ALUMNI SCHOLARS PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
The Alumni Scholars Program (ASP) presents an opportunity for constituted alumni clubs to meet (either in person or through the application process) exemplary students from their local area, to help them financially and to encourage them to attend The Ohio State University.
Clubs that participate may:
- Award one $600 merit-based scholarship for every 2,000 alumni living in their county or club area (provided by the OSUAA) and
- Must also give additional scholarship monies from their current use or endowment accounts.
- The scholarship money may be used to attend any of Ohio State's campuses.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
The Office of Student Financial Aid selects recipients based on your Scholarship Committee recommendations. To receive the ASP awards, your students must:
- Be admitted to the university
- Preferably ranked in the top 10% of their high school class
- Be recommended by school principals, counselors, and/or teachers based on scholastic ability and character
- Have a record of performance in activities both in school and in the community
- Impress the Scholarship Committee with a sound interest and positive attitude toward college work
- Be residents or attend high school in the county/area in which the participating alumni club's membership is based. (Students can only receive one ASP scholarship - either from the county of residence or the county in which their high school located.)
The ASP is designated for incoming freshmen. If every attempt is made to recruit high school seniors for the award and no suitable applicants are found, your Scholarship Committee may recommend a currently enrolled undergraduate or transfer student. This student must carry a 3.2 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale at the time of the award recommendation.
Student athletes may not be eligible to receive a club scholarship.
IMPORTANT ASP DEADLINES
At any time
Clubs submit ASP Participation and Committee Membership List
Jan/Feb ?
Suggested deadline for students to submit Alumni Scholarship applications to club scholarship chair must be set by YOU on part III of the application. It can also be a February date, as long as OSUAA receives all completed applications, cover sheet, ranking forms, and transcripts by March 1.
March 1
Deadline for rankings and applications:
-
- ORIGINAL Cover Sheet, Rankings, Completed Applications, transcripts to OSUAA
- KEEP copy of Cover Sheet, Rankings
- MONEY must be received by OSUAA for your current use/endowment awards
April 1
Office of Financial Aid sends award letters to award recipients.
*Please follow deadlines closely. Students must make their admission decision by May 1. If your group fails to send your recommendations to the Office of Student Financial Aid in a timely manner, the scholarship may not appear on the student's initial financial aid award letter, which may affect their decision to attend Ohio State.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
- In the fall, select a scholarship chairperson and committee (of three or more people) and submit this information to the Alumni Association Outreach & Engagement Office using the Participation and Member Committee form.
- The student handouts Information for the Student Application for Scholarship and Financial Aid Checklist need to be copied (five per high school) and distributed to local high schools. Or, a list of admitted students to the university may be used as a scholarship applicant base. Most out-of-state clubs follow this procedure. Please request the list from Nadine Holmes: Holmes@ohiostatealumni.org by Dec. 1. Lists will be available in mid-December.
- Students should send their applications with a transcript to the club Scholarship Chair by the date YOU decide. Put date and your contact information on Part III of the application. (Note: scholarship committee members and interviewers should not be related to student applicants)
- Review the applications, invite the best candidates to interview; (if your committee decides not to do this, choices can be made solely on the Cover Sheet & Rankings) evaluate applicants using Interview Guide Sheet and the ASP Composite Ranking Sheet. Indicate the student's ranking number on the rankings sheet.
* Please note, if your club recommends a student who is or becomes an athlete, as a recipient of any of your club's scholarships, that award must be approved in accordance WITH NCAA and Big Ten regulations, and the student may not be eligible for the club award.
MAILING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Copy the ranked scholarship applications, complete and mail the Cover Sheet and Rankings form (mailing instructions included) by March 1 deadline to ensure that your club scholarships and ASP awards appear in the student's official financial aid award letter.
- ORIGINAL Cover Sheet, Rankings, Transcripts, and Applications to OSUAA
- KEEP a copy of the Cover Sheet and Rankings
- MONEY must be in your account at the time you send your rankings or a check must accompany the rankings.
- MAIL all money to OSUAA attention: Alumni Scholars Program
NOTIFICATION PROCESS
- Beginning in late March award letters are sent to the ASP recipients by the Office of Student Financial Aid. The Alumni Association is also notified, who in turn informs each club's scholarship chair. Please wait to contact your selected student(s) until you are notified by the Alumni Association.
- Re-awarding: If your number-one ranked student receives major scholarships which fulfill his/her cost of attendance, is not eligible for the award, declines the award, or attends another college, the Office of Student Financial Aid will review your rankings and select the next eligible student.
- After recipients have been confirmed, your Scholarship Chair may contact them to offer congratulations on behalf of the club, notify local newspapers and high school guidance counselors. It is important to recognize and distinguish your ASP recipient(s) by perhaps creating an awards certificate and inviting them to your next club gathering.
INFORMATION FOR ALUMNI CLUB LEADERS
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Questions regarding ASP awarding:
Leslie Smith
E-mail: lsmith@ohiostatealumni.org
or Nadine Holmes
E-mail: holmes@ohiostatealumni.org
Phone: (614) 292-2371 or (800) TO CLUBS or (800) 862-5827
University Office of Student Financial Aid alumni scholarship coordinator:
(614) 688-4001
