Scholarship Information
|
|
- ODS offers nine scholarships to students with disabilities.
|
 Academic Requirements
Application Deadlines
Financial Aid Information
Scholarship Application Criteria
Notification to Scholarship Award Recipients
Scholarships Available
Scholarship Application
Other Resources for Scholarships
The Office for Disability Services (ODS) currently administers nine scholarships for students with disabilities. The ODS web site contains descriptive information regarding ODS policies and procedures regarding scholarships, guidelines and descriptions of the scholarships and a downloadable scholarship application.
Note: The ODS accepts applications for scholarships beginning January15th through April 30th each year. Students should not submit applications at any other time. The scholarship committee will not review applications submitted before January 15th or after April 30th. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed or awarded.
If for any reason the application cannot be downloaded or printed, please contact ODS at 814-863-1807 (V/TTY) to have an application sent via mail or faxed.
Scholarship Application:
Review all of the scholarship procedures prior to filling out the application. If there are any questions regarding information concerning ODS scholarships, please contact ODS.
I. ODS Scholarship Procedures:
In order to be eligible for scholarships through the Office for Disability Services (ODS), students applying for scholarships must meet all of the criteria outlined below:
A) Eligibility Criteria for All Scholarships Administered by ODS:
1. Academic Requirements:
| a. |
Students must have a cumulative Penn State University GPA of 2.0 or higher. |
| b. |
Students must have been enrolled as a resident instruction student at any Penn State University location for at least two semesters. |
| c. |
Students must be enrolled for the number of credits required in the scholarship guidelines in order to receive the scholarship award. (If for any reason a student is not enrolled during a semester for which the student received an award, the award money will be returned to the scholarship account . For example, if a student graduates at the end of the Fall semester, the amount awarded for Spring will be returned to the scholarship account). |
2. Disability Information:
All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990. Along with the scholarship application, students must submit one of two letters as verification of their disability:
| a. |
Students who have requested and received academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services during the Spring Semester must provide a copy of the Spring semester academic adjustment letter. The academic adjustment letter must appear on Penn State letterhead, be dated, and signed by the Disability Specialist at University Park or the Disability Contact Liaison (DCL) at other Penn State locations. |
| b. |
Students who did not request or receive academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services during the Spring semester, but are registered with the ODS and or the DCL, must request a letter from the Disability Specialist or the DCL specifically verifying that the student is considered by Penn State University to have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 or the Rehabilitation Act, 1973. The verification letter must appear on Penn State letterhead, be dated, and signed by the Disability Specialist at University Park or their DCL at other Penn State locations. |
If a scholarship application arrives without a current academic adjustment letter (Spring semester) or a verification letter from the Disability Specialist or DCL attached to the application, the scholarship committee will not review the application.
TOP
B) Application Deadlines:
The ODS accepts applications for scholarships beginning January 15th through April 30th each year. Applications must be received, not postmarked, by April 30th. Applications received after the April 30th deadline will not be considered by the scholarship committee. There are no exceptions.
TOP
C) Financial Aid Information:
In addition to completing the ODS scholarship application; applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for determination of financial need for each academic year. This application can be obtained from the Office of Student Aid or the student aid representative at any Penn State location. The application can also be obtained at the following web site: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA application is critical in the scholarship review process. Scholarships will not be reviewed or awarded unless a current FAFSA has been submitted .
All scholarships are competitive in nature. Penn State uses the results of the FAFSA to determine demonstrated financial need. Students who have an expected family contribution lower than Penn State’s cost of attendance demonstrates some degree of financial need. Although all students demonstrating need are considered for need-based scholarships, donors intend that students with substantial financial need will be given first consideration.
TOP
D) Scholarship Application Criteria:
- Students must meet all of the criteria set forth in the scholarship guidelines in order to be eligible for a specific scholarship. Guidelines for the scholarship criteria are clearly indicated by the donor. Descriptions and guidelines for scholarships available through ODS are included in this document.
- Scholarship applications submitted during the Spring semester are for awards for the Fall and Spring semesters of the following academic year. That is, award amounts are distributed by placing half in the student’s account in the Fall semester and half in the student’s account in the Spring semester. Awards are not given in one lump sum for any one semester. Awards are not made for summer sessions.
- It is not necessary to submit a separate application for each scholarship. On the application form, students must indicate the scholarships for which they are applying
- All applications must be filled out completely. Applications that are submitted with missing information will not be considered in the selection process.
TOP
E) Notification to Scholarship Award Recipients:
Students awarded scholarships will be notified by mail after the scholarship committee has met. Awardees can expect a letter from The Office for Disability Services prior to the Fall semester. Scholarship awardees are asked to write a thank you letter to the scholarship donor. The following link from the Office of Student Aid provides information about thanking your scholarship donor: www.psu.edu/studentaid/scholarships/schthankyou.html. The Office for Disability Services will not notify students who do not receive a scholarship award.
TOP
II . Descriptions of Scholarships Available Through ODS
A. Scholarships for Students Enrolled Full-time or Half-time
Students that are currently enrolled full-time or half time are eligible to apply for the scholarships numbered one through four below . The University considers a student full-time if he/she schedules a total of 12 or more credits per semester. The University considers a student half time if he/she schedules a total of 6 credits and less than 12 credits.
1. Delta Chi Disabled Student Grant Fund
The purpose of this fund shall be to provide grants-in-aid to graduate and/or undergraduate disabled students enrolled at University Park location.
Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990. Consideration shall be given to all graduate and/or undergraduate students currently enrolled at University Park who are considered by the University to be disabled. Additional criteria include demonstrated academic achievement, character, leadership, and financial need.
TOP
2. Delta Gamma Golden Anchor Award
The purpose of the award is to recognize students enrolled at the University who are achieving their academic goals despite severe visual impairment.
Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990. Consideration shall be given to all students with severe visual impairment who have completed at least 3 semesters at the University, have achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and who have demonstrated perseverance and strength of character.
TOP
3. Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholarship [ http://www.newcombefoundation.org ]
The purpose of this scholarship shall be to provide financial assistance to physically disabled students enrolled as degree candidates at the University.
Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990. Consideration for this scholarship shall be given to all graduate and undergraduate students, full-time and half time, enrolled at any location of the Pennsylvania State University. Additional criteria for consideration include demonstrated academic achievement, serious career orientation, and financial need.
TOP
4. Bobbi Coulter Rich Scholarship
The purpose of this scholarship shall be to provide recognition and financial assistance to students enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University who have end stage renal disease.
Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990. Consideration of this scholarship shall be given to all full-time or half-time students enrolled at the University who have end stage renal disease or are awaiting or have received a kidney transplant. If no candidates can be found, the search may be broadened to include students with a chronic renal condition or disorder.
5. William Arthur Vogely Award Fund in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
The purpose of this award shall be to honor and recognize outstanding achievement to outstanding graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University, who are disabled.
Eligibility: All scholarship applications must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990. Consideration for this award shall be given to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences who have achieved outstanding academic achievement. The search may be broadened to deserving students within the Energy, Environmental and Mineral Economics minor in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences who have achieved outstanding academic achievement.
B. Scholarships for Students Enrolled Full-Time
Students that are currently enrolled full-time are eligible to apply for scholarships numbered five through eight listed below. The University considers a student full-time if he/she schedules a total of 12 or more credits per semester.
TOP
6. The Charles T. and Ella Fowler Douds Scholarship Fund
The purpose of this award shall be to provide scholarships for outstanding students, graduate or undergraduate, enrolled at the University who has a demonstrated need for funds to meet their educational expenses.
Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990. Consideration shall be given to deserving students who are enrolled as full-time students at the University, who have achieved superior academic records and who manifest promise of future success in their field. Preferential consideration shall be given, but not limited to, applicants with chronic health problems, such as diabetes, impairments of sight or hearing, inability to walk or other physical disabilities.
TOP
7. David R. Martino Memorial Scholarship
The purpose of this award shall be to provide financial assistance to disabled students enrolled as a full-time student at the University.
Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990. Consideration for this award shall be given to any full-time student enrolled at the University with a documented need for financial assistance.
TOP
8. Virginia G. Rimer Memorial Scholarship
The purpose of this scholarship shall be to provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University who have a disability.
Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990. Consideration for this scholarship shall be given to all full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University who have achieved superior academic records or who manifest promise of outstanding academic success.
TOP
9. Jason C. and Martha Lee Stone Scholarship In Honor of Solveig and Frederick Samuel Dietz
The purpose of this scholarship shall be to provide recognition and financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University who are physically disabled and who have a proven need for funds to meet their necessary college expenses.
Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be determined by the University to have a disability according to the Rehabilitation Act, 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990. Consideration for this scholarship shall be given to all full-time undergraduate and graduate students who are currently enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University who have achieved positive academic records or who manifest promise of academic success, who are physically disabled, and who have a proven financial need. Preference shall be given to graduate students.
TOP
Scholarship Application:
Review all of the information above prior to filling out the application. If you have any questions regarding any information concerning ODS scholarships, please contact ODS. Click on the scholarship application link to continue: Link to Scholarship Application
TOP
|
