1. Thank you for inviting me to share our scholarship opportunities!
The Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s focus is on Equity and Education.
We are committed to helping students in Kalamazoo County achieve their full potential, and through our scholarship opportunities, help students to reach their post-secondary educational goals.

3. HISTORY
1925
Dr. W.E. Upjohn
Established Kalamazoo Community Foundation with a $1,000 gift of stock
Today
All thanks to the forethought of generous donors in our community, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s scholarship program is able to award over $1 million dollars each year to local students.
The Kalamazoo Community Foundation is your foundation. We serve Kalamazoo County, with service to Van Buren County. Established in 1925
We are a nonprofit that serves charitably-minded individuals who wish to establish funds that support the needs in the area – we invest the dollars and the growth from the funds are used to award grants to nonprofit organizations in our community.
We also administer a large scholarship program.

4. $1,083,005 in total scholarship awards 336 awards 57 scholarship funds
In 2018 we awarded over 1 million in scholarship awards to high school seniors, traditional and non-traditional college undergraduates, graduate students, and students in vocational programs.
We are one place to check for scholarships.

5. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
High school guidance counselor
College or university you enroll in
KZCF Scholarship Catalog
Scholarship Search: (currently being updated)
Free scholarship searches on the web
Place of employment
News Resources
Here are the major sources of scholarship information.

6. SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS Ask for money up front Offer a money-back guarantee
Claim that they have scholarship information you can’t get anywhere else
Ask for a credit card or bank account number
Claim they will search and apply for a fee
Claim you won a scholarship, but must pay to receive it
The government has given these six warning signs that may indicate the information you are receiving, regarding scholarships, is a scam.

7. TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS Nomination Scholarships – no application
Excellence in Education – academic
Jack Moss – sports-related
Competitive Scholarships – student applies
1) Merit-based Scholarships
Based on GPA, major or other criteria
Bhargava Family
Woodruff/Shipman
Derek Jeter Scholarship
2) Financial Need-based Scholarships
Need is determined by the FAFSA
Clarence L. Remynse
Love Where You Live
Kalamazoo Science Foundation
There are two types of scholarships and grants.
Non-Competitive Scholarships – Student doesn’t apply, but is nominated by their school, counselor, athletic direction, coach, etc.
Competitive Scholarships – Student has to fill out an application or submit something in order to be considered.
There are two types of competitive scholarships – merit-based and need-based
I’ve given you examples of some of the scholarships that we offer in each category.

8. FAFSA – Information & Completion
Kalamazoo Area Financial Aid Night KRESA Wile Auditorium
Monday, November 5th
7:00 p.m.
If you know of someone that wanted to come this evening but couldn’t, or if you’d like to hear it again, we will be hosting a financial aid night at KRESA’s Wile Auditorium (just down the street) on Monday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m.

9. Cost of (College) Attendance
Tuition and fees
Room and board
Books and supplies
Transportation
Miscellaneous
The cost of attendance includes all of these components, which is the total figure that your calculated financial need is based upon.
However, you will only be billed for tuition and fees, and room and board if the student lives on campus.
The scholarships through the Kalamazoo Community Foundation may be applied to anything within the cost of education. They are not limited to tuition.

10. BEAT(don’t just meet) the DEADLINE
BUILD A BETTER
APPLICATION
Keep copies of everything
Follow-up with the organization
Choose your references wisely
Proof your application & use spell check
These building blocks will work, not only for scholarship applications, but also for college admission applications.
Keep lists of your activities and work experience and the hours you participated in a community service or volunteer activity.
Make sure you follow the instructions carefully. One application may ask for a resume – we do not accept a resume.
Most of our scholarships require an essay and this is the time to market yourself, . Make your essay interesting – not just a statement of facts. If at all possible, start with a story or experience that applies to your plans for the future. Having said this, be sure you answer the essay question!
Not all scholarships require recommendations, but if they do, choose your references wisely. If you are applying for more than one scholarship, ask the person writing the reference not to mention a specific scholarship in their letter, that way it can be used for more than one scholarship. Our web-based application has the capacity for you to your reference person and for them to attach their letter to the application. They aren’t able to see the application and you aren’t able to see the letter. If a scholarship asks for a reference from a specific person, like a coach, be sure you have a letter from them. We have had to reject applications because the student didn’t have a reference letter from a coach or other professional, depending upon the criteria for the scholarship. Again, read the directions for each scholarship carefully.
Always follow up with the organization to which you are submitting an application to be sure the application has been received and is complete. Even though our scholarship application is online, sometimes students forget to hit the “submit” button. Because everything is electronic, you need to check with the organization to be sure the references have been received. There may be times when you need to remind the person that is writing a referral that it hasn’t been received.
Beat, don’t just meet the deadline.
Write an essay pertinent to the scholarship
Read and follow the instructions carefully
Keep a list of school & volunteer activities

11. CLARENCE REMYNSE SCHOLARSHIP
THIS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE NOW AT
Graduating high school senior and a Kalamazoo County resident or
attends a Kalamazoo County high school.
Financial need (file FAFSA no later than March 1)
Business, Science, Engineering, Education, Psychology, Law, Medicine
Planning to seek an undergraduate degree, full-time student
Demonstration of Leadership & Service
December 1 Deadline Renewable Awards of $250-$7,500
Now, I’d like to talk a little about specific scholarships. The Remynse Scholarship is our largest scholarship program averaging about new recipients each year. The awards are based on “need” and can be anywhere from $250 to $7500 annually. It is renewable for three additional years beyond the first year.

12. 2019 General Application
Available at the end of December
One online application – and we will let you know what scholarship(s) you are eligible for and we’ll let you know if we need additional information from you.
46 Scholarships for post secondary education
Recommendations and transcripts can be uploaded into application
March 1 deadline, unless stated otherwise
Our General Application, called eGrant, will be available on our website by the end of December, 2018
Students can complete the online application at one time, or they can complete portions and return later to continue working on it. Once the application is submitted, our application software will determine which scholarship you’re eligible for and we’ll let you know what they are. Some scholarships might require additional documents beyond what you’ve already submitted, so be sure to check your for any communications from us.
Scholarship personnel at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation will process the submitted applications and will make sure that the applications given to the scholarship committees are complete. If they aren’t, the application will not be considered. That’s why it is very important for students to follow up with the people they ask for recommendations – if a recommendation is required and to make sure that you complete other forms if we have notified you that there are additional forms needed.

13. Love Where You Live Scholarship
Student who is a permanent resident of Kalamazoo County or graduate from a high school within Kalamazoo County
Demonstrate financial need
Pursue a two- or four-year degree or vocational certification full-time at a college/university or program within the State of Michigan
GPA and demonstrate school/community involvement, leadership & work ethic
Multiple awards up to $2,000 (renewable)
March 1 deadline
The next few slides are examples of specific scholarships available through the web-based eGrant application. The Partners in Education Scholarship requires the essay question, and at least one letter of reference.
You can also see that there is a minimum and maximum GPA that is required. Students below a 2.80 and above a 3.80 GPA should not apply for this scholarship.

14. EARL HAAS SCHOLARSHIP
Must be a resident of Kalamazoo County or a student graduating or graduated from a high school or alternative school or received a GED within Kalamazoo County
Planning to enroll full- or part-time in a two- or four-year degree program or vocational or technology training
Must demonstrate financial need
March 1 deadline Awards up to $500
The Earl Haas Scholarship is also one of our newer scholarships. It is for the traditional or non-traditional student. For a four-year degree or a certificate or vocational training. Students must demonstrate financial need.

15. EDMOND WOODRUFF & BETH WOODRUFF SHIPMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Graduating high school senior who is a Kalamazoo County resident or attends a high school within Kalamazoo County
Minimum 3.80 GPA and 1400 SAT or 30 ACT
Demonstration of leadership & service
Full-time enrollment, four-year college/university
Awards up to $1,000
March 1 Deadline
The Woodruff Memorial Scholarship is a merit scholarship and has a minimum GPA and ACT score requirement. This requires the essay question and two letters of reference.

16. BHARGAVA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
Graduating high school senior who is a Kalamazoo County resident or attends a high school within Kalamazoo County
Minimum 3.75 GPA and 28 ACT or 1320 SAT
Demonstration of leadership & service
Full-time enrollment, four-year college/university
Preference given to Portage Public School students/KAMSC/Asian Indian
Awards of $1,000
March 1 Deadline
The Bhargava Family Scholarship is a merit scholarship and has a minimum GPA and ACT score requirement. This requires the essay question and two letters of reference. It also has a preference for Portage Public Schools seniors or KAMSC or Asian Indian, but not required.

17. ANN N. MacGREGOR SCHOLARSHIP
Student who is a permanent resident of Kalamazoo County or graduating or graduated from a Kalamazoo County high school
Full-time enrollment in a regionally accredited degree-granting institution in the visual arts
Minimum 2.75 GPA; Minimum $1,000
Financial need may be a consideration
March 1 deadline
This scholarship is for students planning to study in the visual arts.

18. E. EARL WRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP
Must be a resident of Kalamazoo County or a student graduating or graduated or received a GED from a school within Kalamazoo County
Planning to enroll full- or part-time in a two year degree program or vocational or technology training
Minimum 2.00 GPA
Demonstration of extracurricular/volunteer activities and work experience
March 1 deadline Awards up to $1,000
The E. Earl Wright Scholarship is also an example of a merit scholarship. This has a minimum 2.00 GPA and requires the essay question and two letters of reference – one from a teacher and one from an employer or supervisor. This scholarship is for students interested in a vocational or technology school or a community college getting an associates degree.

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