DUE# 1355569
Gaston College
SPARC3 Scholars
Scholarship Application
Fall 2016
SPARC3 Scholars Application Checklist (please submit all of the following):
Personal Information Form
Letter of Intent/Essay
Letter(s) of Recommendation from a STEM instructor (high school or college)
Transcript (An unofficial transcript is acceptable.)
FAFSA form (Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)
For Early Decision, the application documents must be submitted by May 1, 2016. Applications will continue to be accepted after this date until all spots are filled.
FAFSA Form must be complete and on file with the Financial Aid Office.
Applicants will receive an E-mail confirmation within 7 business days of application receipt.
Complete applications (.pdf, .doc, or .docx format only) may be submitted via email to . Please use “SPARC3 SCHOLARS” as the subject line. Email is the preferred method for submitting applications.
Applicants who do not have access to email and wish to mail their documents should do so in a large envelope via mail to:
Ashley Hagler, M.S., M.A.T.
SPARC3 Scholars
201 HWY 321 South
Dallas, NC 28034
Box 116
If you have any questions, please contact
Ashley Hagler, M.S., M.A.T.
SPARC3 Program Director
704-922-6529
SPARC3 Scholars Personal Information Form
SPARC3 Scholars Scholarship Letter of Intent/Essay
The letter/essay, which must not exceed 500 words total, must be typed (12 point font, single spaced, 1 inch margins). You may attach a separate sheet. There are two questions. You may write about each separately or combine your responses, but keep your letter/essay within 500 words.
1. What about your goals, academic or extracurricular work, personal character, and background make you a strong candidate for the SPARC3 Scholars program? Please describe your educational and/or professional background, your educational and professional goals in detail.
2. Why do you want to participate in the SPARC3 Scholars program? What do you hope to gain from your experience through your participation in the SPARC3 Scholars workshop, learning community, and mentoring activities?
SPARC3 Scholars Letter of Recommendation
To the student:
Please request at least one letter of recommendation. Up to three letters of recommendation are accepted for consideration with your application. Letters of recommendation are to be completed by a faculty member or a teacher in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) field, or a previous employer who is familiar with you and your professionalism. Give the instructor/employer this information sheet and a stamped envelope. Allow at least two weeks for the instructor/supervisor to complete the letter of recommendation.
To the instructor/employer:
The Gaston College SPARC3 program enhances the college experience of students studying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Students in this program experience STEM classes that are interactive and hands-on. The program also provides scholarships to talented students with financial need (SPARC3 Scholars), and personalized support services (i.e. advising, mentoring, tutoring, internships, and research experiences).
The mission of SPARC3 is to ignite student curiosity and to prepare future STEM professionals for success in an evolving work environment.
Scholarships up to $5,600 will be offered to select Full-Time Associate of Science students per year. The amount awarded will be determined based upon financial need. The individual, who has asked you to write this recommendation for them, is applying for one of these scholarships. For more information about the SPARC3 Scholars scholarship and/or the SPARC3 program at Gaston College, please contact the SPARC3 Program Director, Ashley Hagler ().
In your letter of recommendation, please describe any aspects of the student’s academic, professional, or extracurricular work, character, and goals that may demonstrate potential to succeed and to benefit from the SPARC3 Scholars program. Please also address how well you know the candidate and what you feel are his/her strengths and weaknesses.
Please email the letter as an attachment to and include the name of the student who is being recommended in the subject line.
If you do not have access to email and wish to mail the letter, please send the letter of recommendation, in a sealed envelope, to:
Ashley Hagler, M.S., M.A.T.
SPARC3 Program Director
Gaston College
201 HWY 321 South
Dallas, NC 28034
Box 116
Thank you for your time.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DUE# 1355569. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.