P.O. Box 4310 • Arlington, VA 22204-9998 • novac@dstnovac.org
Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
Scholarship Application Guidelines and Requirements
In 2016, the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter (NoVAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, in
collaboration with its Foundation, the Northern Virginia Delta Education and Community Service (NVDECS)
Foundation, will award up to $20,000 in scholarships to outstanding students residing in our service area: City of
Alexandria, Arlington County, City of Falls Church, City of Fairfax, and the portion of Fairfax County that has an
Alexandria mailing address.
The educational initiatives of the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated are
a significant aspect of the sorority’s activities. All scholarship recipients must demonstrate academic potential,
citizenship/leadership, school activities/honors, community involvement and activities, financial need, and must attend
an accredited college or university in the United States.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a NoVAC Scholarship, an applicant must:
1. Reside in the NoVAC service area, which includes: the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, City of Falls
Church, City of Fairfax, and the portion of Fairfax County that has a City of Alexandria mailing address.
2. Be a graduating high school senior in the 2015-2016 academic school year.
3. Submitted a formal application to enroll with intent to attend a college or university accredited by one of the
regional commissions within the six geographic areas that cover the United States and participate in a
curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree.
4. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale, or a 3.5 or greater on a 5.0
scale, as verified by an official high school transcript or by an accompanying certification from an appropriate
school official (e.g. School Registrar or Guidance Counselor).
5. Score at least 1200 on the SAT or 18 on the ACT. A copy of official documentation of SAT/ACT scores must
be submitted with the application. This may be a copy of the official score report sent by the College Board
and/or ACT, Inc. or an official high school transcript with scores. The SAT score must be comprised of total
points from the reading, mathematics, and writing sections of the test from a single testing date. No updated
test scores, academic scores, or rankings will be accepted by NoVAC after the application due date.
6. Complete and pass all necessary standardized tests for graduation.
Scholarship Application Requirements
1. All applications must be POSTMARKED (for U.S. Postal Service submissions) or TIME STAMPED (for
electronic mail submissions) ON or BEFORE 11:59:59 PM ET, February 27, 2016. An application is not
complete until NoVAC receives ALL required documents via U.S. Postal Service or electronic submission ON or
BEFORE 11:59:59 PM ET, February 27, 2016. Incomplete or late applications will NOT be accepted or
considered for a NoVAC Scholarship Award. Applicants may submit completed applications, résumés, financial
need documentation, essays, and letters of recommendation via email to scholarship@dstnovac.org or the U.S.
Postal Service to the address below. Official transcripts must be mailed to:
Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 4310
Arlington, VA 22204-9998
2. Applicants must type ALL responses on the application. NoVAC will NOT accept handwritten applications.
3. Applicants must answer ALL questions on the application. If a section does not apply, write “NONE” or “N/A”
(for not applicable). Applicants may submit additional pages if more space is needed. The applicant MUST put
his/her full name on all additional pages.
4. Applications are not considered complete if not signed and dated by the applicant AND a parent/guardian.
5. The following must be submitted to be considered a complete application:
a. An official academic transcript (displaying the official school seal) with a cumulative grade point average
OR signed by an appropriate school administrator (e.g. School Registrar or Guidance Counselor) in a
sealed envelope
i. The current high school transcript must include Grades 9-11 and all available senior year grades
b. A copy of applicant’s FAFSA Student Aid Report which includes the student’s calculated EFC (estimated
family contribution). Applicant MUST submit a copy of the FAFSA Student Aid Report even if the family
is not requesting federal assistance for financial aid. Applicants that fail to submit a FAFSA Student Aid
Report with their application will NOT be evaluated by NoVAC. Applicants will need information from
their parent/guardian/family 2015 Federal Income Tax Return to complete the FAFSA.
c. An essay addressing the prompt related to imagery of African-Americans and other minorities in our
community (local and global) through the mediums of music, dance, drama, poetry, radio, television, and
print media. NoVAC will NOT accept handwritten essays. All essays must be typed. Applicants must
write the essay in English and use appropriate grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation. All sources
must be appropriately cited using American Psychological Association (APA) or Modern Language
Association (MLA) format. The essay must be double spaced, written in 11 or 12 pitch using Times New
Roman, Arial, or Garamond font, and between 500-750 words. Applicants must attest that the essay is a
reflection of their own work and has not been edited by anyone other than the applicant and that no one
else has provided the applicant with suggestions to improve the essay.
d. Résumé: applicants MUST submit a résumé identifying any work experience, school and extracurricular
activities/awards/honors.
e. Two signed and dated letters of recommendation on official letterhead from:
i. A teacher, guidance counselor, principal or other school administrator AND
ii. A community leader (non-school related activity)
NOTE: Persons writing letters of recommendation must specify relationship or capacity in which
he/she knows or have observed the applicant. Unsigned letters will NOT be accepted and the
application will be deemed incomplete by NoVAC. Form letters are NOT acceptable.
Important Dates
It is the sole responsibility of each applicant and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to be cognizant of all dates and deadlines.
The Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated will NOT accept or consider any
incomplete or late applications. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
November 2015
February 27, 2016
April 2016
May 7, 2016
Release of 2016 NoVAC Scholarship Application
2016 Scholarship Application Due: Postmarked (U.S. Postal Service submissions) or
Time Stamped ON or BEFORE 11:59:59 PM ET (for electronic mail submissions)
Applicant Notification of Scholarship Awards
NoVAC Trailblazer Awards & Scholarship Gala
Evaluation Procedure
All completed applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the NoVAC Scholarship Committee and the NoVAC
President. Incomplete and non-qualifying applications will not be considered. Each application is assessed on
academic achievement, leadership and citizenship, school activities/honors, community involvement and activities, and
demonstrated financial need.
Awards
The number of NoVAC scholarship recipients and award amounts will be determined by availability of funds. Awards
are for the first two semesters of undergraduate study.
Notification of Recipients
Final approval and notification of each scholarship recipient will be made by NoVAC in April 2016.
Selected scholarship recipients will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between NoVAC and its
Foundation, NVDECS, prior to receiving any scholarship award.
The scholarship award recipients must remain in good academic and disciplinary standing and provide original school
transcripts to continue a scholarship award.
Scholarship awards are paid directly to the college or university where the recipient will be attending and may only be
applied toward tuition, books, room and board, meal tickets, and other fees.
Scholarship recipients are encouraged to contact a tax advisor for assistance related to the taxability of scholarship
awards or see IRS Publication 970 – Tax Benefits for Education for additional information. NoVAC and its
Foundation, NVDECS, are not responsible for providing tax advice.
Additional Information
Recipients and one parent/guardian will be expected to attend the NoVAC Trailblazer Awards & Scholarship Gala on
May 7, 2016, for the presentation of the scholarship awards.
Applications and supporting documentation are considered confidential and are reviewed only by the NoVAC
Scholarship Committee and the NoVAC President. No information will be returned and becomes the property of
NoVAC.
NoVAC, and its Foundation, NVDECS, have the right to refuse and/or retract any scholarship application or
scholarship award during the evaluation, award, or post award process. Refusal/retraction may be based on, but not
limited to, unfactual and incorrect information provided in the application or failure to meet any of the requirements.
P.O. Box 4310 • Arlington, VA 22204-9998 • novac@dstnovac.org
2016 NoVAC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Scholarship Application Deadline: February 27, 2016
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE TYPED
ONLY COMPLETED APPLICATIONS WITH REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
SUBMITTED BY DEADLINE WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR AN AWARD
APPLICANT INFORMATION
FULL NAME:
PREFERRED NAME:
HOME ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE: VA
PRIMARY PHONE NUMBER:
ZIP CODE:
SECONDARY PHONE NUMBER:
DATE OF BIRTH:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION
MOTHER’S/GUARDIAN’S NAME:
MOTHER’S/GUARDIAN’S ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
PRIMARY PHONE NUMBER:
ZIP CODE:
SECONDARY PHONE NUMBER:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
MOTHER’S/GUARDIAN’S OCCUPATION:
FATHER’S/GUARDIAN’S NAME:
FATHER’S/GUARDIAN’S ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
PRIMARY PHONE NUMBER:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
FATHER’S/GUARDIAN’S OCCUPATION:
ZIP CODE:
SECONDARY PHONE NUMBER:
APPLICANT CURRENT LIVING STATUS: SELECT THE APPLICABLE BOX
☐ I LIVE WITH BOTH PARENTS
☐ I LIVE AT HOME WITH MY MOTHER AND STEPFATHER
☐ I LIVE AT HOME WITH MY FATHER AND STEPMOTHER
☐ I LIVE IN A SINGLE PARENT HOUSHOLD WITH MY
MOTHER
☐ I LIVE IN A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD WITH MY
FATHER
☐ I LIVE WITH A GUARDIAN(S)
☐ I HAVE OTHER LIVING ARRANGEMENTS (SIBLING/GRANPARENT/OTHER FAMILY MEMBER) PLEASE EXPLAIN:
HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION
SCHOOL NAME:
SCHOOL ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
EXPECTED DATE OF GRADUATION:
COUNSELOR NAME:
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: LIST ALL SCHOOL ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION DURING YOUR HIGH
SCHOOL CAREER (STUDENT GOVERNMENT, SPORTS, BAND, CLUBS, ETC.)
OFFICES/LEADERSHIP
ACTIVITY
YEARS OF PARTICIPATION
POSITIONS HELD
EMPLOYMENT: LIST ALL PAID AND UNPAID EMPLOYMENT DURING YOUR HIGH SCHOOL
CAREER (THIS MAY INCLUDE INTERNSHIPS)
EMPLOYER:
EMPLOYER ADDRESS
(CITY, STATE):
DATES OF EMPLOYMENT
(MM/YY-MM/YY):
POSITION:
HOURS/WEEK:
EMPLOYER:
EMPLOYER ADDRESS
(CITY, STATE):
DATES OF EMPLOYMENT
(MM/YY-MM/YY):
POSITION:
HOURS/WEEK:
EMPLOYER:
EMPLOYER ADDRESS
(CITY, STATE):
DATES OF EMPLOYMENT
(MM/YY-MM/YY):
POSITION:
HOURS/WEEK:
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: LIST ALL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION
DURING YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER (BOY SCOUTS/GIRL SCOUTS, SPECIAL OLYMPICS,
CHURCH/SYNANGOGUE/TEMPLE, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.)
OFFICES/LEADERSHIP
ACTIVITY
YEARS OF PARTICIPATION
POSITIONS HELD
SPECIAL HONORS/AWARDS: LIST ALL SPECIAL HONORS AND AWARDS RECEIVED DURING
YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
NAME OF HONOR/AWARD
PURPOSE
UNDERGRADUATE STUDY PLANS
PROPOSED MAJOR:
PROPOSED MINOR:
COLLEGE(S)/UNIVERSITY(IES) APPLIED TO:
COLLEGE(S)/UNIVERSITY(IES) ACCEPTED TO:
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY APPLICANT PLANS TO ATTEND:
PARTICIPATION IN DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC. EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVES: DR. BETTY SHABAZZ DELTA ACADEMY, DELTA GEMS PROGRAM, OR EMBODI
HAS THE APPLICANT PARTICIPATED OR IS PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.’S
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES (YES OR NO)?:
NAME OF INITIATIVE:
LOCATION (CITY, STATE):
DATES:
CHAPTER AFFILIATION (IF KNOWN):
SCHOLARSHIPS: LIST ALL SCHOLARSHIPS APPLIED FOR AND/OR AWARDED
NAME
AWARD AMOUNT
STATUS
FINANCIAL INFORMATION: THIS SECTION MUST BE REVIEWED AND CERTIFIED BY A PARENT
OR GUARDIAN
APPLICANT LIVING STATUS DURING UNDERGRADUATE STUDY (PLEASE SELECT AN OPTION BELOW):
HOME
☐
DORMITORY/APARTMENT
☐
WITH RELATIVE
☐
OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
☐
NUMBER OF PERSONS DEPENDING ON SUPPORT FROM PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) (PLEASE WRITE A NUMBER):
NAME
RELATIONSHIP TO
PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S)
AGE
CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN
COLLEGE?
AMOUNT SAVED BY APPLICANT FOR UNDERGRADUATE EXPENSES?:
TOTAL AMOUNT PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) CAN PROVIDE TOWARD APPLICANT’S UNDERGRADUATE EXPENSES?:
FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONTINUED): THIS SECTION MUST BE REVIEWED AND CERTIFIED
BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN
PLEASE SELECT THE AMOUNT THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR FAMILY’S ANNUAL GROSS INCOME (PLEASE SELECT
AN OPTION BELOW):
☐ LESS THAN $10,000
☐ $30,001 - $40,000
☐ $60,001 - $70,000
☐ $110,001 - $130,000
☐ 10,001 - $20,000
☐ $40,001 - $50,000
☐ $70,001 - $90,000
☐ $130,001 - $150,000
☐ $20,001 - $30,000
☐ $50,001 - $60,000
☐ $90,001 - $110,000
☐ $150,001 OR MORE
Applicants are required to submit their FAFSA Estimated Student Aid Eligibility Report, which calculates their EFC
(estimated family contribution). Applicants MUST submit a copy of the FAFSA Student Aid Report even if the family
is not requesting federal assistance for financial aid. Applicants that fail to submit a FAFSA Student Aid Report with
their application will NOT be evaluated by NoVAC. Applicants will need information from their
parent/guardian/family 2015 Federal Income Tax Return to complete the FAFSA.
FINANCIAL CERTIFICATION
I, THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN, HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IS TRUE AND
CONSENT TO THE DISCLOSURE OF ANY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE STUDENT’S APPLICATION OR FILE FOR
THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING EVALUATION OF THE APPLICATION, ISSUANCE OF A SCHOLARSHIP AWARD,
AND/OR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NoVAC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
Parent/Guardian
Signature:______________________________________________________________________________________
Printed
Name:___________________________________________________________________________________
Date:________________________________________
ESSAY
APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN ESSAY ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON ARTS AND LETTERS OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC. WAS ESTABLISHED
IN 1973 BY OUR 15TH NATIONAL PRESIDENT LILLIAN PIERCE BENBOW. BENBOW WAS A TALENTED POET AND
WRITER, AN ELOQUENT ORATOR, A SCHOLAR AND EDUCATOR, AND A FERVENT ADVOCATE AND PATRON FOR THE
ARTS THAT PROJECTED THE BLACK EXPERIENCE AND INCLUSION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN ON CULTURAL
BOARDS. THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON ARTS AND LETTERS AND THE ARTS AND LETTERS COMMITTEE OF THE
NORTHERN VIRGINIA ALUMNAE CHAPTER STRIVE TO PROMOTE POSITIVE IMAGERY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND
OTHER MINORITIES IN OUR GLOBAL AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, RESPECTIVELY, THROUGH THE MEDIUMS OF
MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA/THEATER, AND POETRY AND IN ALL FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA: MUSIC, FILM,
RADIO, TELEVISION, AND PRINT.
SELECT AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN [OR OTHER ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP] ARTIST, ACTOR/ACTRESS, DANCER,
PERSONALITY, AUTHOR, PLAYWRIGHT, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, OR CHARACTER (FICTION OR NON-FICTION) IN
MASS MEDIA OR THE ARTS GENRE AND DESCRIBE HOW THEIR ‘ART’ EXPRESSES AND/OR HONORS THE AFRICANAMERICAN OR MINORITY EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA OR ABROAD. THE ARTS GENRE INCLUDES MUSIC, DANCE,
DRAMA/THEATER, AND POETRY. MASS MEDIA INCLUDES MUSIC, FILM, RADIO, TELEVISION, AND PRINT.
**NoVAC WILL NOT ACCEPT HANDWRITTEN ESSAYS. ALL ESSAYS MUST BE TYPED. APPLICANTS MUST WRITE THE
ESSAY IN ENGLISH AND USE PROPER GRAMMAR, SPELLING, SYNTAX, AND PUNCTUATION. ALL SOURCES MUST BE
APPROPRIATELY CITED USING APA OR MLA FORMAT. THE ESSAY MUST BE DOUBLE SPACED, WRITTEN IN 11 OR 12
PITCH USING TIMES NEW ROMAN, ARIAL, OR GARAMOND FONT, AND BETWEEN 500-750 WORDS. APPLICANTS MUST
ATTEST THAT THE ESSAY IS A REFLECTION OF THEIR OWN WORK AND HAS NOT BEEN EDITED BY ANYONE OTHER
THAN THE APPLICANT AND THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS PROVIDED THE APPLICANT WITH SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE
THE ESSAY.**
APPLICANT CERTIFICATION
I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS APPLICATION (INCLUDING ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION) IS
TRUE AND COMPLETE AND THAT THE ESSAY ATTACHED TO THIS APPLICATION IS THE APPLICANT’S ORIGINAL
WORK. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL SCHOLARSHIP DECISIONS BY THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA ALUMNAE CHAPTER
OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, AND ITS FOUNDATION, THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DELTA
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE FOUNDATION, ARE FINAL. I CERTIFY THAT I MEET ALL ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP AS DESCRIBED IN THE GUIDELINES. FALSIFICATION OF INFORMATION WILL
RESULT IN TERMINATION OF ANY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD.
Applicant
Signature:______________________________________________________________________________________
Printed
Name:___________________________________________________________________________________
Date:________________________________________
Parent/Guardian
Signature:______________________________________________________________________________________
Printed
Name:___________________________________________________________________________________
Date:________________________________________
Selected scholarship recipients will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between NoVAC, and its
Foundation, NVDECS, prior to receiving any scholarship award.
Completed applications, résumés, financial need documentation, essays, and letters of recommendation may be
emailed to scholarship@dstnovac.org or forwarded via the U.S. Postal Service to the address below. Official
transcripts must be mailed to:
.
Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 4310
Arlington, VA 22204-9998
P.O. Box 4310 • Arlington, VA 22204-9998 • novac@dstnovac.org
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
DO NOT SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION
☐ 2016 NoVAC Scholarship Application: NoVAC will NOT accept handwritten applications. Applications
are not considered complete if not signed and dated by the applicant AND a parent/guardian. This includes the
financial certification required by a parent/guardian.
☐ Official academic transcript (displaying the official school seal) in a sealed envelope.
☐ Copy of applicant’s FAFSA Student Aid Report which includes the student’s calculated EFC (estimated
family contribution). Applicant MUST submit a copy of the FAFSA Student Aid Report even if the family is
not requesting federal assistance for financial aid. Applicants that fail to submit a FAFSA Student Aid Report
with their application will NOT be evaluated by NoVAC.
☐ Essay addressing the prompt related to imagery of African-Americans and other minorities in our
community (local and global) through the mediums of music, dance, drama, poetry, radio, television, and print
media. NoVAC will NOT accept handwritten essays. All essays must be typed.
☐ Résumé: Applicants MUST submit a résumé identifying any work experience, school and extracurricular
activities/awards/honors.
☐ Letters of recommendation: Two signed and dated letters of recommendation on official letterhead from a
teacher, guidance counselor, principal or other school administrator AND a community leader (non-school
related activity). NOTE: Persons writing letters of recommendation must specify relationship or capacity in
which he/she knows or have observed the applicant. Unsigned letters will NOT be accepted and the
application will be deemed incomplete by NoVAC. Form letters are NOT acceptable.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
All applications must be POSTMARKED (for U.S. Postal Service submissions) or TIME STAMPED (for
electronic mail submissions) ON or BEFORE 11:59:59 PM ET, February 27, 2016. An application is not
complete until NoVAC receives ALL required documents via U.S. Postal Service or electronic submission
ON or BEFORE 11:59:59 PM ET, February 27, 2016. Incomplete or late applications will NOT be
accepted or considered for a NoVAC Scholarship Award. Completed applications, résumés, financial need
documentation, essays, and letters of recommendation may be emailed to scholarship@dstnovac.org or
forwarded via the U.S. Postal Service to the address below. Official transcripts must be mailed to:
Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 4310
Arlington, VA 22204-9998