Gerald Powell Scholarship

The Fund is an educational incentive benefiting exemplary youth who are members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Central Alabama. The scholarship is made to outstanding Club members based on their leadership, character and academic promise. Annually, the Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs will make the award. The scholarship is conditional upon the Club member continuing in good standing and maintaining these high standards as he or she completes high school. A subsequent review by the Boys & Girls Clubs is conducted during the honoree's senior year in high school. Upon satisfactory endorsement, the scholarship is made final.

Then, upon successful graduation from an accredited high school, the recipient must then be accepted at an accredited institution of higher learning (college, university, trade or technical school) within the United States. The agreed award amount will then be forwarded to the student's account as outlined below.

The Scholarship Committee of the Boys & Girls Clubs will assess each applicant's background and financial need to determine a final award amount. The Committee will also take into consideration extenuating circumstances and all financial resources available to the student.

Application:
The Community Foundation will maintain and revise as necessary the guidelines and application documents. Applications will be available from the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Central Alabama. The Boys & Girls Clubs of East Central Alabama will publicize the Fund in a widely available newsletter or brochure to insure accessibility for all students at the Clubs. Applications are submitted to the Community Foundation by February 1 of each year.

Essay:
An essay is required with the application. The student is asked to: (i) describe the person or experience that has been the greatest influence in his or her life; (ii) share a value or benefit from being a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs, and (iii) articulate his or her personal aspirations and career goals. This composition should be typed and be no longer than four double-spaced pages. The applicant should conclude the statement with the main reason why the committee should award him or her the scholarship.

Eligibility:
Applicants for the scholarship must: (i) compete through an approved process established by the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Central Alabama, (ii) meet all membership requirements and be in good standing with the organization, (iii) must demonstrate scholastic performance by possessing and maintaining a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average, and (iv) demonstrate financial need. Applicants must also submit recommendation forms from two of the following: a current teacher, a community representative, a neighbor, a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs staff, or a minister.

Children and grandchildren of board and staff members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Central Alabama are ineligible to apply or to receive a scholarship from the Fund. All relatives of donors, who contribute more than two percent of the Fund's assets, are ineligible to receive a scholarship from the Fund. 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.

Payment of Awards: The Foundation will make scholarship payment at the beginning of each fall or spring semester. 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 after notification. Failure to do so may result in the termination of the Gerald Powell Scholarship.

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

Responsibility of Recipient: Each recipient is responsible for fulfilling requirements for admission to the educational institution. The scholarship recipient must enter a post-secondary institution no later than the fall term following the selection and award. The award may not be extended beyond one year.

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 Gerald E. Powell Scholarship 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 Community Foundation of Calhoun County, 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 the Boys & Girls Club of East Central Alabama nor the Community Foundation will (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.



Revised: June 25, 2002
Revised: November 4, 2005
Revised November 28, 2006