BAGSF Mission Bay Area Gardener s Scholarship Foundation strives to promote the educational attainment achievement of all diverse students in the Bay Area by among other things, conducting public discussions, forums, panels, lectures, and workshops. BAGSF Scholarships: (All applicants must apply using the most current year s scholarship application.) BAGSF provides financial support to low-income, underserved and underrepresented students who are pursuing college their college education. Students must reside within the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara. Yearly, BAGSF awards twenty scholarships of $1,500; two of the twenty recipients who display community involvement and who are excelling academically will receive an additional $1,000 to students. The BAGSF scholarship is open to high schools seniors expected to graduate in spring of 2015, high school graduates, GED recipients, and students attending college. This scholarship is renewable new and past applicants can apply each year. BAGSF awards are focus on applicants who display: Financial need- Our scholarship intends to support students with significant financial barriers to fulfill their higher education goals. Academically Achievements- Academic performance demonstrates the hard work our applicants exert in an effort to achieve their college and career goals. We consider performance as a measure of not just knowledge but also commitment, dedication, and responsibilities. Community involvement- Students must perform community involvement by volunteering and completing 25 hours at non-profit organization. Please complete volunteering/community work form and attached it with application. Community work must be completed before submitting application. (See volunteering/community work form for details) Commitments-All scholarship recipients are expected to attend these events: Student Rehearsal Day: On this day, Scholarship Recipients meet our founder, board members, and recipients take a profile picture for our event program Instructions for dinner ceremony will be provided. BAGSF Recognition dinner and ceremony: Scholarship Recipients are recognized and will personally receive scholarship check. 1
Eligibility Students must reside within the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo or Santa Clara Be enrolled or attending an accredited institution of higher education or vocational institution. (must provide letter of acceptance or most current school transcripts) Must graduate in the 2014-2015 academic year if a high school applicant On yearly basis, BAGSF will contact recipients to follow up with educational trajectory. Must commit to inform of any changes/updates/achievements until graduation. Application Checklist Required documentation and application must be submitted as one package (Failure to comply with any of the requirements will result in automatic disqualification) A Complete application is comprised of: Complete 2015 BAGSF Scholarship Application form Narrative/Essay (please follow instruction on page 8) 2 Letters of Recommendation (please follow instructions on page 9-10) Weighted or unweight of 2.5 GPA (please include most recent school transcript) Financial Need-provide one of the following: Most current Family Federal tax return (Please include all pages) or Most current check stubs please include a month s worth of paystubs. Employer Letter-Must include date hired, hourly or salary pay rate, most recent month s wages and employer contact information Community work- must complete the community work form confirming the completion of the required 25 hours of community service. (please follow instruction on page 7) Provide proof of enrollment from an accredited institution of higher educational or vocational institution. In addition to the 25 hours of community service, BAGSF Scholarship recipients must commit to volunteer a minimum of 5 hours as a representative of the BAGSF.(see page 4 for dates) For High School students only: Letter of acceptance from an accredited institution of higher education or vocational institution. 2
Please read the instructions carefully before submitting your application: 1. DEADLINE-Application must be postmarked or hand delivered by Monday, May 4 st, 2015 by 5:00PM. 2. Incomplete applications will not be considered: Refer to the eligibility section to ensure you qualify and application check list to ensure all documents are attached. 3. Type or print legibly. Illegible applications will not be considered. 4. Scholarship funds will be awarded by check, and will be hand delivered to all recipients at the BAGSF Recognition Dinner. 5. If you have any questions about eligibility or the application, please call our office at (650) 631-1200 or email:bagfoundation@bagf.org Other information 1. At events you will be photographed and videotaped, and the photos and videos are and will remain property of the Bay Area Gardener s Scholarship Foundation (BAGSF) and can be used in advertisement, publicity, fundraising and/or printed material. 2. All application materials become property of Bay Area Gardeners Scholarship Foundation, and will not be returned or photocopied. CONTACT INFORMATION Mailing Address: Bay Area Gardeners Foundation P.O. Box 3446 Redwood City, CA 94064 Physical Address: 727 Industrial RD, Ste. 117, San Carlos, CA 94070 Telephone: (650) 631-1200 Website: www.bagf.org Email: bagfoundation@bagf.org 3
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER Dates January 05, 2015 May 04, 2015 May 16, 2015 May 2015 June 2015 Exact date to be determined June 2015 Exact date to be determined August 2015 2015 Ongoing support Action required Application process opens Applications deadline (postmarked or submitted at the office by 5pm) Application review process and Board selection 20 BAGF scholarships winners will be contacted by phone by our founder Catalino Tapia. Emails also will be sent to recipients and will be listed on our webpage. Other applicants will receive an email encouraging them to reapply in 2016 Rehearsal Day: (All recipients must attend and participate wearing business casual attire) Information pertaining to the Student Recognition Dinner event and Fundraising will be provided. Profile Photograph taken Student Recognition Dinner Event and Fundraising students and their families attend this ceremony, scholarship funds will be issued. Student Represent BAGSF at the Fair Oak Festival Throughout the year, BAGSF is invited to events. Awardees will be contacted ahead of time to represent BAGSF and to confirm participation. As a requirement BAGSF Scholarship Recipients are required to volunteer a minimum of 5 hours as a representative of the BAGSF. Please let us know what dates you are available. We will provide more details once we come close to event s dates. Please check now if you know you can volunteer: Date and name of event Please check August 2015-North Fair Oak Festival-Walk representing the BAGSF June 2016-Student Recognition Dinner Event-help set up, preparing 2015-2016 Ongoing support Comments: 4
APPLICANT INFORMATION Full Name: Mailing Address: Apt# City State Zip Code Daytime Telephone: Email Address Date of Birth: Gender [ ] Male [ ] Female Place of Birth How did you heard about BAGF Scholarship? PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION Parent/Guardian Name: Address: City State Zip Code Telephone: Country of Origin: Mother s or guardian s highest level of education: Father s or guardian s highest level of education: Primary language spoken at home: Are you a child or dependent of someone in the Gardening Landscaping Business? [ ] Yes [ ] No If yes, who? What is the yearly household family income? FINANCIAL INFORMATION Independent-If you filed taxes as independent use your financial documentation as a guide. Are you a parent? Yes No Number of dependents living with you, including yourself: Dependent-If your parents/guardian claims you as a dependent, use parent/guardian s financial documentation. Number of dependents living in the household including you? Under $ 20,000 $21,000-30,000 $31,000-$40,000 $41,000-$50,000 $51,000-$60,000 $61,000-$100,000 Do you plan to work during 2015? Yes No If currently employed provide employer s information: Name: Is this a work study position? Phone number: Email: Hours worked per week: What is your role or position? 5
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION INFORMATION Box below applies to high schools/ged students ONLY Name of the High School: Address: City: State: Zip Code: High School Diploma GED Recipient Additional Awards? Name of College plan to attend in Fall, 2015 Address City: State: Zip Code: Box below applies to student currently attending post-secondary institutions Name of college currently attending Address City: State: Zip Code: College degree 2 Year Degree 4 Year Degree Course status 1 St Year 2 nd Year 3 rd Year 4 th Year 5 th Year 6 th Year 7 th Year other Numbers of units currently taken? Enrolled as Full-Time or Part-Time Major, Field of study (if Known) First time applying to BAGSF? Yes or No Were you awarded? Please list all financial support you have received in 2015? Include loans, gifts, awards, scholarships What is the estimated cost for your education next year? Tuition $ Registration fees $ Transportation$ Childcare$ Textbooks$ Room and Board $ Others $ 6
Volunteering/community work form Community work is important for us at the BAGSF, we always look for ways to give back to the community. Therefore it s required that all recipients commit and complete to volunteer in an organization that gives back to the community. Each applicant must complete or have completed 25 hours of community service before deadline: May 04, 2015. If hours are not completed, your application will be considered incomplete and will disqualify. This portion to be completed by student List place(s) you have volunteered along with contact information. Organization Name: Phone Number: Address: Please describe the work you performed as a volunteer? Why do you think your volunteering is important for the community? As a future professional, how do you plan to give back to the community? 7
Essay/narrative Narratives should be written with an open mind and heart and really listen to and appreciate your amazing life, let us know your motivations for pursuing a higher education and what are your career aspirations. The essay should reveal your drive, your passion for education and the impact it will have on your live. Please tell us about you, your personal background, including your family situation. Are you the first in your family to attend college? Hardships you have experienced in seeking higher education. Are you from a low-income background or living with parents who do not speak English? Tell us what are your goals? Please read the instruction before writing your narrative/essay: On a separate paper, write a maximum 500 word essay the narrative/essay telling about you in a separate sheet of paper Write you name on top right side Must be typed double space Font size 12 and Style Times New Roman Comments: 8
RECOMMENDATION LETTER #1 (This portion to be completed by recommender) When writing your letter of recommendation, please include specific information you have about the student s academically strengths, leadership skills, commitment, dedication, responsibilities, and community involvement, etc. Please include all this information in a separate sheet with an organization letterhead. If you do not have a letter head please inform of your current of past professional profession. Who can a recommender be? A recommender can be someone that knows you at a professional level. It can be your school counselor, professor, mentor, employer, etc. Student Name Your Name address City, State, Zip Title Phone Email address Please mark this box if you would like to receive future scholarship information Email address if different from above: Additional comments or information you would like us to know about the student you are recommending. 9
RECOMMENDATION LETTER #2 (This portion to be completed by recommender) When writing your letter of recommendation, please include specific information you have about the student s academically strengths, community involvement. Please include all this information in a separate sheet or in an organization letterhead. Who can a recommender be? A recommender can be someone that knows you at a professional level. It can be your school counselor, professor, mentor, employer, etc. Student Name Your Name address City, State, Zip Title Phone Email address Please mark this box if you would like to receive future scholarship information Email address if different from above: Additional comments or information you would like us to know about the student you are recommending. 10
Bay Area Gardeners Foundation Signature/commitments By signing below, I certify that I am committed to my educational pursuits and that I will commit to volunteer community service. I agree to report to The Bay Area Gardener s Scholarship Foundation on my educational experience made possible through scholarship this award and my volunteer service, which is a condition of the award. All of the information on this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. If awarded with the BAGSF scholarship, I agree to volunteer to a minimum of 5 hours in the next year in support of the Bay Area Gardener s Scholarship Foundation. Signature: Date: Printed Name: Parent or Guardian Signature (Only if applicant is under 18years of age) By signing below, I certify that I am committed to my child s educational goals. I commit to support my student s in every step of his educational journey. Print Name Date: Signature: 11