Student Question/Answers
What is the Foundation for Lincoln Public
Schools scholarship program?
Our scholarship program is made up of over 120 scholarships established
by individuals and organizations to assist students seeking a college
education. Students apply for scholarships and, if selected, can
be awarded one or more different scholarships.
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Am I eligible to apply?
Each scholarship fund has specific eligibility criteria that were
defined by the donor when the fund was established. Please read
through the specific criteria for each scholarship to see if
you are eligible for any of the funding.
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How much does it cost to apply for a
scholarship?
There is no charge to apply.
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When is the deadline to apply? What
do I send in?
Each scholarship has its own deadline. Applications and any attachments
must be postmarked on or before the deadline (check with your local
post office for hours of operation to assure your materials get
postmarked correctly). Applications received after the deadline
will not be considered for funding.
Each scholarship requires its own application and attachments.
Those attachments may include financial aid information, grades,
letters of recommendation, or an essay. Please read through the
criteria to determine what you need to submit in order to be considered
for funding.
Some scholarship applications need to be sent to the Foundation
while others need to be submitted to individual high school counseling
centers. This information can be found within the criteria for
each scholarship.
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Are these scholarship grants taxable?
Generally, scholarships used for tuition, fees, books, and supplies
are not taxable. Any portion of the scholarship that is used
for room and board or miscellaneous expenses is taxable. Consult
a tax expert for advice.
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Are the scholarships sufficient to pay
the cost of my college education?
No. These scholarships are intended to provide only partial support.
In addition to applying for scholarships through the Foundation,
you should look into other financial aid resources such as federal
grants, loans, and work-study awards. A complete financial aid
package can be put together by your college's financial aid office
and may include a portion of each of the above types of financial
aid.
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If I am awarded a scholarship, how much
will I get?
Some scholarships have set amounts. Most of them offer varying
award amounts, which may range from $100 to several thousand dollars.
The award depends on how much is available to award, the number
of awards, and the distribution directions given by the donors
of the fund. The Foundation will determine the number and size
of scholarships awarded each year.
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Where can I go to school with these
scholarships?
Most of the scholarships are for schools anywhere in the United
States, unless noted otherwise in the scholarship description.
The school needs to be an accredited, nonprofit institution. Most
colleges or universities fit this category. Most beauty schools
and business/travel schools do not. Please call your school directly
if you are unsure of its status.
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May I receive scholarships from more
than one fund?
Yes, you can apply to all of the scholarship funds for which you
are eligible and, therefore, can be selected as a recipient for
each of those. You will, however, have to submit a complete application
package for each scholarship. You are welcome to complete one master
copy of your application and reproduce it for each scholarship
for which you are applying. Please be sure that you keep the scholarship
name blank and fill it in after you have made the copies. Please
note that some scholarships require a specific application form
to apply.
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Do I need to pay scholarship money
back?
No, these are charitable grants that do not need to be paid back.
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Does the Foundation make the decision
about who is awarded?
For some scholarships, the Foundation does select the recipients.
For most scholarships, a selection committee makes the decision.
The Foundation processes the application materials for the committees
that make the decisions.
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If I am awarded a scholarship, do
I get the check?
No, the checks go directly to your school's financial aid office.
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What can my scholarship be used for?
The scholarships can be used for any educational expenses: tuition,
fees, books, supplies, room and board, and miscellaneous expenses.
In rare cases, specific uses such as "tuition only" will
be indicated in a scholarship description.
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How do I receive my scholarship?
You must submit proof of enrollment from your college or university
to the Foundation. You may also be required to submit a grade
transcript before a check will be sent. When the Foundation receives
enrollment verification and a copy of your thank you letter to
the scholarship donor, your scholarship check will be sent to
your school. Please check with the scholarship guidelines for
this information.
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If I receive a scholarship one year,
will I automatically receive an award for the following year?
A few scholarships are awarded for multiple years and may be renewed
automatically, provided the student meets the criteria for renewal.
This includes submitting proof of enrollment and maintaining a
specific GPA each semester. Some scholarships are only for graduating
high school seniors and, therefore, cannot be renewed in future
years.
If the scholarship is renewable and you are interested in reapplying,
you are responsible for contacting the Foundation. The Foundation
will not contact past recipients about the possibility to renew. Back
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If I decide to change schools, what
happens to my scholarship?
Some scholarships require the recipient to attend a specific college
or type of college. If you change schools and no longer attend
the required college or university, you will forfeit your scholarship
at the time you begin attending the new school. Most scholarships,
however, do not have such a requirement. You are free to attend
the college of your choice. If you decide to change schools, you
will need to contact the Foundation as soon as possible and submit
proof of enrollment from your new school before a check can be
released. Please read the scholarship criteria carefully to determine
whether or not you have to attend a specific college or type of
college. Remember, most beauty schools and business/travel schools
cannot accept scholarships from the Foundation.
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When will I be notified?
You will be notified after the selection committee meets in the
spring.
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Do I have to send a thank you note
to the scholarship donor(s)?
Yes. In order to receive your award, you must submit a copy of
the thank you letter you wrote to the scholarhip donor. The scholarship
donors' name and address will be provided in your award letter.
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