Background

Upward Bound, a TRIO program, gives students from low-income families the academic support necessary to help them enter college.   In 2018, alumni of the TRIO program held a reunion and decided to create a scholarship fund as a way to give back to current students in the TRIO program.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a graduating senior who has participated in a TRIO program during high school.
• Reside in or attend high school in Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Monroe, Twiggs, or Wilkinson counties.
• Have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Preference will be given to applicants who participated in a TRIO program (Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound or Educational Opportunity Centers) during high school.
• Likelihood to succeed based on the applicant’s Volunteer Service, Personal Statement responses, and Recommendations.

Additional Short Answer Questions and Attachments

The Middle Georgia TRIO Scholarship Fund will request the following additional information:

• Please indicate which TRIO programs you participated in during high school (select all that apply):
  • Educational Talent Search
  • Upward Bound
  • Educational Opportunity Centers
• Two letters of recommendation. One recommendation must come from a TRIO project director or administration. The other recommendation can be from a teacher, administrator, or community leader.

Awards

Amount of Award:  $500 renewable for up to 4 years
Number of Awards:  One per year
Renewal for Prior Recipients: A prior recipient of this scholarship fund is eligible to renew the award each subsequent year of his/her education career for up to four years. To renew, he/she must complete all the required follow-ups assigned by the CFCG Scholarship Director and adhere to the above scholarship fund eligibility criteria.

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.