This is a variable, need-based award of up to 90% of the recipient’s unmet financial need with a limit of $25,000 per year. Scholarship award amounts are calculated annually and are dependent on the college cost of attendance (including tuition, fees, room & board, personal costs, etc.), less the federal Expected Family Contribution (EFC), other scholarships or gift aid, and a $1,000 work expectation. The formula for calculating the Ford Scholars scholarship award is shown below:
Formula: Cost of Attendance (COA) for the academic year (minus) EFC (from FAFSA) (minus) Ford Work Expectation (minus) All grants and other scholarship aid (minus) Other resources (e.g., veteran’s benefits) Result x 90% = Ford Scholars Award (Minimum of $1,000/Maximum of $25,000)
Example: $21,000 COA for the academic year (minus) $ 2,280 EFC (from FAFSA) (minus) $ 1,000 Ford Work Expectation (minus) $ 7,550 All other grants & scholarship aid (minus) $ 0 Other resources $10,170 x 90% = $9,153 Ford Scholars Award
Description:
Kenneth W. Ford established the Ford Scholars Program to provide scholarships to students who would otherwise find it difficult to meet the expenses associated with the pursuit of an undergraduate degree. Each year, up to 100 applicants are selected from Oregon to receive a Ford Scholars scholarship, and up to 20 applicants are selected from Siskiyou County, California.
This is a need-based, renewable scholarship. To demonstrate financial need, each applicant must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and not exceed the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) limit, as established by the Foundation. For 2013, the EFC upper limit is anticipated to be $6,000.
Scholarship offers may be rescinded if an applicant’s EFC changes prior to fall term of the application year and he or she no longer meets the financial need criteria. The FAFSA should be filed as soon as possible after January 1 and must not have a rejected status at the time of the scholarship application review (mid-March).
Applicant must also: Be a resident of Oregon and meet all residency requirements for college of attendance Be either: (1) a high school graduate (or the equivalent) and never have enrolled full time in a 2- or 4-year college, or (2) a community college student ready to transfer as a junior to a 4-year college in the fall. Students are not eligible if they have already started full time at a 4-year college or have previously earned a bachelor’s degree Verify a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 or GED of 2650, or have a counselor, advisor or teacher submit a Special Recommendation online, as part of the application. (SATs or ACTs are not required, but are highly recommended.) Attend full time, on campus, at an eligible public or non-profit college, based in Oregon, beginning in fall of the application year Have no felony convictions, or have satisfied the terms of any felony conviction by August 1 of the application year
Selection Criteria Each successful candidate will demonstrate: Concern for others and contribution of time and energy to volunteer projects and/or service organizations Motivation and desire to contribute to personal success through paid work experience Leadership ability through participation in school and community activities An ability to succeed in college An ability to clearly communicate personal strengths and goals Interviews are required for all finalists
Special Criteria:
Ford Scholars who successfully complete their bachelor’s degree may be eligible to apply for up to two years of graduate-level funding.
Apply online through the Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) at www.OregonStudentAid.gov.
