2017 AHEAD in Virginia Disability Student Scholarship Application

2017 AHEAD in Virginia Disability Student Scholarship Application

1. Eligibility:

· Enrollment in an accredited Virginia institution of higher education at the time of application

· Student must be registered with institution’s Disability/Accessibility Services Office

· No dual-enrolled high school students

· Enrollment for a minimum of six (6) GPA credit hours for the 2016 Fall semester and six (6) GPA credit hours for the 2017 Spring semester

· Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)

· Verification of disability by a Disability Service Provider at student’s institution. The Disability Service Provider must be a member of AHEAD in Virginia for 2016-2017 (Individual Membership or listed as member under Institutional Membership)

· Students may apply on an annual basis but only awarded one scholarship in one degree program: associate degree or less, undergraduate degree, or graduate degree program

2. Criteria for Award:
The Selection Committee will make award decisions based on the following selection criteria:

· Leadership and service

· Academic achievement

· Well-articulated goals

· Strategies used to compensate for disability in academic and/or vocational settings. (Students who have overcome obstacles in their life related to health or educational pursuits or any circumstance that shows strength of character and potential for achievement should be stated in your application.)

3. Submission Requirements:
The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all parts (A – E) of the application packet are submitted online by 4:00 p.m., January 20, 2017. All parts of the student’s application packet (A,B,C & E) must be submitted online and references/verification form sent separately.

Application Packet:

A. Student Application Form

B. List of references (2 Reference Forms sent separately by persons filling out forms and must have signatures - more than 2 Reference Forms will cause the application to be disqualified, no letters accepted)

C. Personal Statement

D. Verification Form (sent separately by Disability/Accessibility Services Office)

E. Transcripts of all postsecondary grades (unofficial transcripts and transfer transcripts acceptable). Must have 2016 fall semester grades posted and 2017 spring semester classes on transcript.

**Incomplete applications or those not meeting the eligibility or submission requirements above will not be considered.** Students must follow the instructions for parts A-E.

Deadline for receipt of all parts of the application packet: 4:00 p.m., January 20, 2017.

All parts of the application packet (A – E) must be submitted online.

4. Notification:

Scholarship applicants will be notified of their award status after June 15, 2017.

We anticipate awarding the following to students with disabilities attending a Virginia institution:

· One (1) $1000 scholarship to a student enrolled in a program leading to an Associate’s Degree or less at any 2-year, community, or technical/vocational college in Virginia.

· One (1) $1000 scholarship to an undergraduate student enrolled in a program leading to a Bachelor’s Degree at a private college or university in Virginia.

· One (1) $1000 scholarship to an undergraduate student enrolled in a program leading to a Bachelor’s Degree at a public college or university in Virginia.

· One (1) $1000 scholarship to a graduate student enrolled at any college or university in Virginia.

A. Student Application Form

Application Form to be completed and submitted by student

ü Please type information in body of the document – page will automatically roll over onto additional blank page below as you type the information.

ü Save document as PDF file with your name and institution in the file name

(example: “Application.JohnDoe.VirginiaCollege.pdf”).

ü Submit attachment by 4 p.m. January 20, 2017 to:

Personal Profile of Student

1. Name: ______

2. Your current postsecondary institution:______

3. Your institution during 2017-2018 academic year:______

4. Please put “X” in box next to your academic level during 2016-2017 (current) academic year:

2-year (Associate’s Degree or less)
4-year Undergraduate (Bachelor’s Degree) – private college/university
4-year Undergraduate (Bachelor’s Degree) – public college/university
Graduate program

5. Permanent Mailing Address ______

______

(Awards will be mailed directly to the student’s home address.)

6. Telephone:______

7. E-mail address:______

Academic Profile of Student

8. Major(s) and minor(s):______

9. Major(s) and minor(s) for upcoming year (if different from current year):______

10. Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA):______

11. Credits enrolled for Fall 2016 semester:______

12. Credits enrolled for Spring 2017 semester:______

13. Current number of credits completed:______

14. In chronological order of attendance, list all formal education after high school, including all colleges and universities, technical training, and other comparable academic education. For all postsecondary institutions listed below, please submit copy of transcript for each (unofficial transcripts that are issued free of charge are acceptable – see E. Transcripts below):

______

15. Semester and year of admission to current postsecondary institution:______

16. If you expect a change in your academic plan within the next year, please explain:______

______

B. Reference

Reference Form to be completed and submitted by student

ü Please type information in this document.

ü Save document as PDF file with your name and institution in the file name

(example: “Reference.JohnDoe.VirginiaCollege.pdf”).

ü Submit attachment by 4 p.m. January 20, 2017 to:

ü Use any TWO Reference Pages provided with your application. Please instruct each person to save the form as a Word or PDF file and submit to:

ü Do not submit THREE or FOUR references. You will be disqualified!

1. Please put their full name and name of the institution/work in the subject line.

Applications will not be considered without both reference forms. It may be helpful to the persons who are filling out the form to provide them with a copy of your application and personal statement.

2. Please list the name and contact information of the two persons who are providing the reference forms:

A. Name:______

Title (if any):______

Name of Institution (if any):______

Address:______

______

Telephone:______

E-mail:______

B. Name:______

Title (if any):______

Name of Institution (if any):______

Address:______

______

Telephone:______

E-mail:______

AHEAD in Virginia Scholarship Reference

By an Athletic Coach

The student who has signed this form is requesting a recommendation from you for a scholarship. Please assist the scholarship committee by filling in the information. You will be asked to rate the individual on your personal and professional knowledge of this person’s character, potential, leadership, and achievements. Honest evaluations will be most helpful. By having signed the form, the student realizes that the information is confidential and entrusts this form solely to you and to the scholarship committee.

______

Student’s Name

______

Student’s College/University

Use the following rating scale for each question:

1. Outstanding / 2. Commendable / 3. Acceptable
4. Below Average / 5. Unacceptable

1. ______Is courteous to others

Comment ______

______

2. ______Is a leader in setting the tone for behavior when in practice, at a game or on campus

Comment: ______

______

3. ______Sets appropriate goals and works diligently to achieve goals

Comment: ______

______

4. ______Is motivated for success and excels in an athletic and in an academic setting

Comment: ______

______

5. ______Demonstrates leadership skills

Comment: ______

______

6. ______Attends practice regularly and contributes in appropriate ways

Comment:______

______

Other than by virtue of his/her grade point average, share information about why this student should (should not) be the recipient of a scholarship for students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.

______

Name of Evaluator:______

Signature of Evaluator:______

Date:______

Do not send a letter!!

ü Save document as PDF file with student’s name and institution in the file name

(example: “Reference.JohnDoe.VirginiaCollege.pdf”).

ü Submit attachment by 4 p.m. January 20, 2017 to:

AHEAD in Virginia Scholarship Reference

By a Professor/Instructor

______

Student’s Name

______

Student’s College/University

1. Outstanding / 2. Commendable / 3. Acceptable
4. Below Average / 5. Unacceptable

Use the following rating scale for each question:

1. ______Is courteous to others

Comment ______

______

2. ______Is a leader in setting the tone for behavior in the class and on campus

Comment: ______

______

3. ______Sets appropriate goals and works diligently to achieve goals

Comment: ______

______

4. ______Is motivated for academic success and excels in academic work

Comment: ______

______

5. ______Demonstrates leadership skills that help form actions of others

Comment: ______

______

6. ______Attends classes regularly and contributes in appropriate ways

Comment: ______

______

Name of Evaluator:______

Signature of Evaluator:______

Date ______

Instructor/Professor for which class/discipline? ______

Do not send a letter!!

ü Save document as PDF file with student’s name and institution in the file name

(example: “Reference.JohnDoe.VirginiaCollege.pdf”).

ü Submit attachment by 4 p.m. January 20, 2017 to:

AHEAD in Virginia Scholarship Reference

For Leadership/Community Service or Employer

______

Student’s Name

______

Student’s College/University

Use the following rating scale for each question:

1. Outstanding / 2. Commendable / 3. Acceptable
4. Below Average / 5. Unacceptable

1. ______Is courteous to others

Comment ______

______

2. ______Is a leader in setting the tone for appropriate behavior in community/employment

Comment: ______

______

3. ______Sets appropriate goals and works diligently to achieve goals

Comment: ______

______

4. ______Demonstrates an appropriate level of motivation for success and excels in work, leadership roles

Comment: ______

______

5. ______Demonstrates leadership skills that help form actions of others

Comment: ______

______

6. ______Is punctual in attendance for meetings, work and/or events

Comment: ______

______

Name of Evaluator:______

Signature of Evaluator:______

Date ______

Do not send a letter!!

ü Save document as PDF file with student’s name and institution in the file name

(example: “Reference.JohnDoe.VirginiaCollege.pdf”).

ü Submit attachment by 4 p.m. January 20, 2017 to:

C. Personal Statement

ü Please type information into a new document, then save document as a PDF file with your name and institution in the file name (example: “PersonalStatement.JohnDoe.VirginiaCollege.pdf”).

ü Submit attachment by 4 p.m. January 20, 2017 to:

ü Respond to the three items below. Limit your response to a maximum of 1000 words combined for the two bullet lists and one essay. Please DOUBLE-SPACE each line. Please use the format indicated in item 3 below.

Requirements for writing your Personal Statement

You are required to follow these tips for the AHEAD in Virginia scholarship. In item 3 below you are required to use a bullet list format for A. and B. and a small double spaced essay for C.

1. First, plan time wisely so your application arrives by the deadline even if your computer crashes on the last day.

2. Ask any clarifying questions on the front-end. Use the Scholarship Chairperson for any questions. Use a writing professor or someone in your institution’s writing center for guidance in preparing your personal statement.

3. For this scholarship, start by writing down the posted criteria and guidelines listed below:

Personal Statement (total 1000 words or less, double spaced, for A. B. & C. combined):

A. Give an overview of your academic achievement and goals including aspirations for future academic study or for a specific career. Use bullet list format.

B. List your current/past formal and informal leadership/service experience, including employment, community or student activities, and leadership positions. Use bullet list format.

C. Discuss strategies you have used to compensate for your disability in academic and/or vocational settings in college. (Include how you have overcome obstacles in your life related to health or educational pursues or any circumstance that shows strength of character and potential for achievement). Write a small double-spaced essay.

4. Then outline how you would want to organize your statement including all those points you just listed.

5. Write using subheadings with bullet points for Academic Achievements/Goals (A.) and Leadership/Service (B.). Write a small double-spaced essay about the strategies you have used to compensate for your disability in academic and/or vocational settings in college (C.). Please write in clear topical sentences so scholarship reviewers get your key points immediately.

6. Watch the rules. AHEAD in Virginia will not consider your application if any piece is missing, late, or does not match the stated format.

7. After writing, use spell and grammar check, then ALWAYS use someone else to edit for grammar and clarity of communication. Give your editor a list of the criteria so they have that perspective as they critique your statement.

8. Edit at least a second time for individual voice – can the scholarship judges hear an individual speaking?