TO UPLOAD FOR YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION?
We can help!
Step 1: Email: [email protected] or Call 517-278-4517
Step 2: Set up an appointment to come into the Community Foundation. Located at 2 W Chicago St. Suite E-1,
Coldwater, Ml
Step 3: Be prepared. Bring all documents that you require scanned. Please have documents ready and
organized. If you would like to save your application and documents on flash drive, please remember
to bring your own to use.
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FAFSA info for BCCF’s Scholarships When you submit your FAFSA, you will get a confirmation e-mail with
your Student Aid Report (SAR).
Please save this e-mail and submit it with you scholarship
application.
Your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is located here.
1. Start searching for scholarships as soon as possible. Don’t wait untilspring of your senior year in high school to start searching, or you’ll misshalf the deadlines. There are many scholarships available to students ingrades 9, 10 and 11, not just high school seniors. There are evenscholarships for students in grades K-8. Continue searching for scholarships even after you are enrolled in college.
2. Answer all of the optional questions on a scholarship matching web sitefor about twice as many matches.
3. Use a free scholarship matching service like Fastweb.com. 4. Look for local scholarships on bulletin boards near the guidance
counselor of financial aid offices, or the library’s jobs and careers section.
5. Apply to every scholarship for which you are eligible. Pursue lesscompetitive scholarships, such as small awards and essay contests, sincethey are easier to win and the money adds up and helps you win biggerscholarships.
6. Don’t miss deadlines. Use a calendar and checklist to get organized.
Cont. 7. Tailor your application to the sponsor’s goals. Read and follow the
instructions carefully. 8. If you have difficulty writing essays, try recording yourself as you answer
the question out loud, and transcribe the recording later. Most people can think and speak faster than they can write or type. Create an outline afterward to organize your thoughts.
9. Personalize your essay and be passionate. Write about something ofinterest to you. Make your application stand out from the crowd. Talk aboutyour impact on other people. Give examples and be specific.
10. Google your name and make sure you have a professional online profile.Use a professional email address, such as [email protected] up the content of your Facebook account, removing inappropriate andimmature material. Yes! – Scholarship committees will look you up online.
11. Proofread a printed copy of your essay and the application for spellingand grammar errors.
12. Make a photocopy of your application before mailing it. Send the application by certified mail, return receipt requested or with deliveryconfirmation.
