Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible for this award, you must:

• be between 17 to 24 years of age.
• be a high school senior or college freshman, sophomore or junior.
• must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher.
• be a resident of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
• have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,800 or lower or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA)
  • Must meet the income requirements. Low income is defined as a single parent household making $65,000 per year or less (or) a married, two parent, household making $130,000 or less.

When is the application deadline?

May 1, 2024

What is the program timeline?

• Application Opens: January 1, 2024
• Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
• Scholarship Recipients Notified: May/June 2024
• Scholarship Checks Issued: At the June 16^th Gala or via Mail in August 2024

What is the selection criteria?

An independent selection committee will evaluate the applications and select the recipients considering:

• Financial need
• Community involvement
• Essay content
• Academic achievements and records
  (Decisions of the selection committees are final and are not subject to appeal. No application feedback will be given.)

What is the selection criteria for the bonus scholarship?

An independent selection committee will evaluate the applications and select the recipients considering:

• Financial need
• Community involvement is a major component for receiving this award
• Essay content and wordage must be 1000 words or more (Dr. Rodney B. Frazier Scholarship)
• Essay content and wordage must be 750 words or more (Monnica Kenney Scholarship)
• Academic achievements and records
  (Decisions of the selection committees are final and are not subject to appeal. No application feedback will be given unless requested in writing.)

What are the details of the award?

• The number of awards and award amounts will be determined by the sponsor.
• Students may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
• The scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for course load at accredited, nonprofit two- or four-year colleges/universities in the United States.
• Students may transfer from one institution to another and retain the award.
• Please note if you have a full-ride to attend college.  You will not be awarded a scholarship.  ESUME reserves the right to not award a scholarship.

Is this scholarship renewable?

No. All recipients will have to re-apply every year.

Can I be awarded a regular ESUME Scholarship and an Honorary Scholarship?

No, only one scholarship per awarded winner of a scholarship.

Which school should I list on the application if I have not made a final decision?

You should list your first choice on the application.

How do I change my college choice?

You may update your final school choice by emailing info@esume.org. If you are chosen to receive an award, it will be your responsibility to make sure your college is updated at least 30 days prior to the check issue date stated in the award notification so your check can be issued accordingly. You will be charged $25 for requested a college change after checks have been printed.

How do I know if my application is complete?

You will receive a confirmation email within minutes of your submission. You will not be able to submit your application unless you have all of your documents uploaded and you have completely filled out your application.

What is the difference between official and unofficial transcripts?

• Official transcripts must be obtained through your high school administration office, or your college registrar's office. These transcripts are normally printed on official letterhead and/or state that they are official. These may contain a signature.

Note: Your official transcript may come to you in a sealed envelope, stating it will become unofficial if opened. When scanning or copying your official transcripts, a watermark may appear noting they are now unofficial. Despite any watermarks or sealed envelopes, you may open the envelope if needed to upload the document. These documents will still be considered official for our purposes. When scanning or copying, you do not need to include a copy of the sealed envelope.

• Unofficial transcripts may be accessed through your school’s online student portal. These pages must still be converted to one of the acceptable file formats. There are free tools available that will allow you to save various documents (including web pages) as a PDF. Unofficial transcripts must contain your name and the school name and contact information.

What are the DOs and DON’Ts of uploading documents to my application?

DO:

• Upload the correct file form as indicated in the application instructions. (.pdf or doc, docx).
• Only upload the requested documents.
• Black out any Social Security numbers on the documents you are uploading. This is not required, but advised. Check your email to verify your documents have been accepted.

DON’T:

• Upload more than the requested documentation.
• Assume your documents are correct and accepted once you have uploaded them.
• Upload a document stating you are mailing your documents.
• Assume the required document does not pertain to you. If the application states the document is required, your application will remain incomplete if you do not provide that document.
• Password protect your uploaded documents. Password-protected documents will be rejected. Upload any file that has a viewing expiration date.

Where and when should I send my supporting documents?

The required supporting documents must be uploaded to your online application by the application deadline. If you do not follow the upload instructions exactly, your application may not be considered. Documents that meet the criteria required for the scholarship application, and are uploaded by the deadline, will be processed and considered on time.

How and when will I receive notification?

• Notifications are sent to recipients and applicants not selected to receive an award via email by the end of June. For recipients.
• Add info@esume.org to your email address book or “safe senders list” to ensure these important emails are not sent to your junk mail folder. Do not ‘opt out’ of any email sent from info@esume.org or You may not receive vital information regarding your scholarship applications.

Note: Your email address will only be used to communicate with you about your scholarship applications or other opportunities administered by ESUME for which you may be eligible to apply. We will not provide your email address to any third parties.

What are my responsibilities if I am chosen as a recipient?

You must enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded, continue the entire academic year without interruption unless approved by the scholarship sponsor, deliver your scholarship check(s) to the proper office at your institution, and notify ESUME should your check not arrive within 30 days of the issue date. You also must have not been awarded a full-ride.  If you received a check and you do have a full-ride, I will be requesting that those funds be sent back the ESUME Program.

How and when are checks issued?

Checks will be issued at our June Scholarship Banquet. All remaining checks will be mailed in Late July/Early August of each year. 

What is the 500-word essay topic for new recipients?

As an aspiring college graduate, what positive impact do you see yourself making in the field of expertise you have chosen?

What is the 250-word essay topic for returning recipients?

Now that you have experienced college life, what has changed regarding your major and or career path? Why or Why not?

What is the Bonus 750-word essay topic for new and returning recipients?

Bonus Question: Tell me about a time you overcame adversity. How did you, or did you overcome it? Did you achieve any goals despite possible challenges?

What is the Bonus 1000-word essay topic for new and returning recipients?

Bonus Question: How have you contributed to your community and what impact did you make?

Are scholarships taxable?

Tax laws vary by country. In the United States, scholarship funds used exclusively for the payment of tuition or textbooks are normally not taxable. The scholarship recipient is responsible for taxes, if any, that may be assessed against his or her scholarship award. We recommend consulting your tax advisor for more guidance. You may also click here to consult IRS Publication 970 for further information.

Program Administration

To ensure complete impartiality in selection of recipients and to maintain a high level of professionalism, the program is administered by the Entrepreneur's Scholarship Program.

Questions?

For additional information regarding the scholarship program please call (972) 298-1212 ext 106. Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST. You can also email us at info@esume.org and we will respond to you within 24 hours.