Recipient Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Recipient Frequently Asked Questions The Scholarship Management and Accounting Reports for TenPins (SMART) is designed to help you keep track of your scholarships. Here are some common questions we are asked from SMART Recipients. If you do not find your answer here, please do not hesitate to contact us at or and listen to the prompts for SMART.

2 ACCOUNT INFORMATION SMART RECIPIENT FAQ 1. I am new to SMART and I just received a letter. How do I log into my account? Go to enter your invitation code and click Register to create a username and password. 2. Do I need to use the invitation code every time? No, you will use the user name and password you created each time you log in. 3. What if I lost my letter and can t find my invitation code? smart@bowl.com and we can help you out. 4. What do I need to do when I initially log into my account? Double check your information to ensure it is correct: a. Address b. Phone number (required) c. address (required) d. Birth date (required) e. High school graduation month/day/year (required) Once you do this you can look at your funds and continue earning more. 5. If I have two children, can I create a login that will reflect both SMART accounts? No, each child is separate and has a unique user name/password/invitation code. 6. My child has multiple accounts, how can I get all the awards in one account? smart@bowl.com and we will be happy to merge the accounts. FUNDS 7. Why is my balance in points? This aligns SMART with standards of high school athletic associations across the country. 8. How do I convert my points balance to a dollar value? Click on the individual award and you will see the dollar value. 9. How do points equal money? Each point in SMART is worth $5. Example: 50 SMART Points = $250 $1,324 Scholarship Dollars = 264 SMART Points Revised December

3 10. Did changing to a point system affect my scholarship value? No. The value of all scholarships remains the same, and the points will be converted to dollars when a recipient requests the use of funds. 11. What if I don t see a scholarship listed in my account? If the scholarship was awarded prior to August 2006 or from an event not certified by USBC, the awarding organization may be managing the funds separately from SMART. You may need to contact the organization for information on how to obtain the funds. If the event was certified with USBC, please contact rules@bowl.com for assistance. The Rules Department will need to know: a. Name of tournament, league or organization b. Name of person responsible for the event c. Copy of award certificate. If no certificate then proof of the amount won. d. Date of event e. Bowling Center 12. Do I have to pay taxes on my scholarship funds? Your use of scholarship funds may have certain tax implications. Please consult a tax professional as the SMART Team cannot answer tax questions. APPLYING FOR FUNDS 13. When can I use my scholarships? You may request funds after high school graduation. 14. Do I have to use all my funds at once? No, you may request a portion now and use some later. 15. How do I request my funds? Log into your account and click SMART Program from the blue bar at the top of the page, then Scholarships. Once you are there follow the process below. Each award must be requested individually at this time, but we are working to make this much easier for you to request funds in the near future. a. Click on the name of the award you wish to request. b. Enter the school s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) code. c. Tab once (the information should populate the field). d. Tab again to get to the Student ID field. e. Enter your Student ID. f. Tab to get to the Amount field. g. Enter the amount you are requesting. h. Tab i. Enter j. Repeat all steps to use additional Scholarship winnings. Revised December

4 16. What information do you need in order to send my scholarship funds to my school? a. School name and FAFSA code. You can contact your school s Financial Department to get or verify the number. b. Student ID c. Amount 17. How long does it take to process my request for scholarship funds? Once you complete your online request a check is mailed within three (3) business days, at the latest. Checks are mailed via first class mail through United States Postal Service. 18. How do I know the funds were sent? We will copy you on the letter to the school, that way you know the funds were sent. This is sent via , so make sure we have a current address for you. 19. My school is not on the list. How can I send funds to my school? First, go to and search for the school code. If your school does not have a FAFSA code, you must smart@bowl.com with you school s information. SMART will present the information to the Executive Committee for review. The Executive Committee will determine if your school qualifies under SMART policies. 20. My account shows Gatekeeper: True/False. What does this mean? If the Gatekeeper field is True, your awards can only be approved for disbursement after meeting a state-mandated academic requirement. 21. My Gatekeeper was True; how do I get my funds approved? Michigan students are required to meet additional standards as defined by The Michigan Bowling Scholarship Fund ( MBSF ) and approved by the Michigan High School Athletic Association, before a scholarship can be used. Please contact either: Mark Martin mark.martin@mdusbc.com Sharon Schildroth s.schildroth@comcast.net USE OF SMART FUNDS 22. Are my SMART scholarships only good at universities or can they be used toward trade schools, online classes or any other post high school education? SMART scholarships can be used for any classes that apply toward an accredited secondary educational institution including trade schools. 23. Can I give my scholarships to someone else? No, scholarships are not transferrable. Revised December

5 24. How long will my funds be available to me? a. For scholarships earned prior to High School graduation eight years from the date of your high school graduation. b. For scholarships earned after High School graduation eight years from the date you earned them. 25. Can I ask for an extension of my expiration date? No, SMART does not allow extensions. 26. What happens with my funds if I do not use them? The amount expired is credited back to the awarding organization for their use in providing future scholarships to more youth. 27. I m in high school and attending college (dual-credit or college credit). Can I use my funds for my college expenses (tuition, fees, and textbooks)? No, funds can only be used after High School graduation. 28. Where can my funds be used? a. Universities b. Colleges c. Business Schools d. Technical Schools e. Trade Schools f. Vocational Schools 29. What can my funds be used for? a. Tuition fees b. Textbooks c. On-campus meal plans d. On-campus housing plans e. Required class supplies f. Equipment necessary for completion of a course or program MISCELLANEOUS 30. Can I activate my USBC membership and my SMART account at the same time? No. Although the codes are the same, the activation and register processes must be done separately. 31. Where can I find more information on SMART? We are in the process of updating the SMART page on BOWL.com. Additional information can be found at Revised December

6 32. How can I reach SMART? The best way is smart@bowl.com Phone: , then listen to the prompts for SMART Address: SMART 621 Six Flags Drive Arlington, TX Revised December