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 ReStart 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 ReStart Award (Minimum of $1,000/Maximum of $25,000)
Example: $21,000 COA for the academic year (minus) $ 3,500 EFC (from FAFSA) (minus) $ 3,800 All other grants & scholarship aid (minus) $ 0 Other resources $13,700 x 90% = $12,330 Ford ReStart Award
Description:
The Ford Family Foundation established the Ford ReStart Scholarship Program to encourage students, age 25 or older, to begin or return to full-time post-secondary education. Each year, up to 50 applicants are selected from Oregon and Siskiyou County, California to receive a Ford ReStart scholarship.
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 Scholarship offers may be rescinded if an applicant’s EFC changes prior to the fall term of the application year and he or she no longer meets the financial need criteria.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 at least 25 years old by March 1 of the application year Seek a certificate, a 2-year associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree at an eligible institution (and not previously have earned 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 Have a reference submit a ReStart Reference online, as part of the application Applicant may be at any phase of their education, but strong preference is given to students with limited or no recent college experience.
Selection Criteria Each successful candidate will demonstrate: A history of working responsibly on the job or in the home by helping to raise a family A commitment to education as a way of improving his/her life and the lives of his/her family and community Involvement in community through volunteer service to others Initiative and/or leadership in family, school or community activities An ability to clearly communicate personal strengths and goals An ability to benefit from college as supported by the ReStart Reference
Interviews are required for all finalists.
Special Criteria:
Ford ReStart 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.
