Scholarship
Instructions to Applicants for the Hillsdale County Democratic Party Scholarship
The Hillsdale County Democratic Party is pleased to offer two $500 non-renewable scholarships each year to current seniors. We wish to honor a student’s past school performance, current positive contributions to community, as well as his or her understanding of The Importance of Voting in a Democracy as determined in an essay written by the student on this topic. The scholarships will be announced at each student’s class night celebration with a scholarship certificate to be presented at the Truman Dinner in August. The winners will be asked to read their essays at the Truman Dinner. One half of the money will be sent to the students at the beginning of each semester of their freshman year when proof of enrollment is provided to the Scholarship Chairman of the Hillsdale County Democratic Party.
The eligibility criteria for one of these scholarships includes:
- Applicant must be a graduating senior and a resident of Hillsdale County with a 3.0 GPA
- Applicant must be graduating from a public high school in Hillsdale County (Camden-Frontier High School, Hillsdale High School, Jonesville High School, Litchfield High School, North Adams High School, Pittsford High School, Reading High School or Waldron High School)
- Applicant must be accepted and enrolled full time in any two or four year college, university, , or trade school full time (carrying at least 12 credits), for the fall semester following his or her senior year of high school
To apply for one of these scholarships, submit all of the following:
- The completed application form (or submit a resume that addresses all areas on the application)
- An official high school transcript
- An essay discussing The importance of Voting in a Democracy which you have researched and documented. You may include brief quotes from individuals, but you must give credit to anyone you quote. Your essay should not exceed two double-spaced typed pages (using a 12 point font that is easily read). This essay is very important in the selection process. An application without the essay will not be considered.
- Two letters of recommendation: One must be from a teacher or an administrator who knows you well. The other could be from another teacher, a coach, a minister or an employer who knows you well. Letters of recommendation are not to be written by family members. (Please write a thank-you note to anyone who gives you a reference.)
- Verification from a school counselor that you have a 3.0 GPA
- A copy of your letter of acceptance to a college, university or a trade school.
- A one-page personal statement regarding your educational plans and career goals. You may include motivating factors, important experiences, challenges, or even failures that have helped to shape you and your plans for the future. This personal statement will help the scholarship committee to know you as an individual.
All applications must be postmarked no later than March 14, 2018. Send your application via snail mail or e-mail to:
Liz Webb
4911 Foust Rd.
Osseo, MI 49266
517-439-1737
The winners will be announced at the Honors Night/Banquet for seniors in their respective high schools. They will also be introduced (with their families) at the Truman Dinner held by the Hillsdale County Democratic Party in August, 2017.
Sincerely,
Liz Webb,
Scholarship Chair
The Hillsdale County Democratic Party