Scholarship Program & Application

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM & APPLICATION

(Application form is below Scholarship Program )

Applications due by the second Tuesday in April.

Do you want us to email you a scholarship application? Email us at democratsofjeffersoncounty@gmail.com, and we'll attach an application form to our reply.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(rev. Jan. 13, 2015)

From the Mission Statement of the JCDEC: “…to foster and advance the goals and ideals of our American democratic society through education and community involvement.”

Program Goals

The JCDEC Scholarship Program will provide financial assistance each year to one or more young Jefferson County residents attending college, as part of our efforts to

engage in community service, as so often advocated by President Barack Obama,
reach and involve young people with our efforts,
and promote higher education for our fellow residents of Jefferson County, encouraging cultural, economic and leadership development.

Administration

The chair of the JCDEC will appoint members to the Young Democrats Committee to develop and oversee scholarship program fund-raising, publicity, applicant recruitment, selection and award.

Funding

The Chair and Treasurer of the JCDEC will maintain a separate scholarship account, with at least any sum required by the bank to keep the account open. Additional deposits may be made from the general account of the JCDEC, as authorized by majority vote of the members of the DEC at a regular meeting. And, additional deposits will be made as donations to the Scholarship Program are received. Donate to support the scholarship program of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.

Donor Honor Roll

Donors to the scholarship program will be listed on an honor roll to be posted on the JCDEC website, www.democratsofjeffersoncounty.com, along with the year(s) in which they donated. Donate to support the scholarship program of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.

Eligibility

Applicants must be preparing for enrollment, or enrolled, in an accredited college or university, as listed by the U.S. Department of Education at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ , for the current or next academic year. Applicants must have a verifiable Grade Point Average of “B” or more for the preceding two semesters, whether high school, college or one of each, and be able to furnish recommendations from three of any combination of teachers, coaches, school administrators, school board officials, employers or leaders of civic or non-profit institutions in which the applicant has participated. There are no economic, political, racial, ethnic, gender or religious criteria for application or selection.

Process

Publicity: The Scholarship Committee will publish this policy and a Scholarship Application Form on the JCDEC website, and advertise that fact through newspapers, meetings, other public outreach, and communication with education officials.

Criteria for award: Jefferson County residence during high school career, Grade Point Average, recommendations, civic engagement, and any other added material submitted by the applicant, such as discussion of educational, cultural, artistic, etc., interests, school papers, artwork or other creative material, career objectives, personal or family history, reflections on issues facing our county, state or country, or any unrequired but relevant material the applicant wishes to submit with the application form, for consideration by the Scholarship Committee. The Committee may also consider other factors at its discretion.

Application Due Date: Initial applications will be due before the second Tuesday in April of each year. The committee will review applications, and select applicants no later than the second Tuesday of May each year. The committee may communicate with applicants, persons offering recommendations, school authorities or others if/as it deems appropriate.

Notification: Applicants, both successful and unsuccessful, will be notified by email as soon as possible, within 10 days of the second Tuesday in May.

Award: The Jefferson County DEC will award at least one scholarship, of at least $500, annually. Award will be made by check, following proof of college acceptance provided by the applicant to the committee. If possible, checks will be presented and the scholarship awardee introduced at the July public meeting of the JCDEC; however, if the applicant is unavailable, he/she may request the check be presented at the June DEC meeting, mailed, or picked up by a representative selected by the applicant at the June DEC meeting or July public meeting.

Scholarship roll: Scholarship recipients will be listed on a Scholarship Roll on the JCDEC website, with the year of award, and the college attended.

Future growth

The JCDEC will incorporate two "stretch" goals in our plans, for 2015 and after, if funds allow:

Our goal will be to award one $500 scholarship each year to a graduating high school senior OR a current college student, from Jefferson County, AND allow an application for each subsequent year that the recipient is still a full time student, with a B or better average the prior year. For institutions not awarding grades, progress reports will be considered. This would mean, over time, between one or more new and a maximum of three continuing awards a year. If achieved, the average by 2017 and beyond may be something like two or three awards, as students get their AA or BA, leave school, miss the B average, or just don't reapply.

2. The JCDEC will attempt to increase the award amount and/or the number of awards over time, funds permitting. For instance, we may be able to add $50 or $100 each year, or add additional scholarships of varying amounts. It depends upon the response of Democrats to the scholarship fund appeals, as well as our general fund-raising results and our level of other expenditures.

Donate to support the scholarship program of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.

COPY THE APPLICATION FORM BELOW AND PASTE IT INTO A WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT. YOU CAN THEN COMPLETE IT ON YOUR COMPUTER, PRINT AND SIGN THE SIGNATURE PAGE, THEN SCAN THAT PAGE AND EMAIL THE ENTIRE APPLICATION, OR PRINT THE ENTIRE APPLICATION AND MAIL IT BY U.S. MAIL. SEE FINAL PAGE FOR DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY REQUEST THAT WE EMAIL OR MAIL YOU AN APPLICATION FORM. TO MAKE YOUR REQUEST, EMAIL democratsofjeffersoncounty@gmail.com. PUT "SCHOLARSHIP" IN THE SUBJECT LINE, AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE NAME AND ADDRESS TO WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE THE APPLICATION FORM TO BE SENT.

APPLICATION FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY, FLORIDA,

DEMOCRATIC PARTY SCHOLARSHIP

For JEFFERSON COUNTY RESIDENT

(REV. 2/3/14)

Section 1. APPLICANT INFORMATION

Name ___________________________________________ Date submitted ___________

*Address _________________________ City _________________ State ____ Zip _____

Phone _____________ Cell phone _____________ Email ______________________

* Residency exception

(Skip if you currently live in Jefferson County)

If current address is not in Jefferson County, what was your earlier Jefferson County address?

Address _________________________ City _________________ State ____ Zip _____

When did you live in Jefferson County? From ____________ To _____________

Reason for leaving? (E.g. to attend college, family moved, job) ___________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Do you have family still living in Jefferson County? Yes ___ No ___

If yes, name(s): ___________________________________________

Address _________________________ City _________________ Florida Zip _______

Relationship to you (e.g. father, mother, grandparent, etc.) ______________________

Section 2. EDUCATION

Current or most recent school attended: _____________________________________

City & state: __________________ Start date _________ End date, if ended ________

Graduation date ___________________ Note: If not graduated, enter anticipated date.

Grade point average last two completed semesters: ________________

Check one: __ copy of transcript or report cards attached or __ see below for name and contact information for a school official who will confirm (get prior agreement)

If printing out the form, insert a page break in place of this sentence.

Applicant name ______________________________ Page 2

Name of school official: __________________________ Title ___________________

School ____________________Telephone _____________ Email ________________

If furnishing contact information instead of copies of transcript or report card, and the two semesters were at two different schools, furnish contact information for second school

Name of school official: __________________________ Title ____________________

School ____________________Telephone _____________ Email ________________

School recognition and awards: List any academic honors or awards, such as honor roll, dean’s list, etc, and/or athletic, ROTC, music, art, service or other recognition received from your school, with dates and brief explanation. You may attach additional pages. If so, be sure to include your name on each page.

______________________________________________________________________

Any extracurricular activities, e.g. student government, clubs, sports, ROTC, cultural, etc. Identify the organization, activity and your role. If desired, add an attachment, with your name on each page.

_____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Section 3. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT and/or OTHER RELEVANT ACTIVITIES

If eligible, have you registered to vote? __ Yes __ No __ Ineligible.

If eligible, did you vote in the last election? __ Yes __ No __Ineligible

Have you taken part in community service or volunteer work, such as at a food pantry, homeless shelter, elder care facility, animal shelter, mentoring, fund raising, community or environmental cleanup, etc.? Donated blood? Donated food or funds? Participated in other community activities, such as parades, plays, scouting, Watermelon Festival, Southern Music Rising, Emancipation Day, or civic organizations, etc.? Have you held a job, and contributed to your/your family’s support? If so, please identify the organization, activity and your role. If desired, add an attachment, with your name on each page.

______________________________________________________________________

If printing out the form, insert page break in place of this sentence.

Applicant name ______________________________ Page 3

Section 4. EDUCATIONAL and/or CAREER GOALS

College(s) you plan to attend: ____________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Have you applied? ____________________________________________________

Been accepted? _____________________ When do you expect to begin your first or

next semester? __________________ What subjects are of greatest interest to you?

___________________________________________________________________

Have you decided on a major, and if so, what? _____________________________

What are you thinking of for your post-college career? ________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Section 5. RECOMMENDATIONS

Furnish recommendations from three teachers, coaches, school administrators, school board officials, employers or leaders of civic or non-profit institutions in which the applicant has participated. At least one recommendation must be from a teacher.

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend _________________________ for award of the Jefferson County Democratic Party Scholarship for the next academic year. This individual possesses the educational level, intelligence, motivation and work habits to be successful in his/her pursuit of higher education.

Name _____________________ Title ______________ Institution ________________

Phone _________________ Email __________________________________________

Additional comments attached __ Yes __ No Signature ________________________

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend _________________________ for award of the Jefferson County Democratic Party Scholarship for the next academic year. This individual possesses the educational level, intelligence, motivation and work habits to be successful in his/her pursuit of higher education.

Name _____________________ Title ______________ Institution ________________

Phone _________________ Email __________________________________________

Additional comments attached __ Yes __ No Signature ________________________

If printing out the form, insert page break in place of this sentence.

Applicant name ______________________________ Page 4

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend _________________________ for award of the Jefferson County Democratic Party Scholarship for the next academic year. This individual possesses the educational level, intelligence, motivation and work habits to be successful in his/her pursuit of higher education.

Name _____________________ Title ______________ Institution ________________

Phone _________________ Email __________________________________________

Additional comments attached __ Yes __ No Signature ________________________

**********

Section 6. ANYTHING YOU WISH TO ADD FOR THE CONSIDERATION

OF THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE.

Examples: You may add material such as community service awards, school papers, artwork or other creative material, discussion of educational, cultural, artistic, etc., interests, career objectives, personal or family history, reflections on issues facing our county, state or country, an essay on a subject of your choosing, or any unrequired but relevant material the applicant wishes to submit with the application form, for consideration by the Scholarship Committee. Be sure your name is on all attached pages. If anything, what have you added?

____________________________________________________________________

Applicant Signature ___________________________________________________

End of form to be completed and submitted by the applicant.

Page 5 This informational page need not be submitted as part of your application

SUBMITTAL INFORMATION

Deliver the completed signed application, pages 1 through 4, and any attachments:

By US Postal Service: Jefferson County Democratic Party

Scholarship

P.O. Box 1074

Monticello, FL 32345

OR scan all pages and email to: democratsofjeffersoncounty@gmail.com Subject: Scholarship

OR hand deliver to the meeting of the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee (JCDEC) on the second Tuesday in April, at 6 pm, at the Jefferson County Teen Center, 555 Tiger Lane, Monticello. Note: Committee meetings are listed on the Events Calendar of the JCDEC website at www.democratsofjeffersoncounty.com.

Due by mail or email before the second Tuesday in April preceding your enrollment in the college term for which you are seeking financial aid, unless you hand deliver to the April meeting of the Democratic Executive Committee.

OUR PROCESS

Notification: We can at this time award only one scholarship annually. Applicants, both successful and unsuccessful, will be notified by email as soon as possible, within 10 days after the second Tuesday in May. The selected recipient of the scholarship MUST provide proof of acceptance to the college in which he/she will use the scholarship BEFORE the award will be issued. If you are notified that you have been selected for the scholarship, use the postal or email address listed above under SUBMITTAL INFORMATION to provide proof of acceptance.

Award: Award will be made by check payable to the applicant and the college, following proof of acceptance provided by the applicant to the committee. If possible, checks will be presented and the scholarship recipient introduced at the July public meeting of the Jefferson County Democratic Party in Monticello; however, if the applicant is unavailable, he/she may request the check be presented at the June Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) meeting, mailed, or picked up by a representative selected by the applicant at the June DEC meeting or July public meeting.

Scholarship roll: Scholarship recipients will be listed on a Scholarship Roll on the JCDEC website, www.democratsofjeffersoncounty.com, with the year of award, and the college attended.