Scholarship for Tuition Criteria
March 2009

Criteria: It is the desire of the Mission of Hope that students with the greatest financial need be considered for the scholarships. Any student ranked officially as a Senior in a Mission of Hope sponsored high school with at least an overall 2.5 grade point average and who demonstrates excellent potential and character, work experience, along with financial need may apply for this scholarship. One scholarship will be awarded to a student, the student must maintain an overall 2.5 grade point average to keep the scholarship for the following semester/quarter.

Use of Tuition Scholarship: It is the desire of the Mission of Hope to provide a scholarship for tuition for students enrolling in a two or four year post-high school state or private college or university leading to a degree or certificate.

However, deserving students who seek a post-high school education or training in a recognized allied health field or technical or vocational training program leading to a degree or certificate would be eligible for the scholarship and financial assistance.

Amount of Scholarship: $2,500 annually pro-rated based on $1,250 per semester or $835 per quarter for one year of courses. The pro-rated scholarship amount will be forwarded on behalf of the student at the beginning of each semester or quarter to the school the student will be attending.

Length of Scholarship: The scholarship is for one year provided the student enrolls for each semester or quarter. It is the desire, funds permitting, that the scholarship will be available for an additional year.

Renewal of Scholarship: The student awarded the scholarship the previous year will have preference in renewing the scholarship by meeting the qualifications for the scholarship. Each student requesting to renew their initial scholarship for the additional year will provide a written request to the Mission of Hope Scholarship Committee by March 1.

Application/Selection Process: The high school administration (Principal and Guidance Counselor) will forward to the Mission of Hope Scholarship Committee three possible candidates for that high school’s individual scholarship. The high school administration will rank the candidates, that is, first, second or third recommendation

The application to the Mission of Hope Scholarship Committee would include the following:

1. A letter, written in the student’s handwriting, making a request for the scholarship and explaining the need for financial assistance. The letter would include personal information and background, work and high school experiences, along with the student’s future education and life plans or goals.
2. Two Letters of Recommendations; one from the high school Principal and a second letter either from the high school Guidance Counselor or a teacher in the high school that has taught the student and can provide a letter of recommendation.
3. School Transcript.

Application Acceptance Date: For the current year, the Mission of Hope must receive the individual recommendations for the scholarships from the high school administration by March 31, 2009 to be considered for the following fall semester/quarter. The scholarship will be awarded in mid-April by the Mission of Hope Scholarship Committee with strong consideration given to the recommendation and guidance given by the local high school administration.

Conflict of Interest: Again, it is the desire of the Mission of Hope that students with the greatest financial need be considered for the scholarships. Students who have relatives on the high school staff would not be eligible in order to avoid the appearance of a possible conflict of interest.

Notification and Acceptance by Student Selected: The scholarship committee will inform the high school administration as to the student selected from the three recommended candidates. It will be the responsibility of the high school administration to assist the selected scholarship recipient in providing the Mission of Hope a letter accepting the scholarship by May 1, 2009; indicating their field or course of study and the school the student will be attending.