The McConnell Foundation

The McConnell Scholars Program

The McConnell Scholars Program is for first-time freshmen or transfer juniors seeking Bachelor’s degrees at qualified four-year colleges and universities. This is a variable, need-based award of up to 90% of the recipient’s unmet financial need with a limit of $10,000 per year. It is renewable for up to four years. The purpose of this award is to “close the gap”, or make the difference between attending college and not being able to afford to go. You are eligible to apply to be a McConnell Scholar if you:

• Are a resident of The McConnell Foundation Scholarship programs service area which includes Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama (New for 2008!), and Trinity counties, and high school districts in contiguous counties which serve counties in the service area (an example of this is Big Valley High School District in Lassen County, which serves Modoc and Shasta county residents).
• Will be entering a qualified college or university in the fall term following the current application period as a full-time student with the intention of earning a Bachelor’s degree
• Are a first-time freshman or transfer junior from Shasta College or College of the Siskiyous
• Have completed a high school diploma or GED with a grade point average of 3.0 or better or completed a transfer AA degree from College of the Siskiyous or Shasta College with a grade point average of 2.0 or better
• Have financial need as demonstrated by an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) of no greater than $8,600. The EFC is assigned to you by the federal government after you apply for Federal Student Aid by filing the FAFSA form online at www.fafsa.edu.gov.
• Have not already completed a Bachelor’s degree
• Are not, or are not a family member of, any McConnell Foundation board member, Program Services staff member, exempt employee, or current Scholarship Review and Selection Committee Member

In addition to the financial award, all McConnell Scholars participate in personal, academic, and career development opportunities such as the Scholars Summer Conference. Scholars are also required to perform 25 hours of community service each year in their college’s community.

Recipients are selected from the pool of eligible applicants based on a variety of factors including need, ability to benefit from a college education, work ethic and community spirit.

Applicants to the Scholars program should be aware that recipients are required to participate in the Scholars Summer Conference as a condition of receiving the award. The Summer Conference is a way to connect with other scholarship recipients, begin to understand the expectations, and gain some tools for success. Dates and times for the conference will be announced later in the year.