Undergraduate Scholarship Funds 2012-2013

Deadline for Applications: March 1, 2012

Welcome to the Blue Mountain Community Foundation scholarship process.  The following guidelines and instructions will assist you in completing and submitting your application.  Scholarships from General Funds are awarded primarily by financial need.  The foremost factor in determining financial need is family income.  The table below indicates income levels, based on the Walla Walla area and the number of people in your family.  Applicants who fall at or below these threshold amounts are encouraged to apply.

Scholarships from Special Requirement Funds are awarded to students meeting the criteria listed.  These scholarships are not necessarily need-based.  Scholarships are awarded to individuals attending colleges, universities and trade schools.  If questions arise as you work through the application process, please call the Foundation office at (509) 529-4371 for assistance.    

General Funds

Awards from the General Fund scholarships listed below are on a financial-need basis.  Applicants must be graduates of high schools in Walla Walla County, have received a GED or been home-schooled in Walla Walla County or have resided in Walla Walla County for at least three (3) years at the time of application.

• Ralph R. Bennett and Mary Ellen Bennett Fund
• Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund
• T. B. Elliott Fund
• William E. and Mary G. Falconer Endowment Fund
• Kenneth Garner Non-Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund
• Dayl and Doris Graves Scholarship Fund
• Roberta Bell Kraemer Fund

Special Requirement Funds

Awards from these funds are pursuant to the criteria listed below and are not necessarily need-based.  You should read the description carefully to see if you qualify.

• Betty Rae and Luetta Anderson Fund - for graduates of Walla Walla High School who plan to continue their foreign language education at the collegiate level (preference for students studying German).
• Bayne Family Fund - for graduates of Walla Walla High School active in student government.
• Larry Jay Brittain Memorial Fund - for graduates of Walla Walla County high schools who were active in youth baseball. Applicants must demonstrate a desire to pursue higher education and an academic ability to achieve. Financial need will be considered.
• Terry Copple Fund - for graduates of Walla Walla High School who wish to major in visual arts at the college level or at a special art school. Applicants must have attained at least average scholastic achievement and demonstrate financial need.
• Bobby Cox Memorial Fund - for Walla Walla County or Milton-Freewater, Oregon, high school senior of Latino descent with outstanding leadership qualities and financial need.
• Ralph and Elsa Emigh Fund - for Columbia, Garfield and Walla Walla County and Milton-Freewater, Weston and Athena, Oregon, high school graduates who have demonstrated merit or who have financial need, irrespective of academic achievement or class rank.
• Keith P. and Helen C. Fenner Fund - for Columbia, Umatilla or Walla Walla County high school graduates who can demonstrate extraordinary examples of leadership and good citizenship. Applicants must cite specific leadership roles and citizenship activities.
• Edward F. Fields Memorial Fund - for Walla Walla County 4-H or FFA graduate attending Washington State University with interest in livestock, veterinary medicine or extension services.
• Marilyn Jensen Memorial Fund - for graduating seniors of Weston-McEwen High School in Athena, Oregon, who have a 2.5 gpa or higher and have been active in extracurricular programs (sports, music, student government or drama). Applicants must demonstrate good citizenship, good school attendance and above-average effort. Preference is given to applicants 1) seeking a degree in engineering, 2) seeking a degree in a health-related field and 3) attending a Christian college seeking a degree in ministry/humanitarian service.
• Jim Kibler Agriculture Fund - for students attending college or specialized vocational agri-business programs in anticipation of careers in farming, animal sciences (including veterinary medicine), natural resources management, agriculture technology, ag marketing and ag management (preference to individuals from Washington, Oregon and Idaho with farming or cattle-raising backgrounds).
• Tichi-Groom Fund - for Walla Walla or Umatilla County high school graduate whose parent must be in fire-fighting service, paid or volunteer; or city/county law enforcement officer (preference for Athena or Milton-Freewater students).
• Ann Weatherill Memorial Scholarship Fund - for graduates of Garrison Middle School who have demonstrated academic excellence and with financial need.
• O. A. and Marion White 4-H Scholarship Fund - for active 4-H members.

Applications will automatically be considered for the General Funds, and may be considered for the Special Requirement Funds if the applicant meets the special requirement criteria and lists the Special Requirement Fund for which they would like to be considered in the space provided on the application form.

Applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee of Blue Mountain Community Foundation for recommendation to the Board of Trustees.  It will consider the applicant’s statement of high school or college interests, employment and community service and plans for further education. Family and student income, number of family members and cost of education, as well as student and parent abilities and willingness to contribute toward college expenses, are major considerations.

Please read the Requirements and Instructions to Applicant below. When an application is received, it is assumed that the applicant has read and accepted these requirements. Scholarship grants are open to applicants in any year of undergraduate study, but a student may not receive more than three (3) grants during undergraduate years.  Awards are restricted to students seeking their first undergraduate degree.

Grant awards will be announced in June.

Applications may be obtained at high schools in Walla Walla County, at some area colleges, by mail from BMCF on receipt of a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope or online at www.bluemountainfoundation.org.

Requirements and instructions to applicant:

1. The application must be postmarked by March 1.   No application will be considered without ALL information requested and ALL enclosures.
2. Applicants must be graduates of high schools in Walla Walla County, have received a GED or been home-schooled in Walla Walla County or been a resident of Walla Walla County for at least three years at time of application.  Please see the list of Special Requirement Funds for exceptions.
3. Blue Mountain Community Foundation must receive an official high school transcript and transcripts from all colleges attended.  You should include college transcripts for
   college classes taken while attending high school (e.g. Running Start).  Transcripts must be included with each application submitted, even if they have been provided in previous years or with other applications.  Transcripts may be mailed directly to BMCF by a high school or college.  If you received a GED, you must provide copies of your GED Certificate and GED scores.
4. Blue Mountain Community Foundation requires a copy of the completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.  Also, BMCF requires a copy of parents’ IRS Form 1040 for the previous year or applicant’s and/or spouse’s IRS Form 1040.  If the applicant has not filed a Form 1040 and cannot obtain financial information from a parent, the applicant may submit a letter from either a school counselor or social worker stating why the student cannot furnish the requested information.
5. Successful applicants will be notified of awards in June. Grant amounts will vary according to the financial need of applicants, with a minimum award of $300.
6. Grants are made with the understanding that the applicant will attend school for the full term as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 credit hours. The applicant agrees that a proportionate part of the grant will be refunded to BMCF if the student drops out of school for any reason.
7. All completed applications will be considered in conformance with equal opportunity standards.  As a condition of your receiving a scholarship, your name may be published in the Foundation’s promotional materials.

APPLICATION Check List:

1. Complete all portions of the application and mail to Blue Mountain Community Foundation, P.O. Box 603, Walla Walla, WA 99362.  DEADLINE FOR POSTMARK OF ALL INFORMATION IS MARCH 1.
2. Send an official high school transcript or GED Certificate and GED scores.
3. Send a transcript of any college course work (if applicable), including college transcripts for college classes taken while attending high school (e.g. Running Start).
4. Send copy of completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA), which is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
5. Send complete copy of parents’ (if you are a dependent) or self’s (if you are independent)  IRS Form 1040 for 2011.  If the 2011 IRS Form 1040 has not yet been filed, you may provide the 2010 IRS Form 1040 return.

Additional information submitted by the applicant may not be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee.

DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATIONS IN A BINDER. Bound applications will not be considered.