NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Transcription

1 When five year old Stephen Bufton, son of ABWA s founder Hilary Bufton, passed away in 1953, a memorial fund was created in his name to further educational opportunities for women, both members and non-members. The idea was enthusiastically accepted by ABWA s Board of Directors and by 1956, $2,166 dollars was awarded in grants and loans to women. Since its inception sixty years ago, the Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund (SBMEF) has awarded almost $17 million dollars in scholarships to more than 16,000 women. Originally viewed as a small fund, the Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund (SBMEF), ABWA s national educational fund, is one of the most highly respected grant and scholarship funds in the country. ABWA s educational fund has four different scholarship programs to support women in their pursuit of knowledge; National Scholarship, Outright Grant, Business Skills Tuition Reimbursement and Impact Scholarship. Each scholarship program has a unique set of guidelines, applicant eligibility requirements and procedures. To participate in any SBMEF program, the sponsoring league and the applicant must comply with the requirements. A general overview of SBMEF is provided in this guide. Questions or inquiries may be directed to webmail@sbmef.org NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS Final Date for Applications: May 15, 2014 Learning institutions must be licensed, accredited and/or state approved and located in the United States $10,000 NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS $5,000 NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS The Bufton Family Memorial Scholarship GPA: 3.5 Field of Study: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Level: Sophomore to Graduate Student The National President s Scholarship, ABWA Women in Technology GPA: 3.0 Field of Study: Computer Science/Computer Information Systems Level: Junior to Senior College Student Legacy Scholarship in honor of beloved ABWA member, Freda Zimmerman GPA: 3.0 Field of Study: None required Level: Freshman to Sophomore College Student Legacy Scholarship in honor of beloved ABWA member, Nina Bell Reddick GPA: 3.0 Field of Study: Nursing Level: Freshman to Sophomore College Student Legacy Scholarship in honor of Susan Zweimiller GPA: 3.0 Institution: Kansas University School of Business, Lawrence, Kansas Field of Study: Business Administration Level: Sophomore to Graduate Student

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3 OUTRIGHT GRANT (ORG) APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 1, 2014 Outright Grant Program (ORG) Overview The Outright Grant Program offers junior level (or higher) college students a small scholarship that helps to offset costs associated with their college tuition, books and fees. The amount awarded for each Outright Grant is $1,500. Outright Grant scholarships awarded are non-renewable. Applicants may receive only one Outright Grant each award year. The entire application process for the Outright Grant scholarship must be completed by June 1. Guidelines The sponsoring league must be in good standing (administrative fee paid, and officers, committee chairs and committee members are current with their national and local dues). An application does not guarantee an Outright Grant (ORG) will be awarded. A minimum of three qualified applicants must be submitted for an ORG scholarship to be awarded. If an ORG is awarded, the maximum amount awarded is $1,500. An applicant may apply for more than one ORG in the same award year however, the applicant may only receive one ORG in the same award year. To sponsor an applicant for an ORG scholarship, the league must contribute a minimum of $100 to SBMEF in the same award year as the Outright Grant plus, purchase a gift membership (for nonmembers only) for their scholarship recipient. ABWA National will activate your SBMEF account upon receipt of your $100 ORG contribution. A league may sponsor only one ORG per year. Applicant Eligibility Requirements Both ABWA members and nonmembers may apply for an ORG scholarship. The applicant must be a female U.S. citizen. The applicant must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours. The applicant must have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale. The applicant must be seeking a baccalaureate degree or higher. The applicant must be attending an institution authorized to confer degrees at the baccalaureate level or higher in the United States. The applicant must provide an official transcript, a biographical sketch and three professional letters of reference dated in the same year as her application. The applicant must complete the SBMEF online application on or before June 1 in which she is applying for the scholarship. 3 Procedures for Sponsoring an ORG The league must complete the Sponsorship Form and upload to The league must vote to submit each applicant. The league must register each of their applicants at Applications for ORG will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees selects all scholarship recipients. The scholarship check is made payable to the educational institution and to the scholarship recipient. The scholarship check will be sent to the league president within five business days after being awarded. The league president is responsible for presenting the scholarship check to the recipient in a timely manner. The scholarship check must be cashed within six months from the date of issuance. Checks not deposited after six months will not be reissued, and the money will be returned to the SBMEF general fund.

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5 BUSINESS SKILLS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT APPLICATIONS DUE BY JUNE 1, 2014 Business Skills Tuition Reimbursement (BSTR) Overview The SBMEF Business Skills Tuition Reimbursement Program (BSTR) provides workingwomen an opportunity to participate in professional development workshops and/or seminars offered by an accredited, licensed, or state-approved institution in the United States. Coursework such as ABWA-KU MBA Essentials, Park University s Women as 21st Century Leaders, Rockhurst University and Franklin Covey offered at ABWA nationally sponsored events and/or other programming like real estate license and desk top publishing are examples of non-degree coursework that would meet the course criteria for a BSTR scholarship. BSTR scholarships awarded are non-renewable. Guidelines The sponsoring league must be in good standing (administrative fee paid, and officers, committee chairs and committee members are current with their national and local dues). The league is limited to a total business skills tuition reimbursement amount not to exceed 50 percent of its SBMEF contribution (e.g., if a league contributed $1,000 to SBMEF, then it may apply for $500 in Business Skills Tuition Reimbursement scholarships. An applicant may receive multiple Business Skills Tuition Reimbursement (BSTR) scholarship each year from the same or different leagues. An application does not guarantee the applicant will be awarded a scholarship for a BSTR scholarship. When a BSTR scholarship is awarded, the applicant may receive an amount up to one half of the tuition and/or up to a maximum amount of $500 each award year. The minimum amount of a BSTR scholarship is $50. A scholarship applicant must be sponsored by a league. To sponsor a BSTR scholarship, the league must have contributed a minimum of $500 to SBMEF during the previous award year (August 1, June 1, 2013). The league may also sponsor multiple BSTR scholarships as long as the total amount requested does not exceed 50% of their total contribution to SBMEF. An applicant must apply for a BSTR scholarship within 90 days after course completion. Applicant must have proof of payment and completion for the course. Procedures Eligible leagues must upload their BSTR sponsorship form and register applicants at The applicant must complete the online application process including; a course description, rationale for attendance, and verification of the institution s or organization s credentials. The sponsoring league must vote to submit the applicant. All applications for BSTR must be completed by June 1. Applications for BSTR are reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees selects scholarship recipients. If a BSTR scholarship is awarded, a check payable to the applicant will be sent to the league president. The president is responsible for presenting the scholarship check to the recipient in a timely manner. Scholarship checks must be cashed within 6 months of issuance. Checks not deposited after 6 months will not be reissued, and the money will be returned to the SBMEF general fund. Applicant Eligibility Requirements ABWA members and non-members may apply for BSTR scholarship. The applicant must be a female, U.S. citizen. The coursework must enhance an applicant s career objective. The applicant must have completed the course prior to submitting her application for a BSTR scholarship. 5

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7 IMPACT (aka Special ) SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORSHIP FORMS DUE BY JANUARY 31, 2014 Impact Scholarship Program The Impact Scholarship program provides the league an opportunity to customize the scholarship within the guidelines of the fund. Each league can fund multiple Impact Scholarships valued at either $2,000 or $1,000. Impact scholarships awarded are non-renewable. A $2,000 Impact Scholarship is specific for a female student attending a U.S. college or university that offers a baccalaureate degree whereas a $1,000 Impact Scholarship is targeting students attending a community college, technical or a vocational school. In either instance, the school must be licensed, accredited or state approved. * Each sponsoring league is required to make an additional $100 contribution payable to SBMEF for each Impact Scholarship funded. Guidelines An application does not guarantee an Impact scholarship will be awarded. The sponsoring league must be in good standing (administrative fee paid, and officers, committee chairs and committee members are current with their national and local dues). The sponsoring league must make a contribution payable to SBMEF between August 1, January 31, The minimum contribution required is $1,000 plus a $100 contribution to SBMEF for each Impact Scholarship funded. ABWA National will activate your SBMEF account upon receipt of your Impact Scholarship Sponsorship form and contribution. A minimum of three qualified applicants must be submitted (and process completed online) for each Impact scholarship funded for the scholarship to be awarded. The Board of Trustees will review the first ten applicants who have met the eligibility criteria. Scholarships funded in but not awarded will not be earmarked for an Impact scholarship in the following award year. The league must purchase a gift membership for each Impact scholarship recipient. Applicant Eligibility Requirements The applicant must be a female U.S. citizen. Members and non-members may apply for an Impact Scholarship. Eligibility requirements as defined by the league (e.g., residency, GPA, credit hours completed, year of school completed, field of study, etc.). Procedures The chapter/express Network must complete the Impact Scholarship form, define their eligibility criteria and submit their contribution to ABWA National/SBMEF by January 31. The applicant must complete her SBMEF online application on or before March 31 of the award year in which she is applying for the scholarship. Scholarship applications will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees for consideration and the league may view the progress of their applicant at any time at Scholarships checks will be sent to the president in mid-may Scholarship checks must be cashed within six months from the date of issuance. Checks not deposited after six months will not be reissued and the money will be returned to the SBMEF general fund. 7

8 EXAMPLE: IMPACT SCHOLARSHIP RELEASE Date Local contact person, phone number, address For Immediate Release (Name of League) of the American Business Women s Association Offers (name of scholarship) Worth (amount of scholarship) (Name of City) The (Team Name) of the American Business Women s Association (ABWA) is offering (number) scholarships worth ($1,000 or $2,000) funded through the Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund to (number of students) deserving area student(s). Each year, local chapters of ABWA provide Stephen Bufton Memorial Scholarships (SBMEF) to female students who will be attending accredited U.S. colleges, universities and community/vocational schools. Applicants must be citizens of the United States; residents of (City, County, State); entering (high school graduating seniors, college freshman, sophomore, etc.) in August 2014 and attending (name of institution), with a GPA of ( ) or higher and (include any additional eligibility criteria). Eligible women interested in applying for the scholarship should contact: (Name of Scholarship/Professional Development Chair) (Full name of Sponsoring league) (Mailing address and of Scholarship/Professional Development Chair) Applications must be completed by (Date) at A minimum of three (3) eligible applications are required in order for the scholarship to be awarded. The scholarship recipient will be notified (date). SBMEF, ABWA s national educational fund, is one of the most highly respected grant and scholarship funds in the country. For 60 years, ABWA has helped women achieve their business and professional success through educational scholarships. Since its inception, more than 16,000 women nationwide have been awarded more than 17 million dollars in scholarships. The Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund is a 501 (c) 3 charitable trust and public foundation. It has the same tax status as public schools, churches and community funds. The fund is listed in the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Cumulative List of Organizations described in Section 170(c) of the IRS code of 1954 revised Oct. 31, About the (name of league) and the American Business Women s Association The (name of league) is a chartered (league) of the American Business Women s Association established in (year) whose vision is to (add vision statement). Members from the (name of the league) meet the (day, place and time). More information about the leading association for working women and women business owners can be found at or on Facebook Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund (9/4/ :27 PM)

9 EXAMPLE: INVITE TO THE APPLICANT FROM THE SBMEF SITE Promote ABWA, ABWA s educational fund (SBMEF) and your league in your correspondences with scholarship applicants! Dear (Name of applicant), Our members commend you on your devotion to academic achievement and for taking advantage of this opportunity. We are pleased to inform you that you are eligible to apply for a Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund scholarship sponsored by (name of local team) of the American Business Women s Association. If awarded, the (e.g., Outright Grant or Impact) scholarship in the amount of (add dollar amount) is to be used only for tuition, fees or books. The Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund is one of the most highly respected grant and scholarship funds in the country. ABWA s educational fund, SBMEF, has helped women achieve their business and career goals through education. Since its inception, SBMEF has awarded more than $17 million dollars in scholarships to thousands of women nationwide. We hope your name is added to the list of scholarship recipients! The (name of league) is part of the American Business Women s Association (ABWA), a national network of business and professional women. ABWA has dedicated more than half a century to women s education and provided workplace skills and professional development to more than half a million women. When you enter America s workforce at the conclusion of your studies, consider joining the thousands of members that have discovered ABWA is the PLACE to BE. More information about ABWA can be found at or on Facebook, Please complete the online application and submit your biographical sketch, professional letters of reference (teachers, professors, counselor, employer) and transcript by (date). Your transcript must be mailed directly from your school to: Name of Scholarship Chair Address of Scholarship Chair OR ABWA National Roe Avenue Suite 200 Overland Park, Kansas Attention: Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund We have provided you with a user name and login password in the following section. We will contact you again once the scholarship has been awarded. If you have a question at anytime throughout the application process, please contact (name and of the Scholarship Chair). Best of luck! (Name of Scholarship/Professional Development Chair) (Full name of the sponsoring league) (Mailing address and of Scholarship Chair) 9