SCHOLARSHIPS-Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible? Most scholarships awarded through the EWVCF and its affiliates benefit residents from Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, Hampshire and Hardy Counties, WV.
Are part-time students eligible? EWVCF scholarships are currently available for students enrolled or intending to enroll as full-time students at a college, university or other institution of higher education.
Are scholarships open to graduate students? Currently one scholarship, the J. Oakley Seibert Scholarship, is available to students planning to enter law school within 18 months of completing a 4-year degree.
What’s the difference between a Multi-Year and Renewable Scholarship? Multi- year scholarships (Floyd and Isabel Jacques Memorial, Theodore K. Oates Nursing, Wurzburg Family, and Glen and Charlotte Bradfield) are awards received in one year, but paid out in annual installments over the course of two to four years of college attendance. Recipients of these awards do not need to submit a renewal application, but must provide proof of continued enrollment to receive each installment. Renewable scholarships are paid in full in the year they are received. Yet recipients may apply to be considered for a renewed award in subsequent years. The Scholarship Criteria states which scholarships are renewable as well as renewal criteria. Students applying for a renewed scholarship must complete the Renewal Application.
Must a student attend a college or university in West Virginia? No. Scholarships are awarded to eligible students enrolled in colleges and universities throughout the United States, unless otherwise stated in the fund criteria.
What expenses can scholarships cover? Scholarships are made payable to the school, college, or university on behalf of the student. Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, or any other line item in the Cost of Attendance determined by the school, college, or university.
How are recipients selected? Most scholarships recipients are selected based on their financial need and academic merit. However, the terms of some funds require that applicants meet other criteria such as ethnicity, gender, participation in sports, interest in a specific field of study, etc.
What is the average amount awarded? Awards range from $500 to $5,000. Larger awards are paid in installments over the duration of a 2-4 year period.
Can students send a copy of their academic transcripts? Yes. Please submit the most recent transcript and make sure it contains: cumulative grade point average, class rank, and SAT/ACT scores.
What if household income is relatively high? There is no maximum income or financial cut-off. Some of our funds consider other criteria besides financial need, all students who meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply.
When are decisions made? Generally, decisions are made by the end of April and selected applicants are notified by the end of May.
Can students reapply each year? Students who received a renewable scholarship will be alerted via email when it’s time to submit information in order to be considered for a renewed scholarship. Receipt of an award for one academic year does not guarantee that an award will be granted in a subsequent year. Students who receive a multi-year scholarship must provide proof of continued enrollment before the next installment of their award is paid.
Who should complete an essay? All students applying for a scholarship must submit a Top 10 List. Selection committees use this information to assist in making their selection. Please refer to the application for details.
How are awards paid? Scholarship award checks are paid directly to the institution that the student is attending once enrollment at that institution is verified. For multi-year awards (Floyd and Isabel Jacques Memorial, Theodore K. Oates Nursing, Wurzburg Family, and Glen and Charlotte Bradfield), the award is paid over a two or four year period. Most institutions will divide a scholarship payment equally between the first and second semesters. We cannot award scholarships for attendance at for-profit institutions.
Will a Community Foundation award affect a student’s financial aid package? Institutions may adjust financial aid packages to reflect scholarships other than those granted by the college. Usually a college or university will first use an outside scholarship to replace unmet need, or reduce the amount of loans or work study before adjusting grants or scholarships. However, policies vary and students should check with their institutions’ financial aid office.
APPLICATION
Your completed application and all required materials must be submitted via the akoyaGo platform, https://goapply2.akoyago.com/ewvcfscholarships ON or BEFORE the published deadlines. Please make sure to request copies of your transcript and line up your reference in time to allow you to meet the deadline. All students are encouraged to apply early!
Questions? Contact our Program Manager, Karin Hammann Dunn, [email protected], or 304-671-8167.