SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Vision Statement:
As a partner with the community, the AEP Cook Nuclear Plant hopes to
foster excellence and growth in technical disciplines of study for local
students pursuing post secondary education.
Mission Statement:
To encourage Berrien County high school students to explore and excel in
the areas of engineering and other technical disciplines and to provide
scholarship support for pursuing those technical goals.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Description of Scholarship Award
The Heart of Cook Scholarship Program, administered by the Berrien Community Foundation, is an
award of $5,000 paid to qualifying students over a four (4) year period, dependent on funds
available and meeting of renewal criteria. It can be used for tuition, books, fees, and other costs, but not
for room and board. The award will be paid as follows:
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Beginning of Freshman Year - $1,000
Beginning of Sophomore Year - $1,000
Beginning of Junior Year - $1,500
Beginning of Senior Year - $1,500
Please note: The Heart of Cook Scholarship Program requires that annual criteria be met for the
continuation of the scholarship. See criteria for continuing the scholarship below.
Eligibility Criteria
For a student to be considered for the Heart of Cook Scholarship Program the student must meet
the following criteria:
The student must:
 Be enrolled in a Berrien County school
o Or be a resident of Berrien County in a home school program
 Demonstrate qualities of a conscientious citizen
 Demonstrate high moral character
 Demonstrate a potential for success in an engineering or technical discipline and
plan to pursue an engineering or technical degree (a strong background in Math
and Science is highly encouraged)
 Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale or a 4.0 or better on a
5.0 scale
 Have completed classes throughout high school career geared towards the
engineering or technical curriculum
 Is not eligible for the AEP Educational Awards program
 Is not an immediate family member of an AEP employee. Immediate family
includes spouses, children, stepchildren, grandchildren and step grandchildren.
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Heart of Cook Scholarship Program Guidelines
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Procedure for Application
High school seniors applying for the Heart of Cook Scholarship Program must complete the
following steps by March 6 of the current year:
1. Your name and Social Security Number on a separate piece of paper. This information will
be kept secure at the Foundation, only be used by BCF staff, and not shared with committee
members, etc. The Social Security Number is required.
2. Complete the Heart of Cook Scholarship Application (The application MUST be
typed).
3. Provide two (2) one-page letters of recommendation from adults who are not family
members
o At least one of these letters must be from a teacher or guidance counselor
at the applicants High School
For home school students one of the letters of recommendation
should be from a primary instructor
o The letters of recommendation should include the nature of the
relationship to the student
o The letter should be directly related to this scholarship
4. A one or two page personal essay, typed, stating your career goals and how a
scholarship would help you accomplish these goals. It is suggested you touch on a
couple of the following considerations:
o What career path is being considered
o What degree and what sparked interest in the degree path
o What criteria was used in selecting the university of choice
Selection Criteria
Selection of the scholarship finalists will be determined by the Berrien Community Foundation
Scholarship Review Committee. The committee will select the scholarship finalists based on their
academic achievement, personal recommendations, essay, and non-academic activities (including
work experience, volunteer work, community involvement, and social groups).
Scholarship Application Distribution
The Berrien Community Foundation will provide copies to high schools in Berrien County. The
application will also be available on its web site at www.berriencommunity.org (Scholarship page).
For questions, please contact 269-983-3304, Scholarships
The scholarship recipient will be required to maintain a grade point average of a minimum 2.0 per semester
(overall) on a 4.0 scale. The Berrien Community Foundation will contact the student via memo each July for
verification of GPA and will also request other materials (e.g., class schedule). A student must submit these
materials and meet the GPA requirement for the next scholarship payment to be issued.
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Heart of Cook Scholarship Program Guidelines
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Criteria for Continuing Scholarship
To continue to be eligible for the Heart of Cook Scholarship the student must meet the following
criteria:
 Must have been a recipient of the Heart of Cook Scholarship initially
 Continue to demonstrate a potential for success in an engineering or technical
discipline and continue to pursue an engineering or technical degree (a strong
background in Math and Science is highly encouraged)
 Must exhibit a balance of maintaining their GPA with extra curricular activities
and/or service projects
 Maintain GPA minimum of 2.0 per semester (overall) on a 4.0 scale based on
most recent semester or quarter
 Must provide the information requested by the Berrien Community Foundation
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Heart of Cook Scholarship Program Guidelines
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION-Must be typed
Applicant Information - Must Be Typed
Name: Click here to enter text.
Address: Click here to enter text.
City: Click here to enter text. State:
Zip:
Primary Phone: Click here to enter text. Cell Phone: Click here to enter text.
Email: Click here to enter text. Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy):
Are you a U.S. Citizen? ☐Yes ☐No (proof of citizenship or authorization to be in the U.S. will be
required, if a scholarship is awarded)
If not a U.S. citizen, what type of visa do you hold? Click here to enter text.
Marital Status:
Single ☐ Married ☐
Current Grade Level: ☐11th ☐12th
High School Information
High School: Click here to enter text.
GPA: Click here to enter text.
ACT score: Click here to enter text.
School Counselor: Click here to enter text. Email: Click here to enter text.
Phone: Click here to enter text.
Rank: Click here to enter text.in a class of Click here to enter text.
Ranking computed on the basis of: ☐all subjects taken; ☐college prep subjects only
Graduation Date: Click here to enter text.
School Awards Ceremony (include date & time): Click here to enter text.
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Scholarship Application
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
College/University Information
List the U.S. schools to which you have applied for admission in order of preference:
1. Click here to enter text. Were you accepted? Yes ☐ No ☐ Pending ☐
2. Click here to enter text. Were you accepted? Yes ☐ No ☐ Pending ☐
3. Click here to enter text. Were you accepted? Yes ☐ No ☐ Pending ☐
Education Plans: Click here to enter text.
College Major: Click here to enter text.
College Major: Click here to enter text.
Type of Career Planned for: Click here to enter text.
School, Church and Community Leadership Activities
Using the space below, please list school, church or community activities in which you have
participated during the past four years. Please list the activities in order of importance to
you. You may attach additional information if necessary.
Organization
# of
Leadership Position, Awards and
Years
Recognition
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Scholarship Application
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Academic Honors
Using the space below please list academic honors you have received during high school.
Honor or Award
Year(s) Received
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Applicant Work History
Using only the space below, please list your paid work experience, beginning with your most
recent.
Employer
Nature of Work
Click here to enter text.
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Scholarship Application
Dates of
Employment
Hours per
Week
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Family Information
Name of Parents/Guardians: Click here to enter text.
Father’s Employer: Click here to enter text.
Father’s Occupation:
Click here to enter text.
Mother’s Employer: Click here to enter text.
Mother’s Occupation: Click here to enter text.
Number of Siblings:
Older: Click here to enter text.
Younger: Click here to enter text.
Number of family members (including parents) in college: Click here to enter text.
Explain: Click here to enter text.
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Scholarship Application
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Signatures – cannot be electronic signatures. Must submit a signed hard copy
Certification:
I acknowledge that the information in this application is correct to the best of my knowledge. I fully
understand that if an award is given to me, it is for the purpose of post-high school education. In the
event that I do not enter a post-high school program, terminate the program prior to using the award, or
receive other financial assistance (Pell grants, scholarships, tuition grants, etc.) that cover, in its entirety,
any tuition, room and board, or class material costs, I will relinquish claim to the award in order that it
might be given to another student.
This scholarship, like all scholarships awarded through the Berrien Community Foundation, is made at
the discretion of the Board of Trustees. The Berrien Community Foundation Board of Trustees preserves
the right to rescind any or all of this scholarship due to unanticipated circumstances.
Signature of Applicant
Date:
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Permission to Release Information:
We accept the terms of this scholarship program and permission is granted to the Berrien Community
Foundation to seek verification of any information provided in this application from any source, for review
by the officers and trustees of the Foundation or any other person authorized by the Foundation. We
hereby release from liability any person submitting information to the Foundation for use in the selection
of scholarship recipients.
Signature of Applicant
Date:
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Parent/Guardian
Signature:
Date:
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Return this completed form and all support material to:
Berrien Community Foundation
2900 S. State Street, Suite 2 East
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: 269-983-3304, Scholarships
Questions may also be directed to this number
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Scholarship Application
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Application is due to the Berrien Community Foundation no
later than March 6 of the current year.
Before Turning in Your Application
Please be sure to include the following:
Your name and Social Security Number on a separate piece of paper. This information will be kept
secure at the Foundation, only be used by BCF staff, and not shared with committee members, etc. The
Social Security Number is required.
High school transcript, and if not included on this transcript, ACT transcript
A copy of college acceptance letter
Two (2) one-page letters of recommendation from adults who are not family members
 At least one of these letters must be from a teacher or guidance counselor at the
applicants High School
o For home school students letters of recommendation should be from primary
instructors, preferably not a parent
 The letters of recommendation should include the nature of the relationship to the
student
 The letter should be directly related to this scholarship
A one to two page, personal essay, typed, stating your career goals and how a scholarship would
help you accomplish these goals
A completed Heart of Cook Scholarship Application Form
Any additional requirements as outlined in the scholarship descriptions
If you have any questions, call (269) 983-3304, Scholarships. School counselors will be notified by the Foundation
around May 1 regarding the scholarship recipient(s). Around May 5, the recipients' names will be posted on the
Foundation's Web site at www.berriencommunity.org. In mid-May, scholarship recipients will receive invitations to the
Foundation’s June 11 scholarship event. At this event, certificates will be presented. An official memo with information on
how to access the scholarship will be sent by the Foundation to recipients by the end of June. The scholarship will be
paid directly to the college/university on the student's behalf by mid September, if this information is provided.
The application MUST be typed, no staples. Please do not put the completed application package
in any type of binder. Simply paper clip pages in upper left hand corner. It must be postmarked by
a post office.
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Scholarship Application