Submitted by Grays Harbor Community Foundation
“The deadline is quickly approaching, but there’s still time to apply for both New and Renewal Scholarship awards,” says Cassie Lentz, Program Officer of the Grays Harbor Community Foundation. The deadline for applying for both new scholarships and renewing your previous award is March 15th and applications are available at http://gh-cfscholarships.egrant.net. If you are a new applicant or have never used the online eGrant system to apply for one of our Scholarships you will need to create a new account before logging in to work on the application.
Continuing the tradition begun in 2000, last year the Grays Harbor Community Foundation received over 400 applications and awarded 265 yearly scholarships ranging from $1,000 – $6,250. “This year we are pleased to be able to award even more scholarships, and have added many new scholarship opportunities,” Lentz added. This year also marks the first time two new and unique awards are available: The Dr. John F. and Ella Mae Daly Memorial Scholarship supports students pursuing graduate work in dental school, previously not an option for scholarship support, and the Dr. Scott A. Weatherwax Memorial University of Puget Sound Scholarship offers $20,000 per year in funding for a student attending UPS.
Grays Harbor Community Foundation Scholarships are available to students who graduated from a Grays Harbor or Pacific County high school and are residents (or are dependents of a parent who is a resident) of Grays Harbor or Pacific County. Some of the scholarships were established to provide scholarships for students graduating from a particular school, attending a particular college or university (such as Grays Harbor College), or for a particular field of study (such as medicine), but many of them are limited only by a few general requirements.
Lentz says, “One of the unique features of many of the Community Foundation Scholarships is that they are open to students at any level of post-secondary studies, and are available to those who wish to return to school or start school after a time in the work force. We also have no restrictions on school or field of study.” In fact, the Community Foundation broadened its horizons of support a few years ago by offering vocational scholarships that are designed for students pursuing something other than a traditional four-year degree. Anything from culinary school to automotive programs qualify for Vocational Scholarship funding. There is just one application to be considered for all GHCF Scholarships.
The minimum requirements simply stated are: applicants must enroll as a full-time student (12 credits minimum) at an accredited college, university or trade school, and are more likely to be considered if they have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (or its equivalent B average). Beyond meeting these basic requirements, each applicant should exhibit outstanding character, a proven work ethic, and the promise of useful citizenship. These more qualitative judgments will be based on the applicant’s personal essay, letters of recommendation, and other information provided through the application.
All previous recipients may request renewal by submitting an update and copy of their official transcript via the online application system each year to continue receiving a scholarship (for up to four years).
Many of the named scholarships are in memory of local leaders and citizens, but some were established as perpetual memorials for family members.
Scholarship applicants will be notified by mail in early May about the status of their application. Recipients are celebrated at a Scholarship Breakfast, to be held this year on Wednesday, May 28th at the Simpson Plaza in Hoquiam where students can meet some of the Donors who made their awards possible, as well as Board Members of the Grays Harbor Community Foundation. Family, friends and educators of recipients are welcome to recognize these awardees’ accomplishments.
If you have any interest regarding applying for a scholarship, making a donation to an already existing scholarship or setting up a scholarship, please contact Cassie Lentz at (360) 532-1600, cassie@gh-cf.org or P.O. Box 615, Hoquiam, WA 98550.
