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) and other scholarships or gift aid. The formula for calculating the Ford Opportunity scholarship award is shown below:
Formula: Cost of Attendance (COA) for the academic year (minus) EFC (from FAFSA) (minus) All grants and other scholarship aid (minus) Other resources (e.g., veteran’s benefits) Result x 90% = Ford Opportunity Award (Minimum of $1,000/Maximum of $25,000)
Example: $24,000 COA for the academic year (minus) $ 500 EFC (from FAFSA) (minus) $ 8,250 All other grants & scholarship aid (minus) $ 0 Other resources $15,250 x 90% = $13,725 Ford Opportunity Award
Description:
Hallie E. Ford and The Ford Family Foundation established the Ford Opportunity Program to provide scholarships to college students who are single parents. Each year, up to 35 applicants are selected from Oregon to receive a Ford Opportunity scholarship, and up to 5 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. Scholarship offers may be rescinded if an applicant’s EFC changes prior to fall term of the application year and he or she no longer meets the financial need criteria.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 a single parent with custody of dependent children (18 years of age or younger) and be the head of household as defined by IRS regulations. The intention of this scholarship is to assist single parents who do not have the support of a domestic partner Have a high school diploma or GED, or be about to complete high school or GED, or be a continuing college student Verify a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 GPA or GED of 2650, or have a counselor, advisor or teacher submit a Special Recommendation online, as part of the application Seek a bachelor’s degree (and not previously have earned a bachelor’s degree). Recipient may attend a community college, but only with the intention of transferring and obtaining a bachelor’s degree 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 Opportunity 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.
