SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS DEADLINE: April 15, 2014 Details of the Award The Saddle River Garden Club (SRGC) awards annually, for the upcoming academic year, one college scholarship in the amount of $1,000.00. One-year scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors enrolled in a full time college program as well as all undergraduate students pursuing an undergraduate degree related to gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design or horticulture. College/university must be accredited and listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/search.aspx. If you need additional forms or information, send an email to SRGCscholarship@gmail.com Applicant Eligibility Applicants must meet all of the following criteria: Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Legal Resident of the United States. Must be a resident of Northwest Bergen County, New Jersey. (The 13 municipalities of NW Bergen County are: Allendale, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Oakland, Ramsey, Ridgewood, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick and Wyckoff.) International or Foreign Exchange Students are not eligible. Graduate and Doctoral program students are not eligible. Must be enrolled in or attending school full-time as defined by the SRGC: Undergraduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 graded hours of classes. Must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Must be planning or pursuing a career related to gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design or horticulture. Must be majoring in one of the following fields of study: Agronomy Agriculture Education Floriculture Horticulture Landscape Design Botany, Biology Forestry Wildlife Science Plant Pathology/Science City (Rural & Urban) Planning Habitat or Forest/Systems Ecology Environmental Concerns (Management: Environmental, Horticulture Resource/Environmental Behavior) Environmental Conservation (inc. Engineering, etc.) Land Management and/or other related or allied subjects Selection Criteria All applications received by the SR Garden Club Committee will be judged by that Committee in order to choose one winning application. The following Scale of Points will be used for the evaluation of each application: Academic Record 40% Applicant s Letter 30% Extracurricular Activities, Community Service and Volunteer and Work Experience 10% Financial Need 15% Recommendations 5% Final judging will take place prior to the June SRCG meeting. The SRGC Committee will notify all applicants in writing of the committee s decisions following the judging. Description of Funds A check for the winning applicant s scholarship will be presented at the June SRGC meeting In the event of a change in a student s major to one other than those listed above, or if the student withdraws from school, the balance of the funds must be returned to the SR Garden Club. 1
The funds must be spent on education expenses, but the student will determine how the money is to be spent: tuition, food, housing, books, etc. The student is solely responsibility for reporting award with income tax filings, if appropriate. Application Procedure The following documents must be submitted: 1. SRGC Scholarship Application Form 2. Financial Aid Form 3. Complete official academic transcripts 4. Letter from applicant (2 page limit) 5. List of extracurricular activities, community service, work related experiences. Provide a brief explanation of the activity and include average time spent per week for each activity. 6. List of honors, awards and recognitions received. 7. Two letters of recommendation (1 page limit for each). All of the documents must be mailed by the applicant in one large envelope. Do not place the documents in page protectors or in any sort of permanent binder. No staples please. Applications must be mailed to the Saddle River Garden Club Scholarship Chairman and received by April 15 Deadline. If a student reapplies for a scholarship (whether the applicant is or is not a previous winner), a complete new and updated application must be submitted Instructions for Filling out Application All forms must be typed or printed clearly. Please comply with page limits. Application Form SRGC Application Form must be used and ALL fields must be completed. High school students must submit proof of acceptance to an accredited college or university with completed form. Financial Aid Form Must be completed with all questions answered and signed by applicant. If Financial Aid information is not available before the application deadline, information from the previous academic year may be used with the notation that it is an estimate based on the previous year. Include any additional financial need considerations in space provided. Transcripts Official academic transcripts. Transcripts must include the latest grading period. Transfer students must include official school transcripts from previous school. Letter Limit - 2 pages Discuss future career goals and how your background or experiences inspired you to pursue these goals. Include any pertinent information about the college program you selected and how it will List of Activities and List of Honors Letters of Recommendation Limit 1 page Limit 2 letters Limit 1 page each support your aspirations. List extracurricular activities, community service, volunteer and work related experience. Include brief description of activity and average amount of time per week. List academic and non-academic accomplishments, including honors and recognition awards. Discuss personal character, work ethic, scholastic ability and work-related experience. Letters should support application. Include one letter from faculty or academic personnel and one letter from reference outside academic institution. 2
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Academic Year 2014-2015 Full Name Home(Legal/Permanent) Address: (please provide address at end of semester to send notification and necessary forms) City State Zip Phone Email Cell phone College/University Name & Address Department Enrolled Major or Field(s) of Study Expected Completion Date (Month/Year) Occupational Objective After Graduation CURRENT GRADE LEVEL (CHECK ONE): High School Senior* College: Freshman Sophomore Junior Current Cumulative Grade Point Average on a grading scale of. Schools Previously Attended (include dates of attendance and respective GPAs): APPLICANT S SIGNATURE Date SUBMIT THIS FORM TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER REQUIRED ITEMS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRPERSON BY DEADLINE APRIL 15, 2014 Send to: SRGC Scholarship Chairperson c/o Laurie O Byrne 185 W. Saddle River Rd Saddle River, NJ 07458 If you need additional forms or have questions, please email SRGCscholarship@gmail.com
REMINDER: PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION Official School Transcript Completed financial aid form Personal Letter by applicant. Discuss goals, how background and experience inspired you to pursue goals, and your commitment to chosen field. List of extra- curricular activities, community service, volunteer and/or work related experience along with the average time per week spent with each activity. List of honors, awards and/or other recognition received. Include academic and non academic accomplishments Two (2) Letters of Recommendation. Letters should cover academic achievement, personal character, and work- related experience. *High school seniors must include proof of acceptance to an accredited college or university. Please refer to the application instructions for more specific and detailed information. If you need additional forms or have questions, please email SRGCscholarship@gmail.com
FINANCIAL AID FORM ANTICIPATED SOURCES OF FUNDS: Please use the following form to show all funding (including scholarships other than anticipated one from SRGC), assistantships, educational insurance policies, etc., as well as all projected costs involved for attending college for the upcoming school year beginning in September. It is not required that projected resources and expenditures balance. NOTE: If financial information is not available before the application deadline, information from the previous academic year may be used with the notation that it is an estimate based on the previous year. ALL questions on the form must be answered since actual financial need is one of the determining factors in the awarding of scholarships. The applicant must mail this form, along with other required application materials, to the Saddle River Garden Club Scholarship Chairperson. Please refer to the application for mailing address ANTICIPATED RESOURCES From parent or relative From personal savings Educational Insurance Policies School-year earnings Grants/Scholarships Loans Other ( ) please specify Total Funds Available PROJECTED EXPENDITURES Tuition and Fees Housing Board Books/Supplies Clothing/Laundry Transportation Other ( ) please specify Total Expenses Are there other funding sources you applied for but have not yet received status notification? Grants/Scholarships: Yes No Student Loans: Yes No Are these amounts included in the above estimates? Yes No Please elaborate Please briefly provide any other relevant information you want the committee to consider when evaluating your financial need? This information will be held in strictest confidence. It will be made available only to appropriate officials of the college/university and to the members of NGC Scholarship Committee. STUDENT S SIGNATURE Print Full Name DATE