CFCC: Community Foundation of Calhoun County

Tribute: The Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship Fund is a gift to the students of Saks High School from Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Joseph "Hank" Saks in memory of his parents. In the early 1900's, Mr. Joseph Saks contributed the land and the structure for the original Saks High School. As a continuation of this legacy Hank and Bette created this fund to foster educational opportunities for graduates of Saks High School and to aid in their completion of higher education. This permanently endowed scholarship has been established as a component fund of the Community Foundation of Calhoun County.

Awards: The Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship Fund is intended to provide full or supplemental funding for full-time enrolled students, over a four-year period, to an accredited college or university within the United States. Furthermore, the Fund will take into consideration extenuating circumstances and all financial resources available to the student during his or her four-year matriculation from the selected college or university. If funds are available, the award may include room and board (institutional), books and fees.

The Community Foundation will project and allocate the assets available for scholarship awards depending on the Fund's annual income.

Guidelines and applications are available from the Saks High School guidance department or the Community Foundation. Saks High School administration will publicize the Fund in a widely available student handbook or
newsletter to ensure accessibility for all students. The Community Foundation will maintain and revise as necessary the guidelines and application documents.

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

Eligibility: Graduating seniors of Saks High School, or its future successor institution, are eligible to apply for the scholarship without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, or disability. Priority will be given to seniors with strong moral character, discernable academic ability, aptitude in mathematics and English, recognized school and community service and financial need. Smaller merit scholarships may be awarded to students that are unable to demonstrate financial need. In addition, the Foundation's Board of Trustees, staff and Scholarship Committee members, including their spouses, children, adopted children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, are prohibited from applying or receiving any scholarship, grant or financial award from the Foundation.

Review Committee: The Foundation's Scholarship Committee (made up of school officials, educators, and community foundation representatives) will review all applications and make recommendations to the Foundation's Board of Trustees for final approval.

Review Process: Students are required to submit the application packet to the Community Foundation by February 1; staff will review the application for clarity and completeness; copies of applications, follow-up reports, and funding parameters will be forwarded to the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee; committee members will have four weeks to review the applications, conduct interviews if necessary; and hold a final determination meeting with Foundation staff. This recommendation is submitted to the Foundation's Board of Trustees for final approval. Ideally, awards will be finalized to accommodate college acceptance deadlines.

Payment of Awards: Initially, payment is made at the beginning of the academic term (quarter or semester) once the Foundation has received proof of registration as a full-time student. Merit scholarships have a specific award amount and generally do not extend beyond the first year.

It is the hope of the donors and the Foundation that recipients will continue to qualify for the Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship. If the total assets determined by the Foundation to be available to fund scholarship in any year is less than the full amount of scholarship awards approved for such year by the Committee, awards to renewal applicants will be fully funded prior to awarding new scholarships. Factors that are evaluated in renewing or terminating the award are as follows.

- Maintaining high personal standards and moral character.
- Meeting the minimum academic requirement of a 2.5 or "C" average on a 4.0 scale.
- Remaining enrolled as a full-time student.
- Progressively completing academic courses of substance aligned with a specific major or degree.
- Graduation within four years unless there is some unforeseen reason or extenuating circumstances.
- Limitation or lack of assets available to fund scholarships.

Continuing scholarship payments are made based on regular (quarterly or semester) reviews. Distributions will not be made until the Foundation receives the (i) signed letter of acceptance provided by the Foundation, (ii) certified proof of enrollment from the institution and (iii) confirmation that the recipient is enrolled. Checks are made directly to the financial administration office at the college or institution. No distribution will be made to any individual for any reason.

Students must notify the Foundation of any additional educational or financial aid grants or awards immediately. In addition, the Foundation is to be notified if there is any change in the student's financial support.

The scholarship recipient must provide the Foundation with an official college or university transcript at the end of each academic term (quarter or semester). Failure to maintain the above standards will result in the termination of the Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship.

Responsibility of Recipient: Each scholarship recipient is responsible for fulfilling requirements for admission to the educational institution of his or her choice. The scholarship recipient must enter a post-secondary institution no later than the fall term following the selection and award; otherwise, they forfeit the award. No award shall be carried over beyond twelve months from the date of acceptance. Recipients not completing the full academic year must request the school to reimburse the Community Foundation of Calhoun County for any funds eligible for refund because of separation from the academic program.

Assumptions: The Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship Guidelines are not a contract. No obligation or liability of any kind will be imposed upon a scholarship recipient; nor will the Community Foundation of Calhoun County, except as expressly stated in this document, assume any obligation or liability.

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.

The Community Foundation will not (i) accept applications that are presented after the due date; (ii) contact students to locate missing documents such as letters of recommendation (iii) contact students to return the Letter of Acceptance form and (iv) contact students to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive payment.

Reveised: November 2005
Revised: November 21,2006


	Several of the scholarships use the same application and recommendation forms; however, each individual scholarship has its own set of guidelines. The specific funds and corresponding guidelines are listed below. Scholarship applications are due by February 1, 2008. Download Application Download Recommendation Form	Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship Fund Tribute: The Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship Fund is a gift to the students of Saks High School from Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Joseph "Hank" Saks in memory of his parents. In the early 1900's, Mr. Joseph Saks contributed the land and the structure for the original Saks High School. As a continuation of this legacy Hank and Bette created this fund to foster educational opportunities for graduates of Saks High School and to aid in their completion of higher education. This permanently endowed scholarship has been established as a component fund of the Community Foundation of Calhoun County. Awards: The Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship Fund is intended to provide full or supplemental funding for full-time enrolled students, over a four-year period, to an accredited college or university within the United States. Furthermore, the Fund will take into consideration extenuating circumstances and all financial resources available to the student during his or her four-year matriculation from the selected college or university. If funds are available, the award may include room and board (institutional), books and fees. The Community Foundation will project and allocate the assets available for scholarship awards depending on the Fund's annual income. Guidelines and applications are available from the Saks High School guidance department or the Community Foundation. Saks High School administration will publicize the Fund in a widely available student handbook or newsletter to ensure accessibility for all students. The Community Foundation will maintain and revise as necessary the guidelines and application documents. Essay: An essay is required with the application. The student is asked to describe his or her personal aspirations, educational, and career goals and how they include mathematics or English as core components. This composition should be typed and be no longer than three double-spaced pages. The applicant should conclude the statement with the main reason why the committee should award him or her the scholarship. Eligibility: Graduating seniors of Saks High School, or its future successor institution, are eligible to apply for the scholarship without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, or disability. Priority will be given to seniors with strong moral character, discernable academic ability, aptitude in mathematics and English, recognized school and community service and financial need. Smaller merit scholarships may be awarded to students that are unable to demonstrate financial need. In addition, the Foundation's Board of Trustees, staff and Scholarship Committee members, including their spouses, children, adopted children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, are prohibited from applying or receiving any scholarship, grant or financial award from the Foundation. Review Committee: The Foundation's Scholarship Committee (made up of school officials, educators, and community foundation representatives) will review all applications and make recommendations to the Foundation's Board of Trustees for final approval. Review Process: Students are required to submit the application packet to the Community Foundation by February 1; staff will review the application for clarity and completeness; copies of applications, follow-up reports, and funding parameters will be forwarded to the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee; committee members will have four weeks to review the applications, conduct interviews if necessary; and hold a final determination meeting with Foundation staff. This recommendation is submitted to the Foundation's Board of Trustees for final approval. Ideally, awards will be finalized to accommodate college acceptance deadlines. Payment of Awards: Initially, payment is made at the beginning of the academic term (quarter or semester) once the Foundation has received proof of registration as a full-time student. Merit scholarships have a specific award amount and generally do not extend beyond the first year. It is the hope of the donors and the Foundation that recipients will continue to qualify for the Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship. If the total assets determined by the Foundation to be available to fund scholarship in any year is less than the full amount of scholarship awards approved for such year by the Committee, awards to renewal applicants will be fully funded prior to awarding new scholarships. Factors that are evaluated in renewing or terminating the award are as follows. - Maintaining high personal standards and moral character. - Meeting the minimum academic requirement of a 2.5 or "C" average on a 4.0 scale. - Remaining enrolled as a full-time student. - Progressively completing academic courses of substance aligned with a specific major or degree. - Graduation within four years unless there is some unforeseen reason or extenuating circumstances. - Limitation or lack of assets available to fund scholarships. Continuing scholarship payments are made based on regular (quarterly or semester) reviews. Distributions will not be made until the Foundation receives the (i) signed letter of acceptance provided by the Foundation, (ii) certified proof of enrollment from the institution and (iii) confirmation that the recipient is enrolled. Checks are made directly to the financial administration office at the college or institution. No distribution will be made to any individual for any reason. Students must notify the Foundation of any additional educational or financial aid grants or awards immediately. In addition, the Foundation is to be notified if there is any change in the student's financial support. The scholarship recipient must provide the Foundation with an official college or university transcript at the end of each academic term (quarter or semester). Failure to maintain the above standards will result in the termination of the Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship. Responsibility of Recipient: Each scholarship recipient is responsible for fulfilling requirements for admission to the educational institution of his or her choice. The scholarship recipient must enter a post-secondary institution no later than the fall term following the selection and award; otherwise, they forfeit the award. No award shall be carried over beyond twelve months from the date of acceptance. Recipients not completing the full academic year must request the school to reimburse the Community Foundation of Calhoun County for any funds eligible for refund because of separation from the academic program. Assumptions: The Joseph and Amelia Saks Scholarship Guidelines are not a contract. No obligation or liability of any kind will be imposed upon a scholarship recipient; nor will the Community Foundation of Calhoun County, except as expressly stated in this document, assume any obligation or liability. 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. The Community Foundation will not (i) accept applications that are presented after the due date; (ii) contact students to locate missing documents such as letters of recommendation (iii) contact students to return the Letter of Acceptance form and (iv) contact students to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive payment. Reveised: November 2005 Revised: November 21,2006 For more information, email us at: info@yourcommunityfirst.org