Scoring Applications

The national application form is divided into four categories and scored using a method that has evolved over 40 years of operation (for specific instructions contact state office).

Applications are assigned points based on:

Personal Data (work experience, extra-curricular activities and community leadership contributions, educational objectives and unusual circumstances)
Applicant Appraisal (an evaluation by someone who knows the student well)
Scholastic Performance (student’s converted rank in class or grade point average)
Scholastic Aptitude (SAT, ACT, or PSAT verbal and math scores)

Each chapter may adapt the application form and process to meet local needs. National and state office personnel will provide a variety of options and support chapters in determining the guidelines and policies that best reflect their community culture.

Chapters may also determine if they wish to factor in financial need (a different application format is available for this process). Some chapters may have donors who have specified their gift for specific occupations such as teachers, engineers, nurses, music/arts, etc. In these cases, additional criteria may be indicated. Chapters are encouraged to recognize all types of education from professional programs to technical school programs to university and college degrees.

Chapter Board Members Should Ask Themselves:

What is the message we are sending or wish to send to our students and our community?

Distribution of Chapter Awards

Each chapter may also determine how they wish to distribute their dollars available.

For example, if a chapter had $20,000 available for scholarships, they may do one of the following or a combination of the following, depending on the local community culture and chapter policies. The following list of options reflects several policies used throughout our region:

Provide a set amount to all recipients such as $1000 to 20 students. All Scholarships are Merit Based which means financial need is not considered.
Half of scholarships available are need based and half are merit based. For example, $10,000 is available to students with financial need and $10,000 is available to students who do not demonstrate need.
Group the scores of students into clusters according to point values on the scoring process and provide awards according to clusters of scores. This allows students with similar scores to receive similar awards.

For example: 10 scholarships at $1000, 10 scholarships and $700, 6 scholarships at $500.

Divide the amount available by the number of applicants so everyone gets something. For example, 40 applicants for $20,000 means everyone receives a $500 award.
Designate 4 scholarships for professional programs, 6 for technical programs, and 9 for college and university programs. Dollars available to each category are distributed based on differences in total program costs/time (1 yr, 2 yr, and 4 yr) and percent of students entering into each category locally. The professional programs receive $500, technical programs receive $750 and college/university students receive $1500. Adjust either the dollar amounts or number of awards as dollars/applicants allow.
Designate 25% of funds for renewable scholarships. This provides $15,000 to graduates and $5000 to past recipients. Policies are put in place for minimum GPA/other criteria needed to receive renewable funds and past recipients reapply for these dollars. The $15,000 available for graduates provides $1000 to 15 students.
Initiate an Excellence in Education Program for all high school students to ‘bank’ specified dollars for earning A or B Honor Roll status. These funds are noted each grading period and ‘banked’ in the students name until they graduate from school. This provides an opportunity for many students to benefit from a Dollars for Scholars program, in addition to the traditional application program. These funds can be jointly managed with scholarship money or managed in their own account from special fund raising efforts or gifts.
Possibilities are as endless and reflect the varied types of messages sent to students and communities throughout the US.