Scholarship guidelines
If you have any questions, please contact your state counselor, scholarship chairman or ESA Foundation director. Do not contact ESA Foundation headquarters.
A - All scholarships shall collectively be known as ESA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS. Applicant must designate, by name, the scholarship for which he / she is applying.
1. Per the Internal Revenue Service, Publication 520, a qualified scholarship is an amount received as a scholarship and may be used according to the condition of the scholarship for:
a. Tuition and fees required to enroll in, or to attend, an educational institution, OR
b. Fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the courses of instruction at the educational institution.
B. Application must be submitted on the current revised form [Revised 2011]. (Current application form may be downloaded from the ESA Foundation website
www.epsilonsigmaalpha.org/scholarship or by sending a self-addressed, stamped business envelope to the current Scholarship Chairman.
C. Applicant must be one of the following:
1. A senior high school student who will be an incoming college freshman student with a minimum non-weighted cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, OR a minimum score of ACT 22 OR SAT [verbal / critical reading and math] 1030 OR GPA designated by specific endowment;
2. A College student presently enrolled in an accredited college or university who has maintained a “B” average [3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale] during his / her college career OR GPA designated by specific scholarship;
3. A College student applying for graduate scholarship must have GPA of 3.50 on 4.00 scale or higher and enrolled in a US accredited college or university.
4. Enrolled for training in a technical school or any person returning to school after an absence to retrain job skills or obtain a degree. [Post secondary students at any educational level].
5. On-line credit tuition when obtained through an Accredited College / University / Vocational school or an accredited program by an accredited agency.
D. Application Process:
1. Apply for no more than three (3) Scholarships.
2. Two-page application MUST be complete – DO NOT LEAVE ANY BLANKS. [Include N/A if not applicable].
3. Application must be SIGNED and DATED by the student.
4. EACH Application must be accompanied by the following:
a. One [1] page ONLY, typed [preferred], [single or double spaced] personal original letter / essay indicating career plans, reasons you are applying for the scholarship and any additional information about yourself that is not on the application form. [One for each application – may use same letter for all applications.]
b. Two [2] signed letters of recommendations. [May be copies]. [Two for each application – may be same two letters of recommendation for each application.]
c. Most current “ORIGINAL - OFFICIAL” certified transcript of grades. [Original official certified transcript must include school stamp, embossed seal, or authorized school official signature.] Transcripts must include current GPA score along with an explanation of the school’s grading system. [Transcripts can NOT be COPIES]. SAT / ACT documentation on transcript or by separate document. [One for each application]
5. Include name and address of college / university you plan to attend. If unsure of school you will be attending list first preference.
E. Submit Application as follows:
1. Make check / money orders payable [$5 for each application] to the ESA FOUNDATION.
2. If submitting more than one application, you may write one (1) check or one (1) money order for the total processing fee of all applications.
3. Mail each completed application with all required attachments [listed above] and a check or money order [payable to the ESA Foundation] for $5 [US currency] processing fee for each application to the Foundation State Counselor for your state / country / area. [State Counselors are listed on the web site www.epsilonsigmaalpha.org/scholarships. Letters of recommendation and / or transcripts may be sent directly to the state counselor, if this is done, include notification with your application that letters of recommendations and / or transcripts are being sent separately.
5. Must be postmarked no later than FEBRUARY 1.
6. You may submit all applications and attachments in the same envelope to the same state counselor.
F. General Reasons for Disqualification:
1. Applicant applies for more than three (3) scholarships.
2. Application is incomplete, not signed and dated.
3. Does not have two (2) signed letters of recommendation.
4. Applicant does not meet the requirements indicated or the criteria of the scholarship.
5. Processing fee is not included for each application.
6. Personal letter / essay is more than one (1) page.
7. Transcript is not official; transcript is not original.
8. Does not meet the February 1 postmark deadline.
9. Application is sent to ESA Foundation Headquarters in Colorado.
G. Criteria for Selection
1. Character / Leadership / Service / Financial Need / Scholastic Ability / Special Criteria - set by donor.
H. General Information
1. Scholarships must be applied for on an annual basis.
2. There is no limit on the number of years a person may apply.
3. No special consideration will be given to previous winners.
4. Recipients of the scholarships shall be chosen annually.
5. ESA Foundation Board of Directors or committees are not allowed to suggest and / or recommend any particular scholarship to any student.
6. Availability of scholarship monies will be published through the ESA Foundation and on the website.
7. Winners of an ESA Foundation Scholarship will be notified by June 15.
8. Scholarship winners will be published in the ESA Foundation’s newsletters and on the web site after judging has been finalized and winners personally notified.
9. The award will be made payable to the college / university of choice and the recipient.
10. The college / university will require the student’s signature to process the check.
11. The award will be mailed during August directly to the college / university indicated on the applicant’s application for the following academic year.
12. If the college / university of original choice is changed, the
winner must notify the Scholarship Chairman before checks are issued.
13. The bank cancellation service charge will be deducted from the award check if notification of school change is received after the checks are issued.
14. EXTRA BOOST AWARD
One (1) winner of an ESA Foundation Scholarship will be awarded an “extra $1000” by the ESA Foundation as funds permit.
15. EARLY BIRD AWARD
Any application packet received by December 15, accompanied by all documents and approved for judging; will be eligible for a drawing to be awarded a $1000 Early Bird Scholarship as funds permit.