STAR OF TEXAS CREDIT UNION EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

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1 STAR OF TEXAS CREDIT UNION EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS Star of Texas Credit Union will award two scholarships in the following denominations to seniors enrolled in an accredited high school program in Travis or Williamson County, Texas who will enroll at an accredited college or careertech school. Two award winners: $ each An account will be opened for each winner and the scholarship money will be deposited into the account until the time of enrollment. A check will be made payable to the student and college or career-tech school. The due date for the applications will be March 25, Any applications submitted after this date will not be considered. Applications will be sent to high school counselors at the surrounding high schools as well as being posted on the Star of Texas Credit Union website. Each year the Board of Directors will elect an employee to be the liaison for the scholarship program. The liaison will be responsible for contacting judges and ensuring the application packets are reviewed. They will also handle any other communication between the Board and the applicants. APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS To qualify for a scholarship, the applicant must: Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America Be a graduating high school senior residing in Travis County or Williamson County or be a child or grandchild of a Star of Texas Credit Union member residing outside Travis or Williamson County but within the State of Texas. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION To be considered for a scholarship, the application packet must include the following: 1. Hard copy application signed by the applicant and his/her high school counselor (including Non-Academic Activities Sheet). 2. Typed essay explaining any experiences you or a family member had that helped shape your understanding of financial responsibility, and discuss how a credit union did or could have played a role. Your essay must be typed, double-spaced, single-sided and limited to two pages. Do not staple or fold your essay.

2 3. Two letters of recommendation: one academic reference from a teacher and one character reference. HOW SCHOLARSHIP ESSAYS ARE JUDGED AND SELECTED Essays are reviewed by a panel consisting of three judges. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. The appointed liaison each year will contact three judges to review the application packets and grade essays. The judges will score the applications using the following criteria: 1. Academic Achievement 25% 2. Non-Academic Activities 30% 3. Essay 35% 4. Letters of Recommendation 10% REASONS FOR DISQUALIFICATION, INELIGIBILITY, AND RESTRICTIONS 1. Application packet will not be considered if it is: Handwritten Incomplete (missing any of the required documentation described above) Late (postmarked after the deadline) 2. Any additional information will not be considered. HOW THE WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED Scholarship recipients and non-recipients are notified via U.S. Mail approximately four weeks after the application deadline date. Winners will receive a letter from Star of Texas Credit Union explaining how they can claim their scholarship. Winners will be asked to attend Star of Texas Credit Union Annual Meeting held the fourth Thursday in April for a formal presentation.

3 STAR OF TEXAS CREDIT UNION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Applicant must be a graduating senior from an accredited high school in Travis County or Williamson County, or be a child or grandchild of a Star of Texas Credit Union member residing outside Travis or Williamson County but within the State of Texas. Applicants must be planning to enroll in an accredited college or Career-tech school upon high school graduation. Applicants are not required to be a Star of Texas Credit Union member. Section 1: Personal Information NAME AGE ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE PHONE Section 2: Scholastic Information NAME OF HIGH SCHOOL CURRENTLY ATTENDING NAME OF COUNSELOR COUNSELOR S PHONE # COUNSELOR S PROJECTED CLASS RANK & SIZE OF CLASS: (ex 25/325) GPA: SAT SCORE: AND/OR ACT SCORE: NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE SCHOOL YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND ARE YOU CURRENTLY ENROLLED AND ACCEPTED TO THE ABOVE SCHOOL? YES NO Section 3: Non-Academic Activities Please use a Non-Academic Activities Sheet to describe your commitment to activities outside of the classroom. Section 4: Essay Typed essay explaining any experiences you or a family member had that helped shape your understanding of financial responsibility, and discuss how a credit union did or could have played a role. Your essay must be typed, double-spaced, single-sided and limited to two pages. Do not staple or fold your essay. Section 5: Letters of Recommendation: Please submit two letters of recommendation: one academic reference from a teacher and one character reference. The letters should contain the following information: The name and contact information of the teacher/adult submitting the letter The nature of the relationship between the student and the person submitting the recommendation

4 The length of time that the teacher/adult has known the student Note: Any additional information submitted will not be considered. I understand and will abide by all the conditions listed in the above application. I understand that if a violation of any of the above items is made, that the scholarship award may be revoked. I also understand that a scholarship essay must be submitted with my application packet. Awards will be based partially on the written essay and I accept that the judging of the essays will be subjective in nature and at the sole discretion of the judges. I will accept and not dispute decisions of the scholarship selection committee. If my application is chosen as a winner, I will allow the Star of Texas Credit Union Scholarship Program to release my name and photo to local media promoting scholarship winners. I also understand that I will be expected to attend an awards ceremony at Star of Texas Credit Union s Annual Meeting. I will allow the Star of Texas Credit Union Scholarship Program to reproduce or reprint my essay and share it with the media and local schools. I understand that my essay will not be returned and will be the property of Star of Texas Credit Union. SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT DATE SIGNATURE OF COUNSELOR DATE Submit Application Packet to: Star of Texas Credit Union 114 East Huntland Drive P.O. Box Austin, Texas FAX: Application deadline: March 25, Please direct any questions about the application process to Star of Texas Credit Union at STAR OF TEXAS WISHES YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR ACADEMIC AND CAREER GOALS.

5 STAR OF TEXAS CREDIT UNION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Non-Academic Activities Sheet (Please attach additional sheets as needed.) What did you commit to outside of academics? List and describe any non-academic activities in which you participated, such as extracurricular clubs or organizations, community volunteer activities (charity/hospital work, community outreach programs, volunteer organizations, etc.), jobs you have held during your high school years, internships, or any other activity that you feel would be helpful to the Selection Committee in evaluating you and comparing you with other applicants for a Star of Texas Credit Union scholarship? For each activity, please include the following: 1. Organization Name 2. Sponsor or Employer Name and Phone Number 3. Your Position (e.g. President, member, employee) 4. Description of the organization and why this experience was meaningful to you.

6 Applicant Name: Star of Texas Credit Union Scholarship Scoring Rubric Date: Academic achievement: points Points (Include GPA, Class Rank, and ACT/SAT score(s)) GPA: Above 3.5 = 10, = 6, below 2.5 = 3 10 Class rank: top 10% = 5, top 25% = 3, top 50% = 2, below 50% = 1 5 ACT or SAT score: if both, use higher score, not both ACT: = 10, = 8, = 7, below 25 = 5 SAT: = 10, = 6, below 1700 = 3 10 Total Academic achievement points: 25 Personal (non-academic) activities: 5-9 = student rarely participated in any activity outside of academics = student has been involved in outside activities, but these were limited and not over the four years of high school = student participated in a variety of activities during the course of four years of high school, many of which contributed toward goals. 30 Letters of Recommendation: 1-3 = minimal to average recommendations 4-7 = good to very good recommendations 8-10 = excellent or outstanding recommendations 10 Essay: Content points 5-14 = talks about financial experiences, but does not show an understanding of responsibility = talks about financial responsibility, but does not relate to a credit union = clearly shows an understanding of financial responsibility and how a credit union did, or could, play a role 35 Total Points (max 100): 100 Percentage Score: 100% Scorer Name: Phone Number: