Higher Education Scholarship
2013-2014 Application
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Awarded by the
YOUNG WOMEN’S ALLIANCE FOUNDATION
YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Founded in 1993, the Young Women’s Alliance (YWA) is an organization of women that empowers its
members to develop personally and professionally through educational programs and opportunities to
lead, network, and serve.
The Young Women’s Alliance Foundation (YWAF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by the
Young Women’s Alliance in 1997. The Foundation empowers tomorrow’s female leaders by awarding
educational scholarships for girls and women and providing grants to the organizations that serve
them, ultimately inspiring all women to give back to their community.
PURPOSE OF THE YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP:
Each year, YWAF awards Higher Education Scholarships to women who show commitment to
community service and leadership by dedicating 40 hours to a Community Impact Project. This year’s
award amount is $3,000 per recipient. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide tuition assistance
to these women while they complete their Community Impact Project. A Community Impact Project
can be an event, campaign, dedication of service, or other initiative planned by the recipient.
Competitive projects aim to make a significant impact on the community. (Learn more about the
Community Impact Project by visiting the YWA website.)
SELECTION CRITERIA:
YWAF looks to support women who demonstrate exceptional leadership, academic achievement, and
strong commitment to their community. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on five criteria:
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Long-term commitment to community service (25%)
Demonstrated leadership (25%)
Organized, detailed plan for a Community Impact Project with significant impact (20%)
Academic achievement (15%)
Financial need (15%)
Scholarships must be used for tuition assistance and will be paid directly to the recipient’s university (if
possible) in either the fall of 2014 or spring of 2015. When direct payment to the university is not
possible, the scholarship will be paid directly to the recipient. Recipients will select the semester in
which the Community Impact Project will take place and scholarship money will be used.
YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
To be eligible for the YWAF Higher Education Scholarship, the applicant must:
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Be a female under the age of 40;
Have completed at least 60 undergraduate semester hours or be pursuing a graduate degree at
a university or accredited institution of higher learning within Central Texas (Travis, Caldwell,
Hays, Bastrop, and Williamson counties) during the semester the scholarship will be used;
Be willing and able to complete a minimum of 40 hours of work on a Community Impact Project
during the semester in which the scholarship is requested;
Show a strong commitment to community service and leadership;
Not be a prior recipient of the YWAF Higher Education scholarship.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to a typed and signed application, please submit the following:
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Community Impact Project proposal (found on pages 7-8)
Unofficial college transcripts (for each institution attended)
Résumé
Short bio (found on page 9)
Personal essay (found on page 9)
**Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS:
A panel of judges will review all complete applications submitted by March 1, 2014. Applications must
be submitted via email to scholarships@youngwomensalliance.org and be received by March 1, 2014
at 11:59 p.m. CST. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Competitive applicants will be selected for interviews with members of the Young Women’s Alliance.
2014 interviews will be held in late March. Scholarship recipients will be announced in early April.
Though every effort will be made to adhere to this schedule, dates are subject to change. Applicants
and/or recipients will be notified of any date changes in sufficient time.
YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
IF SELECTED:
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Recipients will be required to attend the YWAF celebration event on the afternoon of Saturday,
May 3rd.
YWA and YWAF reserve the right to use photographs and/or statements of scholarship
recipients in promotional materials.
The scholarship will be paid in two installments. The first payment will be made after YWAF
receives proof of enrollment and a YWAF form from the Community Impact Project supervisor
that outlines a commitment to work on the project for a minimum of 40 hours during the
semester. The second payment will be made near the end of the semester after YWAF receives
a completed YWAF form from the Community Impact Project supervisor indicating completion
of community service as required and, in addition, after the scholarship recipient has submitted
a short story or video to YWAF that elaborates on the recipient’s Community Impact Project
work over the past semester.
APPLICATION MUST BE SENT VIA EMAIL:
To:
scholarships@youngwomensalliance.org
Subject Line: Submission for YWAF 2013 - 2014 Higher Education Scholarship
*Attachments should be Word or PDF documents only.
QUESTIONS?
See our website: www.youngwomensalliance.org/scholarships/
You can also contact the Higher Education Scholarship chair and the VP of Giving at
scholarships@youngwomensalliance.org
RESOURCES
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College costs in Texas are listed at www.collegeforalltexans.com. Click on “Get the Facts” and
“College Costs”.
Information about the importance of scholarships and resources for completing a scholarship or
admissions essay are available at www.ownyourownfuture.com.
You should file your 2014-2015 FAFSA as early as possible in 2014 at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Your
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be included in your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you
have not yet filed your FAFSA or have not yet received your SAR, complete the FAFSA4Caster at
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov and use the information generated in that report to complete the
application.
YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
2013-2014 HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM
GENERAL INFORMATION:
First Name:
Middle Initial:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Phone Number:
E-Mail Address:
How did you hear about this scholarship?
YWA Website
Referral: (Name) ____________________________
Zip Code:
College/Institution
Social Media
Other: ____________________________
INFORMATION FOR COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY YOU PLAN TO ATTEND IN 2014-2015:
College/University Name:
Expected Graduation Date:
What type of degree will you pursue?
Have you been accepted to this program?
Anticipated Major/Minor:
Semester Requested for Scholarship:
(select one)
Fall of 2014
Spring of 2015
CURRENT COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY INFORMATION (IF APPLICABLE):
College/University Name:
Grade Point Average (indicate out of 4.0 or 5.0):
What type of degree are you pursuing?
Dates of Attendance:
Declared Major/Minor:
Expected Graduation Date:
PREVIOUS COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY INFORMATION (IF APPLICABLE):
College/University Name:
Grade Point Average (indicate out of 4.0 or 5.0):
Declared Major/Minor:
Dates of Attendance:
YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Institution you plan to attend in 2014-2015:
Annual Educational Costs (Fall 2014-Spring 2015):
Estimated Cost of Tuition & Fees:
$___________
Estimated Cost of Books & Materials:
$___________
Other Academic Expenses (please specify):___________________________________
TOTAL COST:
$___________
$___________
Annual Educational Contributions (Fall 2014-Spring 2015):
Personal Funds Contributed to Education:
$___________
Private Loans:
$___________
Parental Support:
$___________
Spousal Support:
$___________
Other Scholarships or Grants Awarded:
$___________
Other Contributions (please specify): _______________________________________
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS:
$___________
$___________
Total: (Total Cost) $__________ - (Total Contributions) $___________ = Unmet Expenses: $______________
Have you submitted the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)
for the 2014-2015 school year? _______________________
If not, why not? _________________________________________________________________
YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECT PROPOSAL
Note: Competitive projects aim to make a significant impact on the community. Additionally, all projects
must be done as a volunteer project or unpaid internship and should be completed in the semester selected
for the scholarship (pages 3-4). Scholarship money will not be fully paid until the Community Impact Project
is completed.
For additional information and details, please visit www.youngwomensalliance.org/scholarships.
Describe the organization you will work with for your Community Impact Project and why you are
choosing that particular organization.
Provide a detailed outline of the project and what you hope to accomplish. (Attach additional pages
if necessary.)
YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
Tell us about your passion and motivation for this project.
Provide the short-term goals you will accomplish during your semester of involvement.
The information below should be completed by the intended supervisor for your project.
Name:
Email Address:
Title:
Organization:
Supervisor’s signature:
Date:
YWAF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
Please attach the following documents to your completed application.
UNOFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS:
Attach unofficial transcripts for each previous college or university you have attended.
RÉSUMÉ:
Attach a one-page résumé highlighting your extracurricular and leadership involvement – as well as your
volunteer work (including positions held and number of hours spent).
SHORT BIO:
In 100 words or fewer, please tell us about you, your current school, your major, interesting facts, how this
scholarship will help you, and/or anything else that will help us know you better as an individual. Please
write your bio in the third person.
Note: If you are selected as a scholarship recipient, this statement or a portion of it will be used on the
Young Women’s Alliance website. Note that last year’s scholarship recipient bios are available on the YWA
website for guidance.
PERSONAL ESSAY:
Please include a personal statement about why you should be chosen to receive this scholarship.
Information might include your motivation to get the degree you are pursuing, life experiences that have
changed you, or anything else you believe the reviewing committee should know about you. (Your essay
should be in 12-point font, Arial or Times New Roman, double spaced, and fewer than 500 words.)
SIGNATURE:
I CERTIFY THAT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN MY APPLICATION PACKET:
Completed and signed application form
Community Impact Project proposal (may be included within application)
Unofficial college transcripts
Résumé
Short bio
Personal essay
I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS APPLICATION IS TRUE AND CORRECT. I HAVE READ THE ELIGIBILITY
AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS THE “IF SELECTED” SECTION OF THIS APPLICATION AND AGREE TO FULFILL
ALL REQUIREMENTS REQUESTED. I ALSO AGREE THAT YWA MAY USE MY RESPONSE TO THE “SHORT BIO” SECTION TO
MARKET THE SCHOLARSHIP ON THEIR WEBSITE AND OTHER MARKETING MATERIALS.
x ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT’S SIGNATURE:
DATE: