Richland School District Two Education
Foundation
Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship
The Richland Two Education Foundation Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship is established to
honor the legacy of former Richland School District Two Superintendent Dr. Stephen W.
Hefner. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to worthy students to pursue their
dreams of earning a college degree. The $5,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a
student in the district. Applications will be accepted through April 30, 2015. Deadline
extensions will not be granted, and incomplete applications will not be considered or
reviewed.
Application Requirements
In addition to submitting the application and academic, leadership and service information, applicants
are required to complete the following:
Essay
As a requirement for the Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship program, applicants must complete a
500-word essay to address the question below.
Throughout his career Dr. Hefner advocated for others. Before he became superintendent of Richland
Two, Dr. Hefner pursued leadership roles to inspire and advocate for those around him. Describe how
your leadership and service has made a positive difference in your school, in your community, in your
family and/or on the job, and how your actions and service will continue to make a difference in
college and beyond.
Nomination/Recommendation/Academic Verification
To demonstrate leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship, applicants for the Stephen W. Hefner
Scholarship must secure a nomination, a recommendation and an academic verification according to
the guidelines below. Applications that do not include these components will be ineligible for
consideration.
Nomination
Applicants must secure one nomination from a demonstrated community leader with significant
authority and responsibility. Suggested nominators include elected officials, high school administrators
or executive directors/presidents of nonprofit organizations. Nominators will be asked to address, on
the attached form, the applicant’s overall leadership, service, drive, integrity, and citizenship.
Nominators may nominate only one applicant per application year.
Recommendation
Applicants must secure one recommendation from an authority figure with personal knowledge of
their leadership and service. Recommenders will be asked to address the applicant’s leadership,
service, drive, integrity and citizenship in the context of his or her extracurricular activities, volunteer
service, sports participation, work experience, and/or family involvement. Suggested recommenders
include student activity advisors, community service coordinators, coaches, employers, teachers,
counselors or religious leaders. Please see the attached form.
Academic Verification
Applicants’ academic records must be verified by a school counselor.
APPLICATION CRITERIA
 The scholarship is open to high school seniors who will be attending technical colleges,
two-year and/or four-year colleges.
 All applicants must complete an application form.
 Applicants will be judged on scholastic achievement, overall leadership, service, integrity
and community involvement.
 Applications must be accompanied by a 500-word essay written by the applicant.
 The applicant must have achieved at least a 2.5 grade point average based on a 4-point
scale.
 The applicant must be nominated and have one reference.
The Scholarship Selection Committee will review the applications and attachments and make
the award selection based on the above criteria. All awards will be made without regard to
race, religion, color, national origin, gender or disability. No members of the committee, nor
family members of the committee, will be eligible to receive benefits from this fund.
APPLICATION PROCESS
All applicants must complete the Stephen W. Hefner application form and submit it along
with the required attachments to:
Richland School District Two Education Foundation
Scholarship Committee c/o Communications and Strategic Partnerships
6831 Brookfield Rd.
Columbia, SC 29206
If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Bruton, Communications Manager for
Strategic Partnerships, at abruton@richland2.org.
All applications must be POSTMARKED BY April 30, 2015.
Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship
Application
I.
Student Background Information
Name of Applicant
Home Address
First
Street
City
Email Address
II.
Middle
Last
Zip
Date of Birth
Telephone
Female
Male
High School Information (to be provided by guidance counselor or advisor)
Name of School:
Address:
Guidance Counselor or Advisor:
Cumulative GPA:
on a
Phone #:
point scale
Class Rank:
out of
___________________________________ (signature of Guidance Counselor or Advisor)
When do you anticipate graduating?
Month:
Year:
To what colleges/schools have you applied?__________________________________________
III.
Extracurricular Activities
List activities, clubs, organizations, sports, or hobbies in which you have participated and offices held:
Activity #1:
Dates Involved:
Activity #2:
Dates Involved:
Activity #3:
Dates Involved:
Please use this space to record additional information you feel would be of interest to the scholarship
committee.
Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship Application
REFERENCE FORM
Name of Student:
How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
Please describe the applicant and indicate why you feel he or she should be considered for a
scholarship award.
Please rate the applicant on the traits below.
Excellent
Good
Average
Below
No Basis
Average for Rating
Character/Reputation
Leadership
Service
Interpersonal Relationships
Maturity/Self Esteem
Intellectual Ability
Oral/Written Expression
Dependability
Cooperation
Name of Reference:
Phone #:
Signature:
Date:
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS REFERENCE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE STUDENT IN A
SEALED ENVELOPE WITH YOUR SIGNATURE ON THE BACK SEAL.
Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship
Nomination Form
Applicants must secure one nomination from a demonstrated community leader with significant authority
and responsibility. Nominators are asked to address the applicant’s overall leadership, service, drive,
integrity and citizenship. Nominators may nominate only one applicant per application school year.
Name____________________________________Date_________
(signature)
Phone Number__________________________________________
Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship Application
ESSAY
(Please type. Essay should be 500 words and be signed and dated by applicant.)
Signature of Applicant
Date