Fresh Start Scholarship

The Fresh Start Scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to Saint Louis City and County applicants who take a nontraditional route to post-secondary education by receiving their high school equivalency credential (Hi-SET), general education development certificate (GED), or graduate from the Excel Center High School. Scholarships will be awarded to applicants who demonstrate unmet financial need as undergraduate, part-time or full-time students at an accredited two or four-year nonprofit or technical college in St. Louis, Missouri. Recipients who continue to meet eligibility requirements and demonstrate unmet financial need may submit a renewal application for a second year of funding. This application is for 2023-2024 academic year funding.

Eligibility
To be eligible, the applicants must:

  • Successfully pass the Hi-SET (with a minimum score of 65 out of 100), successfully pass the GED exam (with a minimum score of 165 out of 200) , or graduate from the Excel Center High School.
  • plan to enroll at a nonprofit, accredited post-secondary program leading to a bachelor’s or associate degree, technical degree, or certificate.
  • be pursuing first degree or certificate.
  • demonstrate unmet financial need.
  • be a Saint Louis city or county resident.

Selection
Selection will be based on meeting all eligibility requirements, the strength of essays, recommendation, and assessed unmet financial need. Preference will be given to students pursuing an associate degree, technical degree or certificate.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please answer all questions that apply to you, even if they are not marked “required.”

Notification
Applicants can view their status by logging in to their Scholarship Central account.

Renewal
Scholarship recipients who continue to meet eligibility requirements, are making satisfactory progress toward degree or certificate program completion, and demonstrate financial need may apply for renewal by submitting a renewal application by the June 15th deadline next year.. Recipients are eligible for up to four years of undergraduate funding.

Questions?
Contact Ellen Vietor, Scholarship Manager at the St. Louis Community Foundation at scholarships@stlgives.org or 314-880-4960.

Eligibility, financial need, and award amount for this scholarship program will be determined by the St. Louis Community Foundation . This scholarship program, as component fund of the St. Louis Community Foundation, does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, national origin, gender, age, color, sexual orientation, veteran status, physical or mental disability.

Donor
Susan Primm Thel
Award
up to $6,000, renewable
Deadline
05/01/2023
Supplemental Questions
  1. This scholarship is designed to provide support to students who have passed the Hi-SET, received their GED or graduated from the Excel Center High School. Does this describe you?
  2. UPLOAD: If you passed the Hi-SET or have your GED, please upload a copy of your Hi-SET or GED scores. If you graduated from the Excel Center, please upload your transcript or diploma.
  3. Please share with the scholarship committee a little background about your educational path.
  4. It can be a challenge to balance work, school, and home life. How do you plan to balance each of these priorities in addition to any special circumstances which may affect your educational plans?
  5. Please share your educational and career goals, why you selected that career path, and how you feel achieving these goals will impact you and your family.
  6. Please list your work and volunteer experience. (Full or part-time, paid or unpaid, including present employment.)
    • 1. Employer/Organization Name
    • 2. City/State
    • 3. Title/Responsibilities
    • 4. Dates of employment/participation
  7. Upload your current FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR).
  8. Enter your Student Aid Index that is on your FAFSA Submission Summary.
  9. UPLOAD: Please upload next year's Financial Aid Award Letter from the college you will attend. This document will be required before an award can be determined and should include: college name, applicant name, loans, grants and scholarships offered. If you do not have an award letter before the application deadline, upload a document stating that you will email the award letter to scholarships@stlgives.org as soon as you receive it.
  10. Upload documentation from the school you plan to attend that shows your total cost of attendance.
  11. Please list the names and ages of any dependents you may have:
  12. If you wish to inform the reviewers of any unusual financial circumstances, including costs associated with your education or educational loans already incurred for or by you, please provide here. Please note that tax forms, W-2s or other documentation may be requested to verify information on the FAFSA Submission Summary.
  13. SCHOLARSHIP CENTRAL RECOMMENDATION: Enter the name and e-mail address of an instructor, counselor, advisor, supervisor or other similarly qualified individual who will submit a recommendation on your behalf. NOTE: As the applicant, it is your responsibility to inform that person to watch for an email sent on your behalf that will explain how to complete this process.
  14. SCHOLARSHIP CENTRAL SECOND RECOMMENDATION: Enter the name and e-mail address of an instructor, counselor, advisor, supervisor or other similarly qualified individual who will submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. NOTE: As the applicant, it is your responsibility to inform that person to watch for an email sent on your behalf that will explain how to complete this process.
  15. SIGNATURE: By entering my full name below, I certify that the information I have provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and I authorize the St. Louis Community Foundation and its agents to examine, verify and discuss my academic records and other information that applies to the consideration of this application. My signature also signifies that, if awarded, I understand that it is my responsibility to inform the St. Louis Community Foundation of any changes to my college plans and that I understand that some portion of scholarship awards I receive from any source may be considered taxable income if the total amount exceeds the cost of tuition and course related fees, supplies and equipment.
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