ImperialValleyLiving.Com

March 30, 2010

By Community Report

The Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program Community Foundation (IVROPCF) has created the IVROPCF Educational Scholarship Fund (ESF) to provide scholarships to students attending a career technical school, community college or a university.

Under the IVROPCF-ESF program, in partnership with local and national businesses and local public and private schools, local eligible students will be selected to receive a scholarship award that will help them pursue their educational endeavors.

The IVROPCF will award scholarships to qualified students who enroll and have been accepted to an accredited career technical school, community college or university in the United States. Awards range from $1,000, $750 and $500. All awards will be disbursed no later than June 30, 2010. Scholarships may be used for the payment of tuition, academic fees, room, board and the purchase of required educational materials, books or equipment.

ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for a scholarship:

1. Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
2. Must be a resident of the Imperial Valley.
3. Must be enrolled in a career technical school, community college or a university as an entering freshman.
4. Must apply in only one of the four types of scholarships awards (Scholastic Achievement, Exemplary Community Involvement, IVROP Student & General).
5. A student will not be eligible for a scholarship if he/she is related to a scholarship committee member, a foundation member or an individual contributor to the local funds of the IVROPCF ESF.

AWARD CRITERIA: Eligible applicants must select one from the following four types of scholarships on the IVROPCF-ESF Application (Page 3):

Scholastic Achievement Awards: (One $1,000 Award, One $750 Award, One $500 Award)

• Student must have completed high school with at least a 3.25 GPA on a scale of 4.0 or equivalent
• Also the student must have scored 23 or higher on the ACT test, or 1,100 or higher on the SAT test.

Exemplary Community Involvement Awards: (One $1,000 Award, One $750 Award, One $500 Award)

• The candidate must be actively involved in a community development/improvement project with a recognized entity (e.g. school, church, community based organization, etc.) and have at least a 2.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 or equivalent. Applicants in this category should demonstrate their Exemplary Community Involvement with a letter of recommendation from a community organization. The letter of recommendation should clearly describe the exemplary community involvement project and the number of hours served by the applicant.

IVROP Student Awards: (One $1,000 Award, One $750 Award, One $500 Award)

• The candidate must have successfully completed at least one IVROP year long class (or equivalent) at the student’s high school and have at least a 2.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 or equivalent. In this category, applicants will be selected on the quality and content of their personal essay. Applicants must also have a letter of recommendation from an IVROP teacher, school counselor, IVROP Guidance Technicians or any other IVROP employee.

General Awards: (One $1,000 Award, One $750 Award & One $500 Award)

• Student must have completed high school with at least a 2.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 or equivalent. In this category, applicants will be selected on the quality and content of their personal essay. Applicants must also have a letter of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, or other member from the community.

APPLICATION PROCESS:In order to be considered for an IVROPCF-ESF scholarship, the applicant must submit the following:

• Completed and signed application.
• Verification of admittance and enrollment from the institution the student will be attending (i.e.
• letter of acceptance, letter from the registrar, etc.).
• Official High School Transcripts with most recent GPA.
• Copy of the student’s ACT or SAT score report (if applicable).
• Word Processed typed or neatly printed personal essay of not more than 600 words responding
• to one of the three options listed in the Personal Essay section of this application (page 4).
• Depending on the category, make sure to include: letters of recommendation, documents proving community service (i.e. time sheets, letter from organization on letterhead with the description of the service and total number of hours served, etc.) and/or other related and relevant type evidence.
• Resume.

The completed application, essay and other supporting documents must be either mailed or hand delivered to the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program Community Foundation office located at 687 State Street, El Centro, CA 92243, Attention: ESF Committee on the deadline day as specified in the IVROPCF Educational Scholarship Fund Timeline listed below. Incomplete or untimely applications will not be considered for scholarships. Please note that the IVROPCF-ESF may require additional supporting information and/or a personal interview to determine eligibility.

IVROPCF Educational Scholarship Fund Timeline:

• March 12, 2010: Scholarship applications are issued.
• April 16, 2010: Application, essay and supporting documents must be received by IVROP office personnel by 5:00 PM.
• May 7, 2010: Selected applicants will be notified of scholarship award.
• June 30, 2010: Scholarship disbursement issued to selected and eligible applicants. (Letter of acceptance must be submitted on or before the time of disbursement).

Awards must be claimed within a 24-month period. In special circumstances, the board will accept a written request for an extension to the 24-month period. The letter must explain in detail why the participant is requesting the disbursement extension. The acceptance of the letter does not guarantee that the award will still be available.