The scholarship benefits individuals pursuing a 2-year associate’s degree or approved training program. The award is for full-time enrolled students to attend any accredited technical, trade, or community college institution of higher learning in the United States. The scholarship award is renewable for one year, providing that the recipient continues to maintain the standards of these guidelines. The award can be used for tuition, institutional housing, supplies, books, and fees. Any scholarship money remaining at the end of 2 years will remain in the NCF’s account.
Individuals with a high school diploma graduating from the following schools are eligible to apply for the scholarship without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information.
A priority will be given to applicants who provide documented financial needs.
All donors and relatives of those donors, who contribute more than two percent of the Fund’s assets, are ineligible to receive a scholarship from the Fund. In addition, the NCF’s Board of Directors, former directors, staff, and scholarship application reviewers, including their spouses, children, adopted children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, are prohibited from applying for or receiving any scholarship, grant, or financial award from the NCF. Based on IRS regulations, this disqualifying exclusion exists for three (3) years after concluding volunteer service or employment.
Each scholarship recipient is responsible for fulfilling the requirements for admission to the college or school of choice. The scholarship recipient must enter a post-secondary institution of higher learning no later than the fall term following the selection and award; otherwise, they forfeit the award.
Student must maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 (“C” average) or better on a 4.0 scale. Continuing scholarship payments are made based on regular renewal reviews. The scholarship recipient must provide the NCF with an official college or school transcript at the end of each academic term (quarter or semester). Failure to maintain the above standards will result in the termination of the scholarship. Students must notify the NCF of any additional educational or financial aid grants or awards immediately. In addition, the NCF is to be notified if there is any change in the student’s financial support.
Applications must be submitted electronically to the NCF by March 1 of each year.
In compliance with federal law, scholarship recipients shall be selected by the NCF’s scholarship application reviewers. The reviewers will submit their recommendations to the NCF’s Executive Director of Educational Giving and Board of Directors for their final approval.
NCF staff will screen the application for clarity and completeness. The applications deemed by NCF staff to be clear and complete will be presented to the scholarship application reviewers for evaluation and scoring. The scores and recommendations will be compiled by the NCF’s Executive Director of Educational Giving and submitted to the NCF’s Board of Directors for final approval.
The NCF will make scholarship payments at the beginning of each academic semester. Distributions will not be made until the NCF receives all required documentation, including but not limited to (1) certified proof of enrollment and tuition bill listing tuition and fees from the institution, (2) confirmation that the recipient is enrolled in a program; and, (3) school transcripts. 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.