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2017 Gold Award Ceremony

Girl Scout Scholarships

There are several fantastic scholarships exclusively for Girl Scouts that we encourage our members to explore. From studying abroad to educational expenses, these scholarships are aimed at providing exciting opportunities for applicants. 

Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation Scholarship

Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation Scholarship

http://www.cjsfoundation.org

The Foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory of Corinne Jeannine Schillings, who lost her life in the Baltimore Water Taxi accident on March 6, 2004. Corinne believed strongly in higher education for women and in learning about various cultures through the study of languages.

The Foundation offers two scholarships – one for Study of a Foreign Language ($1,500 per academic year) and one for Travel Study ($1,000). The Travel Study award is not renewable, but may be submitted for studying abroad during the first semester, second semester, summer, or full academic year.

Time of Year

  • Applications not accepted prior to March 15
  • All applications due third Friday in May except Second Semester Travel Study, which is due in December
  • Awardees announced in July
  • Second Semester Travel Scholarships announced January

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Study of a Foreign Language award, the candidate must:

  • Currently be pursuing or planning to pursue a major or minor in a foreign language at a four year college/university
  • Not be a graduate student – this award is for undergraduate students ONLY
  • Have earned the Silver or Gold Award
  • For renewal, the candidate must:
    * Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0
    * Submit the renewal application and all required attachments each year

To be eligible for the Travel Study award, the candidate must:

  • Have earned the Silver or Gold Award
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0

Application Process

For the Study of a Foreign Language Award, girls mail in an application package with the following materials (in this order):

  1. Complete INITIAL application, which can be found on the website, http://www.cjsfoundation.org.
  2. Provide a letter of recommendation from a Girl Scout volunteer or staff member who is not a relative. The letter of recommendation MUST be written within the past six months, specifically for this scholarship, only ONE letter will be accepted.
  3. Write an essay – prompt is available on the INITIAL application.
  4. Show proof verifying receipt of the Girl Scout Silver or Gold Award.
  5. Include a copy of the acceptance letter from the college/university (if not yet attending); or a copy of the current college transcript (if already attending).
  6. Send proof (current transcript) that the overall grade point AND the grade point in a foreign language is at least a “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or 4.0 on a 5.0 scale).
  7. Give proof that the major/minor will be (is) a foreign language.

For the Travel Study Award, girls mail in an application package with the following materials (in this order):

  1. Complete application, which can be found on the website, http://www.cjsfoundation.org.
  2. Provide a letter of recommendation from a Girl Scout volunteer or staff member who is not a relative. The letter of recommendation MUST be written within the past six months, specifically for this scholarship, only ONE letter will be accepted.
  3. Write an essay – prompt is available on the INITIAL application.
  4. Show proof verifying receipt of the Girl Scout Silver or Gold Award.
  5. Include a copy of the acceptance letter from the college/university (if not yet attending); or a copy of the current college transcript (if already attending).
  6. Provide a transcript showing the applicant is a full-time student, in good standing, progressing toward a degree, and with at least an overall grade point of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or 4.0 on a 5.0 scale).
  7. Send proof that you have been accepted to an accredited “study abroad” program.
Minerva Schools at KGI

Minerva Schools at KGI

Combining innovative curriculum with immersive global experience, Minerva is the only university built for the 21st century. It is founded on 7 guiding principles:

  • Being unconventional
  • Being human
  • Being confident
  • Being thoughtful
  • Being selective
  • Being authentic
  • Being driven

$5,000 (renewable)

Eligibility

Girl Scouts who have earned or are in the process of earning their Gold Award - or- Girl Scouts Seniors and Ambassadors who have participated in a destination or travel related trip during their time at the Girl Scouts.

Application Process

Girls must apply to Minerva and be nominated by their Troop Leader or other Troop member: https://www.minerva.kgi.edu/partners/GirlScouts/.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year

Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year

https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/scout-of-the-year

Annually, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States awards three individuals who are: Eagle Scouts, Gold Award Girl Scouts, Venture Summit Award recipients and/or Sea Scout Quartermasters who have risen above their peers in exemplifying the qualities of that rank.

Awards are as follows:

  • $5,000 1st place
  • $3,000 2nd place
  • $1,000 3rd place

Time of Year

  • Application available year-round
  • Girl Scouts should submit application paperwork to local VFW post no later than March 1
  • Local posts submit candidates to state VFW department by April 1
  • State VFW selects a winner and forwards to VFW Headquarters by May 1 for national level judging

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, the candidate must:

  • Be a registered, active member of a Boy or Girl Scout Troop, Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship.
  • Be the recipient of the Eagle Scout Award, Girl Scout Gold Award, Venture Summit Award or Sea Scout Quartermaster Award.
  • Have demonstrated exemplary citizenship in school, Scouting and community.
  • Have reached his or her 15th birthday and be enrolled in high school or home schooled at the time of selection.

Applicants still in high school who reach their 18th birthday during the nomination year remain eligible if otherwise qualified.

Prior National Scout of the Year winners are ineligible.

Application Process

Girl Scouts must submit the following to their local VFW post:

  • A completed VFW Scouting Scholarship form*
  • Photograph of the Scout — The Girl Scout must appear in correct, complete uniform for their current rank. Recommended size 3" x 5".
  • High School Participation Record — a single page, one sided resume of the candidate’s high school activities indicating academic achievements, offices held, honors received and significant participation in other activities.
  • Scouting Record — maximum of three pages, one side only, listing of all scouting participation beginning with Brownies - years of participation, unit numbers and sponsors. Also include when Gold Award was received. Identify leadership positions held at all levels, participation in scouting activities (jamborees, Order of the Arrow conferences, etc.) and the candidate’s Girl Scout Gold Award Project.
  • Community Service Record — a single page, one sided resume listing participation in community and religious service organizations (excluding Scouting and school), noting leadership positions held and any recognition received.
  • Letters of Recommendation — Submit three letters, no more than two pages in length from:

* A troop leader.
* A community member.
* A teacher/faculty member (if homeschooled, a parent letter is allowed).
* In addition, you may include one or two additional letters, no more than two pages in length from local community members who have special knowledge of the candidate's abilities/accomplishments.

* This form is generally available year-round at the VFW Scout of the Year webpage.

A Girl Scout can enter through ONE VFW Post only. A local Post can be identified by zip code at www.vfw.org.

 

Additional Scholarships:

These scholarships are not exclusively for Girl Scouts, but they do require that a community organization like GSGLA nominates or supports you. 

Posse Foundation

Posse Foundation

Every year, Posse works closely with its network of high schools and community-based organizations to recruit Posse Scholars. Each Posse Scholar wins a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to attend one of Posse’s partner colleges or universities.

GSGLA nominates up to five girls who then participate in the Posse Foundation’s selection process. If they are selected to be a Scholar, they are required to apply to and attend one of the partner schools. In 2017, these were the Posse Los Angeles partner schools:

  • Bucknell University
  • Dickinson College
  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Middlebury College
  • Northwestern University
  • Pepperdine University
  • Tulane University
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

Time of Year

  • Nominations due July 15, 2020
  • Nomination portal opens May 1, 2020

Eligibility

To be eligible, a high school senior MUST:

  • Be nominated by their high school or a community-based organization.
  • Be in the first term of their senior year in high school. Depending on the Posse city, nominations are often taken between the spring and early August before the new school year begins.
  • Demonstrate leadership within their high school, community or family.
  • Demonstrate academic potential.

The Posse Scholarship is neither a minority nor a need-based scholarship and is open to students of all backgrounds.

Application Process

An application will be made available for nomination. If you would like access to this application, please contact scholarships@girlscoutsla.org.

Prudential Spirit of Community

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

https://spirit.prudential.com/

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. The program honors middle level and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state and national level.

Local Honorees receive a Certificate of Achievement from their schools or organization. Those Local Honorees who qualify (26 hours of service for ages 10 and younger, 50 hours for ages 11-15, and 100 hours for older students) also receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Distinguished Finalists receive an engraved bronze medallion, and other state-level runners-up receive Certificates of Excellence.

State Honorees receive an award of $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for national recognition events.

National Honorees receive an additional award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their schools or nominating organizations, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

Time of Year

  • Application available early September
  • Student applications due early November
  • Deadline to certify Local Honorees for state-level judging mid-November
  • Awardees announced early February

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be in grades 5-12 as of the application deadline
  • Be a legal resident of any U.S. state or Washington, D.C.
  • Have engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred during the 12 months prior to the date of the application
  • Submit a completed application to a school or the head of an official designated local organization by the application deadline

Application Process

To apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards:

  • Complete the application and the student/parent agreement
  • Go to the “Certification” page to email or print out instructions for your certifier. You must deliver these instructions to your certifier by the application deadline
Toyota Making Life Easier

Toyota Making Life Easier Scholarship

https://www.scholarsapply.org/toyotafinancial/information.php

Toyota Financial Services’ Making Life Easier (MLE) Scholarship Program awards up to $1 million to college-bound students associated with select community partners. Recipients will be selected from all eligible applicants based on financial need and community service.

Students can apply for scholarships of up to $20,000 that will be distributed over four years. Up to 110 awards ranging from $1,250 to $5,000 will be granted each year. Awards for undergraduate study may be renewed for up to three additional continuous years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first. The award must be applied towards undergraduate or graduate school related expenses only.

Time of Year

  • Application opens mid-September
  • Applications due end of October
  • Scholarships announced late February

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, the applicant must:

  • Be between the ages of 16 and 26 as of the application deadline date and be members, alumni or staff of a non-profit partner (volunteers are eligible only if they also meet organization requirements of being member, alumni or staff)
  • Be high school seniors, graduates, current postsecondary undergraduate, or graduate students
  • Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent degree by September 2018
  • Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, professional school or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
  • Be in good standing in the community and at school (i.e. not on disciplinary or academic probation)

Employees, vendors, and business partners of Toyota Financial Services and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, promotion and advertising agencies, and members of their immediate family (defined as spouse and parent, children and siblings and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and persons living in the same household, whether or not related, of such employees, are not eligible to apply.

Application Process

Girls apply online via the www.scholarsapply.org/toyotafinancial website. Information requested in the application includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Parent or alternate contact's telephone number and email address
  • Your most recent transcript of grades
  • Community service activities performed during the last four years
  • Extracurricular activities involved in during the last four years
  • Financial information from the 2016 U.S. 1040 tax return. Submit a note of explanation if a 2016 IRS Form 1040 was not filed. 
    1. If the student applicant is claimed as a dependent, use the parent’s.
    2. If the applicant is independent, the financial data is to be the student’s.
  • Two essays:

Describe a significant experience you’ve had (i.e. achievement, obstacle or challenge) and discuss its impact – positive or negative – on your life and how it might impact your future. (Limit 2000 characters, including spaces or approximately 400 words.)

How did your involvement with the Boys & Girls Club or other community service activity contribute to your personal development and future goals? (Limit 1000 characters, including spaces or approximately 200 words.)

 

Questions? Contact scholarships@girlscoutsla.org