HANCOCK COUNTY — The deadline is this week for applications for more than 90 scholarships available through the Hancock County Community Foundation.
At stake is $290,000 in scholarship funds for graduating high school students and current college students, said Janet White, education officer for the community foundation.
The foundation mailed a guidebook to every graduating student of the county’s four public high schools in October with the details on all the scholarships administered by the foundation. Officials said the time is coming for students to make their finishing touches on their applications.
The applications are due at 4 p.m. Friday.
Last year, 284 people submitted nearly 1,200 applications for scholarships, said foundation president Mary Gibble. So far, prospective recipients have submitted 620 scholarship applications, with more than 700 still in progress, Gibble said.
The community foundation stewards more than 280 charitable funds, 90 of which are endowed scholarship funds, Gibble said.
There are two new scholarships this year: the William W. Weil Good Citizen Scholarship, which requires 20 hours of community service in the past 12 months and a statement affirming the recipient has not participated in illegal acts, drugs or underage drinking; and the Covance Scholarship for 4-H or former 4-H participants.
A $1,000 Hancock County Shrine Club scholarship is now available to students at all four county public high schools, Gibble said.
"It is an honor to administer the scholarship awards these funds generate," Gibble said.
Students who have been selected to receive a scholarship will be notified via email by the foundation in late April, and students will be honored at senior awards programs in May through June.
The foundation offers these tips for applying for the scholarships:
•Keep track of volunteer work, including where it took place, what type of work, how many hours were served, and who supervised the work.
•Create a list of clubs and extracurricular activities participated in by high school year.
•Find two or three people to write reference letters: a teacher, but no relatives. Employers, club leaders, pastors or leaders of volunteer efforts are good options.
•Create or use an email address not associated with your high school for the application process.
•Know your top three college choices.
•Write a basic essay specific to your intended career, addressing why the career interests you, how you are currently preparing for it, how your college or program will help you reach your goal, what you expect to be doing in 10 years.
•File your FAFSA as soon as possible if you haven’t done so already. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the foundation for much of the government assistance that’s offered.
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Applications for the 90 scholarships offered by the Hancock County Community Foundation are available at givehcgrowhc.org under the "Education" tab.
Scholarship applications may require:
- Student and parent/legal guardian contact information
- Sixth semester GPA and/or academic information
- Letters of recommendation
- FAFSA report information
- Last four digits of student’s Social Security number to create an applicant ID number
- List of community service and extracurricular activities
- Digital headshot (no selfies)
The HCCF website has an eligibility quiz that will help students generate a list of scholarships they can apply for.
Source: Hancock County Community Foundation, givehcgrowhc.org
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Since 2017, the Hancock County Community Foundation has offered scholarships for non-traditional students — or people with a gap in time between high school and college — on a rolling basis.
The scholarships are:
- Adult Re-Education Scholarship
- Cargold Scholarship
- Nancy King "Dare to Dream" Adult Scholarship
- Maxwell United Methodist Memorial Scholarship
- Helen Roath Memorial Scholarship
- William W. Weil Good Citizen Scholarship
- Richard and Judith White Memorial Scholarship
For more information or to apply, contact Janet White, education officer, at 317-462-8870 or [email protected].
Source: Hancock County Community Foundation, givehcgrowhc.org
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More than 90 scholarships
More than $290,000 in scholarship funds
Six scholarships aimed at 4-H’ers
Applications are due Friday, Feb. 8
Scholarships for Eastern Hancock students: 6
Scholarships Greenfield-Central students: 19
Scholarships for Mt. Vernon students: 12
Scholarships for New Palestine students: 11
The community foundation oversees funds in 16 areas, including scholarships, arts, agriculture and faith.
Source: Hancock County Community Foundation, givehcgrowhc.org
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April 15, 2019: FAFSA deadline
May 6, 2019: HCCF scholarships announced at Mt. Vernon High School Senior Awards Program
May 15, 2019: HCCF scholarships announced at New Palestine High School Senior Awards Program
May 15, 2019: HCCF scholarships announced at Eastern Hancock High School Senior Awards Program
June 7, 2019: HCCF scholarships announced at Greenfield-Central High School Senior Awards Program
June 21-28, 2019: HCCF 4-H Scholarships announced at Hancock County 4-H Fair
July 2019 Scholarship Payments Mailed to Eligible Educational Institutions
Source: Hancock County Community Foundation, givehcgrowhc.org
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