Eligibility Criteria

• Graduating senior at Wilkinson County High School.
• Plans to attend an accredited public or private college, university, or technical school.
• Pursuing an undergraduate degree.
• A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• Enrollment as a full-time student.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected based on their overall performance in school and their ability to balance academics, school and community activities, and personal responsibilities to achieve a well-rounded experience in school.

Additional Short Answer Questions and Attachments

On the last page, you will select the J.W. and Martha Whipple Scholarship Fund and complete the following additional information:

• A short essay describing your academic achievement, career goals, and any special personal or family circumstances affecting your need for financial assistance.
• Provide the name and email address of one reference who has agreed to submit a letter of recommendation for you. This should be a teacher or counselor. This person will receive an email from our system allowing them to submit your recommendation. Please ask them before submitting their email address and let them know when you have submitted your application because that is when they will receive the email.
• A resume listing your school and community activities, athletics, awards, offices held, and other relevant experience.
• Your most recent high school transcript – you must request this from your current school.
• A current, submitted FAFSA Student Aid Report that indicates the value of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in the upper right hand corner. If this value is not shown, your application will be considered incomplete.

Awards

Amount of Award: $500 annually

Number of Awards: Four total, one new recipient selected annually

Renewal for Prior Recipients:  A prior recipient of this scholarship fund is eligible to renew the award each subsequent year of his/her undergraduate education career for up to four years. In order to renew, he/she must:

• Complete the online renewal application by March 15th of each year.
• Submit an unofficial transcript scholar@cfcga.org at the end of each fall and spring semester for which he/she receives the scholarship.
• Maintain full-time enrollment, completing 12 or more credit hours each fall and spring semester he/she receives the scholarship.
• Maintain the eligibility criteria as defined in the scholarship’s guidelines.  The GPA requirement to renew the scholarship is a 2.5 cumulative GPA in college.

If a prior recipient does not maintain the eligibility criteria or faces unique circumstances that require him/her to take time off or take a reduced course load for a semester, the student should contact the Community Foundation to determine if he/she is eligible for continued funding.