Application Info

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Introducing

Axel F. Hoch Legacy Scholarship

The Perseverance Awards were established in 2014 by the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation to support students who had overcome significant challenges and hardships to graduate from high school - and - to help change the definition of “success” in schools. Through a generous bequest from the Mayantigo Charitable Foundation, we have expanded the Perseverance Awards and created the Axel F. Hoch Legacy Scholarship to provide life changing scholarships and support for local students to attend college, university or a trade school in Oregon. This is a scholarship that rewards grit over grades. We are trying to serve students that are often missed by other scholarship programs.
Scholarship recipients can use the funds to help cover a variety of school-related expenses including:

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Books
  • Laptop (or other needed tools or equipment)
  • Tutoring

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be a Bend-La Pine Schools student in good standing at the time of application.
  • Must be on track to graduate (or have recently graduated) by the beginning of the school year for which a Legacy Scholarship is to be awarded (i.e. graduate in December or June to attend school in the Fall).
  • Must demonstrate having overcome or survived significant hardships or challenges to attend and graduate from high school. This includes, but is not limited to, family or parental issues, e.g., drug or alcohol abuse, physical or emotional abuse, absent or deceased parents, enrollment in the foster care system, extreme poverty, language barriers, significant health or disability issues that impacted attendance and/or the ability to do schoolwork, sexual or physical abuse, homelessness, racial or ethnic barriers, or other forms of trauma.
  • Must have applied for all other available Federal and State funding aid.
  • Must have applied for financial aid from the school or trade school program of your choice.
  • Must have a plan or proposal for attending an Oregon college, university or a trade school (successful candidates are those who have thought about their future and done at least some of the planning to make it happen).

FINANCIAL NEED ELIGIBILITY

Applicant must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or an ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application) as soon as possible and submit your Student Aid Index as part of your application. The window to file for FAFSA/ ORSAA opens on or around December 1.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Successful candidates who advance in the selection process will be reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives of the Education Foundation and the broader community. The committee is looking for students who demonstrate the following:

  • The ability to overcome signficant challenges and maintain focus and discipline
  • Leadership potential through school, home and/ or community activities
  • Outstanding character
  • A concern for others as exhibited through volunteer service, actions at school and/or help with family needs
  • Motivation and commitment to education
  • This scholarship would make a difference from a financial perspective

SCHOLARSHIP EXPECTATIONS & ENGAGEMENT

The Axel F. Hoch Legacy Scholarship represents an unprecedented opportunity to dream big and reach for the stars. In addition to a generous financial award, scholars will receive a mentor, academic guidance, leadership development, and personal and professional support. Keys to recipient success are:

  • Participation in scholarship activities and events (like the required Orientation)
  • Regular communication with their mentor and the Program Director
  • Maintaining satisfactory academic progress
  • Engagement in their campus/school community

HOW TO APPLY

A complete scholarship application contains:

  • Letter of recommendation from a school representative (teacher, counselor, principal, FAN Advocate, coach)
  • Letter of recommendation from a person in the community who knows you well (friend, co worker, supervisor, member of church or club)
  • Grades/Transcript
  • Complete FAFSA or ORSAA application to determine your family’s ability to contribute
  • Five Essays
Application Form

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/TIMELINE

  • Qualified candidates may be asked in for a  follow-up interview
  • Mid-March to mid-April - Most Oregon colleges will let students know if they are admitted along with any financial aid offered
  • April 1 - Selected students are told they have received the Axel F. Hoch Legacy Scholarship
  • Spring - students are matched with a mentor, and meet with the Program Director to determine where they want to go and their total scholarship aid package
  • Late-May or early June - Perseverance Award Orientation (required 1-2 hr meeting)

Questions? Ask your counselor or College  and Career Center staff or Program Director  Cheri Helt at cherihelt@gmail.com