Questions & Answers about the Heritage Fund Scholarship Process
- How do I apply for the scholarships administered by Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County?
To apply for the scholarships administered by the Heritage Fund, you will need to complete an application and return it to the Heritage Fund office at 538 Franklin St., Columbus, Indiana. Some of the scholarships require a specific application while 47 different scholarships use the Combined Scholarship Application Form.
- Where do I find the Heritage Fund scholarship applications?
All applications are available at the Heritage Fund office located at 538 Franklin St., Columbus. Applications are available at the guidance offices of Columbus East, Columbus North and Hauser Jr./Sr. high schools, the Student Service Center at IUPUC, Ivy Tech Community College Financial Aid Office, and Trinity Lutheran High School. All scholarship applications are available to be downloaded from this website.
- How do I determine if I am eligible to apply for a scholarship?
Check our scholarship brochure or our website. Every scholarship administered by the Heritage Fund is listed. Criteria may include certain academic requirements, specific majors, financial need, attendance at specific colleges and/or participation in a particular sport or extracurricular activity. Please review the criteria for each scholarship carefully.
In addition to the 47 scholarships that use the Combined Scholarship Application, there are other scholarships that use their own applications.
The alphabetical listing indicates which scholarships require the Combined Scholarship Application and which ones use a separate application. This information is listed as "Application Required."
- What steps do I take to complete the application?
Each application states what documentation is needed to accompany that application. Most require an essay, official high school or college transcript and a recommendation to be completed by a high school teacher, high school counselor, clergy or other professional, who is not a relative, with whom you have had a working relationship.
It is your responsibility to have the required documentation for each scholarship for which you plan to apply.
The scholarships that use this Heritage Fund Combined Scholarship application are listed on its front page. You must place an "x" in the box next to the scholarships for which you are applying. Please look over the criteria for each scholarship and select only those scholarships for which you meet the criteria.
Official transcript: An official transcript is available through your guidance office or from the registrar's office at your college or university. No copies or on-line transcripts will be accepted. The transcript needs to be in a sealed envelope. You must submit an official transcript with each application you are completing.
Essay: The essay for the Heritage Fund Combined Scholarship Application asks: Tell us of a life experience that has impacted you significantly. Describe how that experience has influenced where you are today and how you believe it will shape your future.
Essay topics for other scholarships are indicated on that scholarship's application form. Unless otherwise noted, essays should be one – three pages, typed in 12 point font and double-spaced. Please number each page and put the last four digits of your social security number in the right-hand corner of each page.
Recommendations: Please consult each scholarship application to see if character recommendations are required for that scholarship. Recommendations must be delivered to the Heritage Fund in a sealed envelope. For applications that include a character recommendation form, the form must be typewritten in no smaller than 10pt. typeface or legibly handwritten in black ink. It is also acceptable to cut and paste a word document if desired; however, the recommendation form must fit in the space on the form. Additional papers will not be considered.
Financial information: Please use figures from your 2007 Federal tax return. All information will be confidential. If there are financial circumstances you feel need further explanation, please explain on a separate piece of paper and submit along with the application.
Applications may be hand written or typed. Handwritten applications should be printed legibly using a black pen. Do not use a pencil.
Complete all information.
Please do not submit more information than is requested. Additional resumes, recommendations, etc. will not be considered.
- What are the application deadlines?
Completed applications must be received in the Heritage Fund office by 4:00 p.m. the day of the deadline. This does not mean postmarked by that date. Applications may be delivered directly to the Heritage Fund office at 538 Franklin Street or mailed to P.O. Box 1547, Columbus, IN 47202-1547.
Deadlines are:
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship December 14, 2007 Anna Newell Brown Awards for Vocal Excellence January 11, 2008 Betty F. Brown Awards for Instrumental Excellence 2008 January 11, 2008 Heritage Fund Scholarships February 15, 2008 Goldie Gibson Memorial Scholarship March 31, 2008 Columbus Youth Hockey/Bryan Ritz Memorial Hockey Fund Fall 2008 - After I have submitted my application(s), what happens?
You will be informed by mail that our office has received your completed application and the date by which you can expect to be notified if you have received a scholarship award from the Heritage Fund. All applicants will be contacted by mail whether or not they receive a scholarship.
- How are scholarship recipients determined?
Each scholarship application is reviewed by a selection committee of community volunteers who carefully and thoughtfully review each application. The names are not included with the applications that the selection committees receive. Instead, each application is identified by the last four digits of the applicant's social security number.
Some scholarships require an interview. Usually these interviews are conducted during the school day. For high school students, arrangements are made through the school guidance offices so that students may be excused from school. These interviews last about 20 minutes.
- How will I know if I have been selected to receive a scholarship?
You will receive a letter informing you of the scholarship(s) you have received with the total amount of the scholarships(s) and the documentation necessary from you in order that a scholarship payment can be made.
A Scholarship Acceptance Form will be included with this letter stating the conditions of the scholarship. If you agree to these conditions, you must sign and return the form to the Heritage Fund.
- What documentation is required for my scholarship payment to be made?
The documentation necessary for a payment to be made is proof of enrollment from the college or university that you will be attending. This can be a letter of admission or a class schedule. If your scholarship is to be paid in two or more installments, you must submit your grades from the most recent semester and a class schedule for the next semester before the next installment will be paid.
If your scholarship is for private music or tennis lessons, you must let the Heritage Fund know the name of your instructor. The instructor should then send the Heritage Fund a bill for lessons given. If you are using the funds for a music or tennis camp, you must submit information about the camp to the Heritage Fund for approval.
- Will the check be made to me or to the school which I am attending?
All scholarship payments are made directly to the college, university, camp or private instructor on the student's behalf. Scholarship amounts over $1,000 will be paid in two installments. A copy of the letter sent with the check to the college or university will be sent to you so that you know that the payment has been made.
- If I withdraw from classes, am placed on academic probation or do not attend classes one semester for some reason, what happens to my scholarship?
We request that scholarship recipients inform the Heritage Fund's Scholarship Coordinator of any changes in their status as students. If you have any extenuating circumstances, we will work with you.
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