Melanie and Todd Edmondson Memorial Scholarship

The Melanie and Todd Edmondson Memorial Scholarship Fund is given to one male and one female graduate. The recipients may (i) be either full-time or part-time enrolled students, (ii) attend any accredited institution of higher learning in the United States and (iii) pursue any field of academic study or technical training. The award can be used for tuition, fees and institutional room and board at the baccalaureate level.

The scholarship is renewable providing that the Fund has sufficient assets to sustain the awards and the recipient continues to maintain the standards of these guidelines. The Calhoun County Community Foundation will project and allocate the assets available for scholarship awards depending on the Fund's annual income.

Application:
These guidelines and the application packet will be distributed to the guidance counselors at Oxford High School. Also, applications are available directly from the Community Foundation.

To be considered for the Melanie and Todd Edmondson Memorial Scholarship Fund, applicants must submit the complete application and supporting documentation to the Community Foundation by February 1 of each year. There are no exceptions to this due date. The Scholarship Review Committee will not consider incomplete applications.

Essay:
An essay is required with the application. The student is asked to describe his or her personal aspirations, educational, and career goals. This composition should be typed and be no longer than five double-spaced pages. The applicant should conclude the statement with the main reason why the committee should award him or her the scholarship.

Eligibility:
Graduates of Oxford High School, or its successor in interest, are eligible to apply for the scholarship without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, or disability. In addition, the following criteria, in the enumerated priority order, shall be used in selecting those most suitable for the award: Applicants should be (i) from among students who have a 3.0 or B average, (ii) actively involved in their community, which may also include school or religious activities, (iii) known for their strong moral character and (iv) participants in school athletics.

Review Committee:
The Scholarship Review Committee of the Calhoun County Community Foundation will review all applications. If there are not representatives on the Committee from Oxford High School, then the Committee will consult with three faculty members of Oxford High School who teach or counsel senior level students. The Committee will make recommendations to the Foundation's Board of Trustees for their approval.

Review Process:
Staff will review the application for clarity and completeness; copies of applications and all documentation will be forwarded to the Scholarship Review Committee. Committee members will have four weeks to review the applications, conduct interviews, if necessary, and hold a final determination meeting. Ideally, awards will be finalized and made public in time for the school's recognition event.

Payment of Awards:
Payment is made at the beginning of each academic semester. Checks are made directly to the financial administration office at the institution. Students must inform the Community Foundation of any additional educational or financial aid grants or awards immediately upon notification. Failure to do so may result in the termination of this scholarship.

In addition, the scholarship recipient must provide the Community Foundation with an official copy of their transcript at the end of each academic term (semester or quarter). Failure in any single term to maintain a 2.5 overall grade point average or better on a 4.0 scale will result in the termination of the scholarship award.

Responsibility of Recipient:
Each scholarship recipient is responsible for fulfilling requirements for admission to the educational institution. The scholarship recipient must enter post secondary classes no later than the fall term following their selection; otherwise, they forfeit the award.
Recipients not completing the full academic term must request that the school reimburse the Calhoun County Community Foundation for any funds eligible for refund.

Assumptions:
The Melanie and Todd Edmondson Memorial Scholarship Fund Guidelines are not a contract. No obligation or liability of any kind will be imposed upon a scholarship recipient; nor will any obligation or liability be assumed by the Calhoun County Community Foundation, except as expressly stated in this document.

These guidelines are subject to change; therefore, applicants should inquire if revised guidelines have been issued. This may include the due date of the application documents. Neither Oxford High School nor the Community Foundation is required to accept applications that are presented after the due date.

Document Date: February 5, 2002
Revised February 28, 2002