scholarship essay judging criteria

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• Financial Aid
• March 23, 2023

Inside the Scholarship Judging Process: How Winners Are Chosen

The journey to securing a scholarship is often rigorous and competitive, with the judging process playing a crucial role in determining who receives these coveted awards. Scholarships are not just financial aids; they are acknowledgments of a student’s hard work, potential, and dedication. Understanding the scholarship judging process is essential for applicants, as it sheds light on what judges are looking for and how decisions are made.

This blog post aims to demystify the scholarship judging process. We’ll explore who the judges are, the criteria they use, and the various stages of evaluation. Whether you’re a student preparing to apply for scholarships or just curious about the process, this guide will provide valuable insights into the world of scholarship selection.

The Importance of the Scholarship Judging Process

The scholarship judging process is a critical component in the world of academic and financial support. It serves as the bridge between deserving students and the resources they need to pursue their educational goals. This process is not just about selecting the most qualified candidate; it’s about ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of opportunities. Scholarships can change lives, and the judging process is responsible for identifying those who will make the most of these opportunities.

A well-structured and transparent judging process also upholds the integrity of the scholarship program. It ensures that every application is evaluated on a level playing field, based on merit, need, or other criteria set by the scholarship provider. This fairness is crucial in maintaining the trust of applicants, donors, and the educational community at large.

Who Are the Scholarship Judges?

Scholarship judges play a pivotal role in the selection process. They are typically a diverse group of individuals, often including educators, professionals in relevant fields, alumni, and sometimes representatives from the scholarship funding body. Their backgrounds and expertise are varied, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation of applicants. These judges bring different perspectives, which is crucial in assessing a diverse pool of candidates.

The selection of judges is a thoughtful process. Organizers aim for a balance of gender, experience, and sometimes even geographical representation to ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation. Judges are usually bound by strict confidentiality and conflict of interest policies, ensuring that each application is assessed solely on its merits.

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Scholarship Application Review

The scholarship application review is a meticulous process where judges examine each application against the set criteria. This stage is crucial as it sets the foundation for further evaluation. Initially, judges often conduct a preliminary screening to ensure that applicants meet the basic eligibility requirements. This includes verifying academic records, extracurricular activities, and other prerequisites specified by the scholarship.

Once the initial screening is complete, the applications move into a more detailed review. Judges take a closer look at the qualifications and achievements of each candidate. They assess academic records, letters of recommendation, essays, and any other required documents. This stage is not just about identifying the highest achievers; it’s about understanding each applicant’s unique story and potential.

Common Criteria for Scholarship Evaluation

When evaluating scholarship applications, judges typically follow a set of common criteria to ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment. Academic performance is often a primary factor, including grades, course rigor, and any academic honors or awards. This criterion helps judges gauge the applicant’s dedication and ability to succeed in their chosen field of study.

Beyond academics, judges also consider extracurricular activities, leadership roles, community service, and other forms of engagement. These aspects provide insight into the applicant’s character, interests, and potential to contribute to their community. The balance between academic and non-academic achievements is crucial, as it paints a complete picture of the candidate’s capabilities and aspirations.

Weighing Academic Achievement

Academic achievement is a cornerstone in the scholarship judging process. Judges look at an applicant’s grades, the difficulty of courses taken, and overall academic progression. High grades in challenging courses often indicate a student’s commitment and ability to excel in a demanding academic environment. However, judges also understand that grades are not the sole indicator of a student’s potential.

In assessing academic achievement, the context is key. Judges consider factors like the applicant’s school environment, any personal challenges faced, and improvements over time. This holistic approach ensures that students are not merely judged by their grades but by their academic journey and growth.

Consideration of Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities play a significant role in the scholarship judging process. These activities, which can range from sports and arts to volunteer work and club memberships, offer insights into an applicant’s passions, interests, and time management skills. Judges look for candidates who demonstrate commitment and leadership in these areas, as it often reflects a well-rounded and engaged individual.

The depth of involvement in these activities is usually more important than the breadth. Scholarship judges prefer to see sustained commitment and growth in a few areas rather than a long list of superficial involvements. This focus helps them identify applicants who are likely to be active and contributing members of their future academic communities.

The Role of Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters are a vital component of the scholarship judging process. These letters, typically written by teachers, mentors, or employers, provide a third-party perspective on the applicant’s abilities, character, and potential. Judges use these letters to gain insights that are not apparent from grades and test scores alone.

A strong recommendation letter goes beyond praising the applicant. It provides specific examples of achievements, personal qualities, and instances where the applicant has demonstrated growth or overcome challenges. Judges look for letters that offer a genuine and comprehensive view of the candidate, helping them make more informed decisions.

Evaluation of Essays and Personal Statements

Essays and personal statements are critical elements in the scholarship judging process. They offer applicants a platform to express their individuality, goals, and motivations. Judges use these written pieces to assess an applicant’s communication skills, self-awareness, and suitability for the scholarship.

A well-crafted essay or personal statement can significantly impact the judges’ decision. It should be engaging, coherent, and reflective of the applicant’s unique voice. Judges look for authenticity and a clear sense of purpose, as these qualities often indicate a candidate’s readiness and enthusiasm for further education and personal development.

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Demonstrating Financial Need

For many scholarships, demonstrating financial need is a crucial part of the judging process. This criterion is especially important for need-based scholarships, where the primary goal is to assist students who might not otherwise afford higher education. Judges review financial documents and personal statements to understand each applicant’s economic situation.

The evaluation of financial need is sensitive and multifaceted. Judges consider factors like family income, number of dependents, and other financial obligations. They also look at the cost of attendance for the applicant’s chosen institution. This comprehensive review ensures that scholarships are awarded to those who truly need them, making higher education more accessible.

Transparency and Fairness in Judging

Transparency and fairness are fundamental in the scholarship judging process. These principles ensure that every applicant is given an equal opportunity to compete for the scholarship. Judges are expected to adhere to a set of clear, predefined criteria, and their evaluations are often subject to oversight or review.

To maintain fairness, many scholarship programs implement blind review processes, where judges evaluate applications without access to the applicants’ personal information, such as names or schools. This approach helps to eliminate unconscious biases and focus solely on the merits of each application. Transparency about the judging process and criteria also builds trust among applicants and reinforces the integrity of the scholarship program.

The Interview Stage (If Applicable)

In some scholarship programs, an interview stage is included as part of the judging process. This stage allows judges to interact with the finalists and gain a deeper understanding of their personalities, aspirations, and suitability for the scholarship. Interviews can be conducted in person, over the phone, or via video conferencing, depending on the program’s logistics.

During the interview, judges typically ask questions related to the applicant’s academic interests, career goals, and motivations for applying for the scholarship. This is also an opportunity for applicants to showcase their communication skills and confidence. A successful interview can significantly bolster an applicant’s chances, as it provides a more dynamic and personal interaction than written applications.

Avoiding Bias in Scholarship Selection

Avoiding bias is a critical aspect of the scholarship judging process. Judges must be vigilant in recognizing and mitigating their own biases, whether they are conscious or unconscious. This includes biases related to race, gender, socioeconomic background, and even the prestige of the applicant’s current educational institution.

Scholarship programs often provide training to judges on recognizing and avoiding biases. Additionally, having a diverse panel of judges can help in balancing out individual biases, leading to a more equitable evaluation process. The goal is to ensure that every applicant is judged solely on their merits and the quality of their application, promoting fairness and diversity in scholarship selection.

Common Mistakes to Avoid as an Applicant

For scholarship applicants, being aware of common mistakes can significantly improve their chances of success. One frequent error is failing to follow application instructions precisely, which can lead to disqualification. Applicants should read guidelines carefully and adhere to them, including respecting word limits and submission deadlines.

Another common mistake is submitting generic essays or personal statements. Tailoring these documents to reflect the specific scholarship and demonstrating how one’s goals align with the scholarship’s purpose is crucial. Additionally, overlooking the importance of proofreading can be detrimental. Errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation can detract from the overall quality of the application.

Scholarship Selection Success Stories

Highlighting success stories in scholarship selection can be incredibly inspiring for potential applicants. These stories often feature students who have overcome significant obstacles or demonstrated exceptional dedication and talent. They serve as real-life examples of how scholarships can transform lives and open doors to new opportunities.

These success stories also provide insights into what makes a strong application. They often reveal common themes, such as perseverance, clear goals, and a strong sense of personal identity. Sharing these stories not only motivates future applicants but also showcases the impact and importance of scholarship programs.

Conclusion and Insights for Scholarship Seekers

In conclusion, the scholarship judging process is a multifaceted and critical aspect of awarding educational funding. It requires a balanced evaluation of academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, personal essays, and often, financial need. For scholarship seekers, understanding this process is key to crafting a compelling application.

Applicants should focus on presenting a well-rounded profile, adhering to guidelines, and conveying their unique story and aspirations. Remember, each part of the application is an opportunity to showcase different facets of your personality and potential. Stay authentic, be diligent in your preparation, and use the insights from this guide to enhance your scholarship application strategy.

Understanding the Judging Process: by Laura DiFiore » Understanding the Judging Process »  Office of Financial Aid » College of Medicine » University of Florida. (n.d.). https://finaid.med.ufl.edu/scholarships/understanding-the-judging-process/

Scholarship Judging | Alamo Colleges. (n.d.). https://www.alamo.edu/foundation/scholarships/ScholarshipJudging

Michael Brown

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Using Rubrics to Review Scholarship and Fellowship Applications

Your institution’s programs are one of a kind—and offering scholarships and fellowships can help you share these assets with a wider community. As you design applications and set up review, remember that the first step in any smart process is the creation of a thorough rubric. Rubrics are detailed outlines for how each application will be read and scored. Using rubrics to review scholarship and fellowship applications helps reviewers stay consistent, minimizes personal bias, and provides a useful reference for everyone involved in the process.

Most commonly created by teachers to assess student performance, rubrics are useful for evaluation processes of all kinds. If you create a rubric before building your application, it can help ensure all requested information is relevant and necessary. This saves time for applicants as well as your team.

According to Brown University’s Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning, there are a series of vital considerations for creating a successful review system. Here are six steps they identified, refocused for using rubrics to review scholarship and fellowship applications: 

1. Define the rubric’s purpose

Consider the components of your application and how each should be assessed. What would an outstanding application include? How detailed do you want to be with scoring? Should each application component receive a distinct score?

2. Choose between a holistic and analytic rubric

In terms of basic distinctions, the holistic rubric is easier to put together but offers less detail than an analytic rubric regarding specific strengths and weaknesses within an application. For example, a holistic rubric might ask reviewers to assign a score of 1-4 for the application as a whole (where a Level 1 application includes a high GPA, excellent references, and an outstanding essay). An analytic rubric would assess the GPA, references, and essay using distinct scales and criteria.  

3. Define rubric criteria

These criteria identify each component for assessment. For fellowships and scholarships, common review criteria include:

• Academic achievement (GPA)
• Test scores
• Personal statements
• Resumes or CVs
• Application essays
• Supplemental essays
• Letters of recommendation
• Extracurricular achievements

4. Design the rating scale

Although this could include letter grades, for application review, numeric scores are likely to be the most useful. Most scales include 3-5 rating levels.

5. Write descriptions for each rating

Clarity and consistency of language here will help accurately guide reviewers. Focus on observations that can be accurately measured and include the degree to which criteria are successfully met.

6. Finalize your rubric (for now)

Format your rubric for easy access and reference, assess effectiveness, collect relevant feedback, and revise accordingly. Using rubrics to review scholarship and fellowship applications should involve ongoing updates to your system—a rubric is only as effective as it is relevant to current goals. 

Other considerations

A strong rubric not only helps guide reviewers—it also offers the opportunity to deeply assess and streamline your application. If part of your application didn’t make the rubric, do you really need it to review your candidates?

A few additional rubric strategies to employ:

• Assess your rubric carefully for language that could be misinterpreted. It’s important to avoid assumptions about reviewers, especially regarding how they will process the criteria, rating scale, and descriptions you provide.  
• Steer clear of industry jargon or acronyms. Use plain language and where possible and give examples to solidify what you want to say.
• Determine the relative weight of review criteria. For example, will letters of recommendation be more or less important than GPA? Design your rating scale accordingly.

Sharing your rubric for transparency

Anyone who takes the time to apply for your scholarship or fellowship wants to submit the best possible application. Unfortunately, every application process is different and prospective applicants may not know what your organization is looking for. Sharing clear information about your assessment criteria and timeline is a huge help—and rubrics are a great way to do this.

While you don’t have to show the point system or all of your evaluation guidelines, sharing the main criteria for a successful application established in the rubric benefits everyone involved in your process:

• It demonstrates respect for applicants’ time. When they can access assessment guidelines, applicants know where to focus in assembling their application.
• It increases the appropriateness of applications. Clarity around expectations and review criteria can help you receive more relevant applications, saving your review team time.
• It minimizes questions and doubt. If applicants know what to prioritize in their application, they’re less likely to reach out and inquire. That’s one less email for both of you.
• It spotlights your organization’s values. Using rubrics to review scholarship and fellowship applications (and being willing to share from them) demonstrates that you care about diligent, fair, and consistent review. It also shows that you understand the value this information holds for applicants and you’re prepared to support them.

Being more transparent about your process by sharing the criteria in your rubric sets you apart from other institutions, facilitates trust from potential applicants, and brings clarity to the whole process. Just be sure what you share is easy to access and written in a simple, jargon-free format.

Submittable’s custom review forms are perfect for incorporating your rubric. Looking for scholarship management software or fellowship management software ? Submittable is here to help. For more tips on a fair and efficient scholarship and fellowship review process, check out this guide . 

Rachel Mindell is a Special Projects Editor at Submittable. She also writes and teaches poetry. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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7 Criteria to consider when evaluating scholarship applications

by Bright Ewuru | Mar 25, 2024 | Article

As a scholarship manager, you work tirelessly to unlock the door of opportunity for as many applicants as possible. But, with finite resources and the need to ensure fairness, consistency and alignment with the scholarship’s mission, it’s necessary to have an evaluation roadmap to help identify the most deserving applicants.

Here, we offer ideas and criteria for your rubric to evaluate scholarship applications and run an impactful scholarship program . 

1. Academic accomplishments

If your scholarship is merit-based, you will likely have minimum academic performance requirements. Evaluating the applicants’ academic performance ensures that applicants demonstrate excellence in the academic field and meet the criteria.

It can also be a reliable indicator of an applicant’s potential. It speaks to their work ethic, adaptability and responsibility. Additionally, assessing applicants’ academic achievements guarantees fairness and equity in the selection process by ensuring applicants are not favored by other factors out of their control

A holistic approach is crucial to effectively gauge an applicant’s academic merit. To do this:

• Review the transcripts
• Examine any  awards or recognition in their efforts
• Consider standardised test results
• Observe their academic progression

2. Extra-curricular achievements

Of course, there’s more to a person than their academic interests. Appraising the extra-curricular triumphs of your scholarship applicants paints a more detailed picture of the applicant and can give insight into their passions, personal interests and skillsets. Also, it sheds light on their sense of social responsibility and leadership skills by gauging their interest in community service and leadership initiatives.

What’s more, interest-based scholarships are targeted at supporting those who excel in certain extra-curricular pursuits. For instance, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards , the SAIC , NAIA and the ASCAP Foundation scholarships are awarded to those who shine in community service, arts, sports and music respectively. Gauging applicants’ involvement in these areas ensures that the applicants align with the scholarships’ objectives. 

When assessing applicants’ extra-curricular achievements, examine the extent of their involvement in the list of extracurricular activities they provide. Consider their personal growth as well as the duration and the impact made in leadership roles.

3. Financial need and background information

Applicants’ financial needs and background information are often a critical consideration in scholarship evaluation. This is because it ensures that scholarships are awarded to those who genuinely need financial assistance to pursue their education. Creating opportunities for those facing financial hardships or from underrepresented communities to have access to education fosters social mobility, addresses systemic inequities and embeds equity and diversity in scholarships . 

Ensure that applicants provide authentic documentation that verifies their financial need. This could include their statements of income and expenses, financial aid forms and tax returns. Request information about the applicants’ socio-economic background, educational history and any previous financial aid received previously.

4. Academic and professional plans

Assess your applicants’ educational and career goals to ensure they’re aligned with the mission of the scholarship program. Such alignment helps scholarship programs maximise their impact and invest in future leaders. It also guarantees sustainability while promoting both academic and professional excellence. 

Follow up with questions to understand the applicant’s educational and career plans in detail. Ensure that their expectations and plans are realistic.

5. Personal statements and essays

For proper evaluation of a scholarship application, it’s important to check the applicant’s personal statement and essay. Personal statements and essays demonstrate an applicant’s written communication skills; they also give insight into the applicant’s unique identity, experiences and clarity of purpose.

When evaluating their personal statements and essays, gauge the applicant’s originality, creativity, clarity and coherence. Check for evidence of development but maintain an objective approach.

Consider providing an option of mediums to share their personal story or essay. Offer the option to submit video and photo attachments to help round out any essay requirements. This can give a more complete picture of the applicant and their background and story.

6. Letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation is often a criterion in the rubric for scholarship evaluations. It’s a validation of an applicant’s achievements, character, skills and potential by a third party who interacted closely with the applicant.

Such confirmations from a trusted source can speak volumes about the applicant’s credibility and authenticity. Recommendation letters also highlight specific situations that provide context to the applicant’s abilities and victories.

Assess the authority and credibility of the source of the letter. Pay equal attention to the contents of the letter to determine professionalism, objectivity, comprehensive insight and corroboration of the applicant’s account.

Ask for contact information for each recommendation so you can follow up as needed if you have questions or want further background on a candidate.

7. Other specific criteria set by the donor

If your scholarship is funded by a specific donor or organisation, they will likely have their own additional criteria to include in your scholarship rubric.

Review the donor’s guidelines for the scholarship for a clear understanding of their motivations and objectives for the scholarship. Consult donor representatives and relevant stakeholders to ensure an accurate interpretation of the donor’s criteria. Be clear and transparent, when possible, about these criteria to scholarship applicants. And then, include this criteria assessment in your scoring of each application.

There is so much to consider when assessing scholarship applications. With so many deserving candidates, it’s critical to use clear, meaningful criteria to decide which applicants will move forward. These criteria can help in choosing the most deserving applicants, the ones who best align with the objectives of your scholarship program.

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Evaluating the Scholarship Rubric and Picking Recipients

Better application management of scholarships, grants, awards, and more..

Choosing your scholarship recipients can be one of the most exciting, and yet also one of the most contentious times in a scholarship program. Establishing a scholarship rubric to evaluate applications is key to optimizing your scholarship program , it eases the pressure in determining both the recipients and the award amounts. Don’t start gathering or evaluating any of your scholarship applications for your scholarship program until you read this post!

What is it about scholarship evaluation that is so time-consuming and heart-wrenching for evaluators? Answer: The vast number of people who seem like they need the money, or really deserve it.

The selection process can become quite emotional as your evaluation team goes through the essays and learns more about your applicants. Dramatic essays and pleas to be chosen can pull at the heartstrings. Because people involved in scholarship programs tend to have a giving nature about them, evaluators sometimes struggle with wanting to give more money than the program allows for. 

Since awarding everyone who submits an application is likely impossible, it’s critical that you create a scholarship rubric to take some of the emotion and difficult decisions out of the equation. Ideally, before you even begin your application process, you should develop a scholarship rubric to determine what you’re looking for in a recipient.

If you’ve already received applications, you may still want to develop an internal rubric for your admin team members in an effort to make the selection activity a little easier.  Our Reports and Autoscore feature can really help your team here.

Determine Scholarship Qualifications

Scholarship qualifications are typically quantifiable numbers that can help evaluation teams quickly dismiss ineligible applicants. They are objective, and therefore require little time or energy using Autoscoring to filter out applicants that don’t meet the requirements you’re looking for in an ideal scholarship recipient. 

Some scholarship qualification examples may include:

• Applicant must have a 3.0 GPA or higher
• To be chosen as a scholarship recipient, they must have completed 150 community service hours during high school 
• Students under age 18 or over age 39 are not eligible
• Annual gross income of the applicant must not exceed $20,000
• Total SAT score must be 1059 or higher  

Before your evaluation team even sees the first application’s answers, these qualifiers can remove ineligible applicants from the potential pool of recipients. The more people you can eliminate right off the bat, the less time you’ll spend in the assessment phase. 

Establish Your Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

After setting your qualifications, you’ll also want to develop some criteria to help your evaluators move quickly from application to application. You can assign defined point values to these criteria to help quantify what would otherwise be considered more subjective responses. For example, you could assign point values to questions based on how the applicant responded. 

Here are some scholarship criteria examples that may help inspire you as you are developing your rubric:

• You could use a scale of 0-5 points with 5 being the most thorough answer to an application question. Perhaps your question is assessing the accomplishments of the applicant. A point value of 5 may be awarded to an applicant who has listed several accomplishments across the board in academia, extracurricular activities, community service, etc…
• You could use a point value for letters of recommendation. For instance, you could assign the highest number of points to a candidate that has a letter of recommendation that provides enthusiastic support, states several reasons why the candidate should receive the award, and also provides multiple examples of the candidate’s merit. The lowest number of points, on the other hand, would be given to a candidate who submits a letter of recommendation that shows no enthusiasm, and barely mentions why they deserve the award. 
• You could also assign points for candidates who filled out every question, went above and beyond in their responses, turned in applications on time/early, used proper grammar and punctuation, etc…

The bottom line: The more defined point values (e.g. multiple accomplishments, leadership positions, etc.) you can assign to subjective answers, the easier it will be to work your way through the submitted applications. While your team may still find themselves in a heavy debate over a handful of candidates as you get closer to choosing your recipients, a rubric will at least significantly reduce the number of applicants being considered . 

Simplify the Development of your Scholarship Rubric with SmarterSelect 

Want access to multiple scholarship rubrics to inspire you in the development of your own? When you work with SmarterSelect to run your scholarship program you gain entry to our community forum and Program Library filled with suggestions and ideas from program administrators who have created applications before you. You can share knowledge and experience, and ask for advice as you build your assessment forms. 

With SmarterSelect, it’s also easy to customize a scoring rubric that fits your scholarship’s unique needs. You can develop custom reports, share notes, create a unique evaluation scheme, and more. 

We’ve helped countless program administrators make quick work of their own scholarships, and we can help you too. Click here to download our in-depth scholarship management guide for program managers.

1. What is the need to develop a scholarship rubric?

It’s critical that you create a scholarship rubric to take some of the emotion and difficult decisions out of the equation, because it is impossible to impossible to award everyone who submits an application.

2. At what stage should we develop a scholarship rubric?

Ideally, before you even begin your application process, you should develop a scholarship rubric to determine what you’re looking for in a recipient.

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Scholarship Judging

Welcome Scholarship Judges! Your participation in this process is crucial to the success of our scholarship program. This page will serve as a resource for you during the scholarship application review process. Thank you for your continued support of our students.

The 2024-2025 scholarship application review period will occur between May 17, 2024 - May 29, 2024. If you are interested in volunteering to be a scholarship application reviewer, please complete the interest form at the above link. 

Reviewer details.

For many students, a Foundation scholarship provides the momentum that propels them forward and on to graduation. As a supporter of scholarships for students enrolled at an Alamo College or Institute, you already understand and appreciate how scholarships make a difference for our students. There is no doubt that the student stories will move you, reminding you of the merit and need of our students.

Volunteer scholarship reviewers participate in an on-line, double-blind judging event. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the scholarship award process. 

On average, we host over 300 judges that will spend up to 4 hours over the course of the week, reviewing scholarship applications that will become awards to over 2600 students. Below are several resources that will assist you in the judging process, and help keep overall scoring objective and non-discriminatory.

Judges will have access to an on-line platform during the week of May 17 - May 29, 2024. 

These guidelines serve as general information to support your review of each scholarship application, reflecting our advocacy of maximum student support and equality in review. 

You will be evaluating 2 personal statements/short essay answers.  There is one score for each essays' content. There is a separate combined score for spelling, grammar and punctuation. 

For content, we ask reviewers to verify that the student answered the questions and then rate responses based on thoroughness and thoughtfulness. 

After the essays are scored, students then go through a process where they are matched to potential scholarship opportunities based on the criteria of each opportunity.

Click here to view the 2024-2025 Scholarship Reviewer Orientation

*Please be aware that this presentation contains audio that will commence upon entering Slideshow mode. You can also view the presentation without the Slideshow mode, and simply click on the microphone on each slide to listen to the audio.

Click here to view the 2024-2025 Scoring Rubric

- We will send your log in credentials the morning of May 17 and you will have through May 29 to review applications . 

- When you initially log in you will select the ‘Reviewer’ tab  to access the portal.  Students access the same portal to apply, so be sure you are entering as a Reviewer and not an Applicant.

- If you experience any issues with logging in, we can assist  by email at  [email protected]  or by phone at 210-485-0140.

- Your objective will be to provide a score from 1-3 on each essay content and a separate combined score of 1-3 for spelling and grammar.

- Student essays will be scored on thoroughness and content.

- Spelling and grammar are assessed separately.

- After essays are scored, the information is sent to the Alamo Colleges Foundation Scholarship Team as well as College Scholarship Coordinators at each campus to continue the review process and rank students by scholarship opportunity based on the specific criteria of each of the hundreds of scholarships available.

Click here to read and review the Alamo Colleges Foundation Confidentiality, Document Security and Conflict of Interest Policy .

Please contact the Scholarship Team at [email protected] . They will be able to redistribute your list of applications to other reviewers.

It is recommended to check your list of applicants throughout the reviewing period. Additional applications can be distributed to reviewers daily.

Please make sure you are logging in under the 'Reference and Reviewers' tab. Here is a direct link: https://alamo.academicworks.com/users/sign_in#references_and_reviewers

If you need additional assistance, please email us at [email protected] .

Please contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

General Guidelines for Reviewing Scholarship Applications

Reviewing scholarship applications can be a daunting task. With hundreds or thousands of multiple-page applications submitted and numerous attachments, a reviewer could quickly become overwhelmed.

Fortunately, setting up guidelines beforehand can help make the process easier and ensure that the most deserving recipients receive financial assistance. We recommend the following scholarship application guidelines while keeping an  unbiased mindset  within your review team.

Whether based on merit or need, most scholarships will require applicants to submit official transcripts as part of a completed application. Although some scholarships do not require this, many do, particularly those of higher value or more competitive awards. Nonetheless, student transcripts indicate the applicant’s academic prowess and predict potential performance in the future. As part of your review process, you will likely need applicants to submit official transcripts.

What Are Official Transcripts?

An official transcript is an academic record printed by the applicant’s school on its official paper, signed by the institution’s registrar, and delivered in a sealed envelope with the school’s official seal. As a result, you can be confident that a transcript is an authentic and official record and that no one has tampered with the document.

What Are Unofficial Transcripts?

The unofficial transcript lists the applicant’s coursework and grades and can often be accessed online, depending on the student’s school. However, be careful about accepting unofficial transcripts for a scholarship review, as the information could be inaccurate. 

According to the University of Washington’s  Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards, you should pay attention to the following when reviewing academic transcripts of scholarship applicants:

● The GPA’s trajectory, noting whether it is increasing and if it stays consistent;

● Any challenging course content;

● The number of credits and grades earned within the evaluated period;

● Student grades in major disciplines, and;

● Any difficult periods that show inconsistencies in the student’s grades

When a student applies to your scholarship program, their resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) works as a crucial filter to see whether they comply with your established requirements. The CV lets you know if a candidate’s experience aligns with the program they are applying to and that they have the necessary professional, academic, and personal potential you need to award a scholarship.

However, an applicant’s resume does more than simply providing you with the applicant’s participation in activities related to your scholarship. It also helps to provide extra details regarding the student’s accomplishments and experience, fleshes out timelines, and offers information in context.

The way an applicant writes their resume should make it as easy as possible for you to gain a broad overview of what they have to offer and help you choose what is most important. Look for a CV that advertises the candidate as having the profile you are looking for by highlighting the most relevant experiences and skills.

For each activity or accomplishment that an applicant lists on their resume, you need to look out for the following:

● Has the applicant provided complete details on each activity, such as the project description, length of participation, and duties and responsibilities?

● How do the listed activities relate to the applicant’s stated academic and career goals?

● Do the activities relate to your scholarship program’s goals or requirements?

Application Essays

When making the next step in their education and applying for scholarships, a candidate’s writing skill is critical. Your review committee must pay particular attention to the applicant’s scholarship application essay since it shows their individuality much clearer than any diploma.

A good scholarship application essay should explain how the financial assistance would contribute to the applicant’s long-term goals and  answer the questions set out in your application . You are investing in the student’s future, and you want to be sure that your investment will go to someone who deserves it. The applicant should explain how furthering their education will contribute to their overall goals after they graduate.

One thing that many review committees should, but fail to do, is to check the essays for plagiarism. You expect the student to present their unique personality and not copy and paste a boilerplate piece.

Other general qualities you should look for, depending on your scholarship, are:

● Engagement

● Leadership

● A sense of purpose

Letters of Recommendation

Recommendation letters from the applicant’s faculty, community members, or supervisors are an excellent way to get a second opinion.

However, you should be aware that often, the person writing the application letter has not read the fine details regarding the requirements of your program. They may also lack strong writing skills or non-native English speakers, so you should not hold any spelling or grammatical errors against the applicant.

In a scholarship application recommendation letter, you need to look for positive, meaningful comments that show an honest connection with the applicant.

Scholar’s App Simplifies the Processing of Scholarship Applications

Scholar’s App  is a scholarship application management service that links students to verified scholarships and offers a tracking solution for the entire financial aid application process. Students can easily create their profiles, search for available scholarships, and submit their applications online.

Our platform also connects donors with qualified scholarship candidates. Scholar’s App provides a complete set of online tools so you can post listings, accept completed applications, collaborate within your review committee, and send notifications of awarded scholarships.

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Scholarship Essay Judges Needed

• Jane Gmur, National Scholarships Assistant Chair

We need a few good readers to judge Mensa Foundation Scholarship Essays. This task is for anyone who notices the misuse of their, there, and they’re and anyone who can pick out a goal statement from support statements, or fluff.

Every year, the Mensa Foundation Scholarship Program awards more than $130,000 to almost 200 students across the nation. Winners are selected based on essays that discuss their career and educational goals. Mensa members score the essays at local, regional, and national levels using criteria defined by the Foundation. Every judge at every level uses the same criteria.

Want to help? Contact us at [email protected] and mention that you’re interested in being a judge. Teachers and writers most frequently volunteer, but we need judges from myriad backgrounds.

I’m specifically recruiting for the non-participating groups. But, wait — if we’re judging non-participating groups, then aren’t they, in fact, participating? To be considered a participating group in the scholarship program, a Local Group must appoint a Scholarship Chair. These chairs handle all applications for their respective Local Groups. A nonparticipating group is one where the Local Group doesn't appoint a chair. Applicants from those Local Groups can still apply and are pooled with others from non-participating groups. (Only participating groups get local awards.) Judges for non-participating groups are selected from all over the country. You can also judge at the local or regional level.

Judging takes place from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. Each judge will receive a packet of no more than 50 essays, a scoring sheet, and scoring criteria. You’ll have a few days to return scores for each essay. This all happens via email. Each essay is 550 words or fewer. At least two other judges will be scoring the same packet, which takes the pressure off of each of you.

The scholarship program gives back to all U.S. students; they don’t have to be members to apply for or to win an award. It’s satisfying to learn what students are doing and some essays will bring a chuckle.

I need to hear from you by Jan. 13. Please consider volunteering for this worthwhile program.

Volunteer Today →

Essay Papers Writing Online

Tips and strategies for crafting an outstanding scholarship essay.

Scholarship essays are an essential part of many scholarship applications. They provide an opportunity for you to showcase your personality, goals, and achievements to scholarship committees. Crafting a winning scholarship essay requires time, effort, and attention to detail. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with tips and strategies to help you write a compelling and successful scholarship essay that sets you apart from the competition.

From understanding the prompt to drafting your essay and polishing the final draft, we will walk you through each step of the process. You will learn how to identify key themes, structure your essay effectively, and highlight your strengths and experiences in a way that resonates with the scholarship committee. Whether you are a high school student applying for a local scholarship or a college student seeking a national award, this guide will equip you with the tools you need to create a standout scholarship essay.

The Importance of Scholarships

Scholarships play a crucial role in helping students achieve their educational goals. They provide financial assistance to deserving individuals who may not have the means to fund their education on their own. This support can make a significant difference in a student’s ability to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams.

Furthermore, scholarships not only alleviate the financial burden on students and their families but also promote academic excellence. By incentivizing students to strive for academic success, scholarships encourage individuals to work hard, stay motivated, and excel in their studies. This can lead to a more educated and skilled workforce, benefiting society as a whole.

In addition, scholarships can open doors to opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach for many students. They can provide access to top-tier universities, prestigious programs, and valuable experiences that can shape a student’s future and career prospects. Scholarships empower individuals to reach their full potential and pursue their passions without the constraints of financial limitations.

Overall, scholarships are not only important for individuals seeking to further their education but also for society as a whole. By investing in scholarships, we invest in the future of education, innovation, and progress. Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities and the world, thanks to the support and opportunities provided by scholarships.

Why You Should Apply

Applying for scholarships is a smart and strategic move for students looking to further their education. Here are a few reasons why you should take the time to apply:

• Financial Support: Scholarships offer a valuable source of funding that can help offset the cost of tuition, books, and other educational expenses.
• Merit Recognition: Winning a scholarship is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and academic achievements. It can boost your confidence and open up new opportunities.
• Reduced Debt: By securing scholarships, you can reduce the need for student loans and graduate with less debt, giving you a stronger financial foundation after graduation.
• Networking Opportunities: Many scholarship programs provide networking opportunities with other scholars, mentors, and industry professionals, helping you build valuable connections for the future.
• Personal Growth: The process of applying for scholarships forces you to reflect on your goals, achievements, and aspirations, fostering personal growth and self-improvement.

Overall, applying for scholarships is a worthwhile investment in your education and future success. Don’t miss out on the chance to secure the financial support and recognition you deserve!

Benefits of Winning

Winning a scholarship can offer numerous benefits to students, both academically and personally. Some of the key benefits include:

• Financial Assistance: Scholarships provide financial support for tuition, books, and other educational expenses, reducing the financial burden on students and their families.
• Recognition and Prestige: Winning a scholarship can enhance a student’s academic resume and demonstrate their merit to future employers and academic institutions.
• Opportunities for Growth: Scholarships often come with additional opportunities such as internships, networking events, and mentorship programs, which can help students develop their skills and build connections in their field.
• Increased Confidence: Achieving a scholarship can boost a student’s confidence and motivation, encouraging them to aim higher in their academic and personal goals.
• Debt Reduction: By receiving a scholarship, students can decrease their reliance on student loans and minimize the amount of debt they accumulate during their education.

Overall, winning a scholarship can have a transformative impact on a student’s educational journey, opening doors to new opportunities and providing valuable support along the way.

Key Elements in Scholarship Essays

Scholarship essays are crucial for securing financial aid for your education. To craft a winning scholarship essay, you must include key elements that showcase your unique qualities and experiences. These elements include:

1. Personal Story: Share a personal story that highlights your values, goals, and aspirations. This will help the scholarship committee get to know you better.

2. Relevance: Make sure your essay is relevant to the scholarship you are applying for. Tailor your essay to fit the requirements and objectives of the scholarship program.

3. Clear Structure: Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Use transitions to connect your ideas smoothly.

4. Strong Thesis: Present a strong thesis statement that outlines the main point of your essay. This will guide your writing and keep your essay focused.

5. Unique Voice: Use your unique voice and perspective to stand out from other applicants. Avoid clichés and generic statements.

6. Proofreading: Proofread your essay carefully to eliminate errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. A polished essay shows your professionalism and attention to detail.

By incorporating these key elements into your scholarship essay, you can increase your chances of winning financial aid for your education.

Understanding the Prompt

One of the most crucial aspects of writing a winning scholarship essay is understanding the prompt. Take your time to carefully read and analyze the prompt provided by the scholarship committee. Pay attention to the key points and requirements outlined in the prompt, such as the essay topic, word limit, formatting guidelines, and any specific questions that need to be addressed.

Create a table or list to break down the prompt into manageable sections. Highlight the main themes or keywords that you should focus on in your essay. By understanding the prompt thoroughly, you can ensure that your essay directly addresses the criteria set by the scholarship committee and increases your chances of success.

Highlighting Your Achievements

When crafting a scholarship essay, it is crucial to highlight your achievements in a way that showcases your skills, talents, and accomplishments. Be sure to emphasize your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community service involvement, leadership roles, and any awards or recognition you have received. Use specific examples and anecdotes to demonstrate the impact of your achievements and how they have shaped you as a person. By highlighting your achievements, you can effectively communicate your potential to the scholarship committee and increase your chances of receiving the scholarship.

Tips for Writing a Standout Essay

When it comes to crafting a winning scholarship essay, there are several key tips to keep in mind to ensure your essay stands out from the crowd:

Showing Your Unique Voice

When crafting a scholarship essay, it’s important to remember that you are the only person who can truly tell your story. Don’t be afraid to let your personality and voice shine through in your writing. This is your chance to stand out from the crowd and show the scholarship committee why you deserve to win.

Whether it’s through a unique storytelling style, a powerful personal anecdote, or a quirky sense of humor, find a way to make your essay memorable and engaging. Your essay should reflect who you are as a person, not just your accomplishments and achievements.

Use your own words and express your ideas in a way that is authentic and genuine. Your unique voice is what will make your essay memorable and resonate with the scholarship committee. Be yourself, and let your personality shine through in every word you write.

Structuring Your Essay Effectively

When it comes to crafting a winning scholarship essay, the structure is just as important as the content. Here are some tips on how to structure your essay effectively:

1. Introduction: Start your essay with a strong hook that grabs the reader’s attention. Introduce yourself and provide some background information about your achievements and goals.

2. Body paragraphs: Divide your essay into several paragraphs that each focus on a specific point or idea. Make sure to provide clear examples and evidence to support your arguments.

3. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and reiterate why you are the ideal candidate for the scholarship. End with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

4. Editing: Before submitting your essay, make sure to proofread and edit it carefully. Check for grammar and spelling errors, as well as clarity and coherence in your writing.

By following these tips, you can structure your scholarship essay effectively and increase your chances of winning that coveted award!

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How to Judge a Contest: Guide, Shortcuts and Examples

What is a Co ntest?

A contest is an activity where skill is needed to win. Unlike a Sweepstakes where a random draw identifies the winner, in a contest the participants has to take an action that requires some degree of skill . That degree of skill depends on what the promotion or event is asking the participant to do. For example; in an essay contest, participants enter and compete by submitting original writing.

The Legal Contest Formula 

Prize + consideration (monetary fee or demonstration of skill) = legal contest (in most jurisdictions)

Are Contest Legal in the US?

Yes. All 50 States allow contest promotions. All contests are allowed as long as the sponsor awards the prize based on skill and not chance.

See Contest Rules and Laws by State.

The Judging Criteria

Contests also have an element of competition that requires the Sponsor or agency to set clear contest judging criteria so participants know how their entries will be judged. This criteria will also tell the judging body what to look for and how to assign value or rank entries.

As a marketer, you can save yourself a lot of potential trouble, and complaints, if your judging criteria is clear to all participants and judges. For example: “ Es s ay Submissions must be in English, comply with Official Rules, meet all requirements called for on the Contest Website and be original work not exceeding 1,000 characters in length.”

The “How-To” Guide for Judging

In a contest, the judging criteria is an attempt to focus the participants, as well as the judges, on the expected outcome of the entry. Properly designed judging criteria aims to minimize the judges unconscious biases and focus their attention on the qualities that are going to be weighed and assigned a value or score. For example, a judging criteria score sheet may rank values as “ 33.3% for creativity, 33.3% for originality; and 33.3% for adherence to topic .”

Judges (ideally more than one) should be experts or have some degree of expertise in what they are judging. This is not a requirement, but it helps the Sponsor or contest administrator select the winner. The contestants also gain a sense of fair play when they see the winner was chosen by experts.

How to Pick Judges for the Contest

If you can’t find expert judges, then individuals or a group with a clear understanding of the judging criteria and no conflicts of interest or bias could serve as judges. Beyond the judging criteria, the judges should have seen enough examples of the work being judged to determine what is considered poor, average and exceptional within the criteria.

Judges Goals

Ultimately, judges aim to assign a total value or points to each entry and select the winner based on total amount of points earned.

Judging Shortcut

A shortcut to judging large numbers of entries is to use social media networks to judge on your behalf up to a certain degree. For example, you can run your contest on Facebook and have the fans vote for the top five entries. From there a more formalized judge or contest administrator can select the winner based on the criteria. This can work well, but there are risks associated with fan voting. One of the risks is that participants can simply ask their friends to vote for them regardless of the quality of the work. It undermines the promotional effort when a poor entry gets lots of votes. This is why we don’t recommend that fan votes make the final decision on who wins.

Protect Your Contest With Judging Criteria

Having your judging criteria set will also protect the integrity of the contest and guide judges if there is a tie. A well-articulated judging criteria will explain what to do in the event of a tie. For example; “ In the event of a tie for any potential Winning Entry, the score for Creativity/Originality will be used as a tiebreaker.” Or “If there still remains a tie, Sponsor will bring in a tie-breaking Judge to apply the same Judging Criteria to determine the winner .”

Rules for Social Media Contests

Contests are allowed in all social media platforms as long as you follow state laws and the social media platform’s own set of rules.

• Facebook Contest Rules you should follow, along with a few Facebook contest ideas to help you get started. See Facebook Contest Rules
• Instagram has some strict rules that you need to be aware of and follow closely if you want your promotion to be successful. See Instagram Contest Rules
• Pinterest can help you connect with your customers, especially if your business is related to the types of content that often trend on Pinterest like fashion, food, and beauty. See Pinterest Promotion Rules 
• For Twitter see Guidelines for Promotions on Twitter (sorry, we haven’t written a rules article on Twitter yet.)
• For Youtube see YouTube’s Contest Policies and Guidelines (sorry, we haven’t written a rules article on Youtube yet.)

Can You Charge Participants an Entry Fee?

Yes, as long as the winners are chosen by skill and not chance (randomly).

Remember: Prize + consideration (monetary fee or skill) = legal contest (in most jurisdictions)

Contest Official Rules Examples

Better Homes & Gardens America’s Best Front Yard Official Contest Rules

Bottom Line: Contests are a Great Marketing Tool

Contests are worth the effort and repay the sponsor handsomely. They’re fun and generate a lot of buzz, awareness and potential sales for the sponsor. Just make sure your judging criteria are set in place.  If you need any help with your contest let us know at [email protected] .

Need help witha Contest? See our Contest Management Services

Want to build a sweepstakes by text?  See our features and pricing .

permitted to team with another architecture student. , but graduate before the awards are scheduled to be given. This year you are asked to include TWO digital photographs that you have copied from any of this year's posted topic Reources or similarr resources that has influenced your Proposal. One of the photographs should help support the argument you make in your Proposal as to an issue you believe needs to addressed in providing housing for the disadvantaged. The other photograph should help support the argument you make for the proposed response. A brief caption - 50 words maximum - should accompany the photograph telling us what the photo represents and the source of the photograph.  Please post the photograph at a minimum 500 pixels wide, and in .jpg format. No more than two photographs will be accepted. NOTE: The Readers are instructed not to add or detract points from their evaluation because of the quality of the photograph itself, nor whether it is the students' work or an archival photograph. The Readers, however, will evaluate how the photographs help support the argument you have made in your Proposal. Judging for the essay competition is on a numeric system. The members of the BERKELEY PRIZE Committee are asked to evaluate each essay in terms of the following criteria: Each criterion is given a score of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). The approximately 25-28 top-scoring Proposals become Semifinalists, who will be offered the opportunity to write a 2500-word Essay based on the Proposal.. There is a total prize of 35,000USD, minimum 8,500USD first prize.  The remaining purse is to be allocated at the discretion of the Jury. Launch of 2022 Essay Competition. (Stage One) 500-word essay proposal due. Essay Semifinalists announced. (Stage Two) Essay Semifinalists' 2,500-word essays due. Launch of Community Service Fellowship Competition for Essay Semifinalists. Essay Finalists announced. Community Service Fellowship proposals due. Essay winners and Community Service Fellowship winners announced. By submitting your essay, you give the Berkeley Prize the nonexclusive, perpetual right to reproduce the essay or any part of the essay, in any and all media at the Berkeley Prize’s discretion.  A “nonexclusive” right means you are not restricted from publishing your paper elsewhere if you use the following attribution that must appear in that new placement: “First submitted to and/or published by the international Berkeley Undergraduate Prize for Architectural Design Excellence ( www.BerkeleyPrize.org ) in competition year 20(--) (and if applicable) and winner of that year’s (First, Second, Third…) Essay prize.” Finally, you warrant the essay does not violate any intellectual property rights of others and indemnify the BERKELEY PRIZE against any costs, loss, or expense arising out of a violation of this warranty. Registration and Submission You (and your teammate if you have one) will be asked to complete a short registration form which will not be seen by members of the Berkeley Prize Committee or Jury. REGISTER HERE. Additional Help and Information ) project. "Sleep on ( ) Photo credit: Michael Stirnemann project. "The two built-in platforms contain numerous storage compartments for personal belongings." ( ) project. "The Kitchen"  ( ) ) Photo credit: ©Bruce Damonte.from DBArchitect.com. ) Photo credit: ©Bruce Damonte from DBArchitect.com. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )   (Photo by Alp Galip for Designboom.com) ) ) ) ) ) Photo credit: Chris Luker from DBArchitect.com. ) Photo credit: Chris Luker from DBArchitect.com. ) ) Skip to Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Search Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington The College of Arts & Sciences Borns Jewish Studies Program Student Portal Undergraduate Scholarships + Awards Henry A. Bern Memorial Essay Competition The Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program at Indiana University is pleased to announce the Henry A. Bern Memorial Essay Competition. The prize is awarded annually to stimulate and encourage undergraduate excellence in the field of Jewish Studies through meaningful scholarly projects.  $500 is awarded for the winning essay written in English ; $250 is awarded for for the winning Hebrew essay. Eligibility This competition is open to any current Indiana University Bloomington undergraduate student, who is taking or completed a Jewish Studies class during 2024. Note: Students who are 21st Century scholars, Groups grant recipients, Pell Promise/HHSP recipients, or Wells (or Cox) Scholars, etc. may not be eligible to benefit monetarily by being awarded a scholarship because their institutional award/s may affect further funding. English research papers, essays, and creative writing are all accepted. Hebrew essays are accepted and will be judged by level. An author may submit a maximum of two entries, including one written with multiple authors. Essays in Hebrew may be at different levels. Entries may have been previously submitted for IU course credit. English entries must be typed and double-spaced, with footnotes wherever applicable. They should not exceed 25 pages and must be submitted in Word. Students submitting a Hebrew essay from levels H100, H150, or H200 should submit a handwritten essay, writing on every other line – double-spaced. Students submitting Hebrew essays for the H250 or above levels should submit Hebrew typed, double-spaced submissions. Hebrew essays should clearly indicate the title (in Hebrew) and note the student's Hebrew level (H100, etc.) Both English and Hebrew entries should have numbered pages at the bottom of each page. English multimedia entries must be submitted as a URL link to a hosted website. Student name(s) must only appear on a separate “cover” sheet which should also include the student ID number(s), IU e-mail address, telephone number, paper/project title, and for Hebrew submissions, the student's Hebrew level (H100, etc.). Student name(s) should NOT appear in the file name or URL/host site. This information is to appear only on the cover sheet to maintain anonymity. Submissions will be numbered for judging purposes. Among the criteria considered significant for English submissions will be clarity, focus and development of the subject or problem, quality of evidence, use of sources, craftsmanship, and originality. Among the criteria considered significant for Hebrew essays will be correct use of language per the defined level, focus, and development of the subject matter, creativity, and originality. Submissions with cover sheet, should be e-mailed in Word to [email protected] before midnight on December 20, 2024. (We accept submissions for any essay submitted for a class during the calendar year of 2024.) Please include in subject line: “Bern Essay Submission”. This scholarship was established to honor the memory of Henry A. Bern by his family and friends.  Henry Bern was a professor of Education at Indiana University where he was committed to teaching and the world of learning. For more information, email [email protected] . Faculty + Staff Intranet Borns Jewish Studies Program social media channels College of Arts & Sciences Jewish Studies B.A. Jewish Studies Certificate Jewish Studies Minor Hebrew Minor Yiddish Minor Jewish Sacred Music Curriculum Freshman Orientation Jewish Studies M.A. Jewish Studies Ph.D. Minor Voting Is Now OPEN Meet the 40 scholars competing for two $25,000 scholarships 2 WAYS TO VOTE VOTE ONLINE TEXT "VOTE33" TO 58185 Samantha G. Undergraduate "Describe a defining moment in your journey with CF that sparked personal growth or resilience. How did this experience affect you and what did you learn from this moment? " In my first year of college, I was hospitalized briefly for mental health issues and taken off all medications for my CF, including a clinical trial medication that had greatly improved my quality of life. Within 2 days, a respiratory therapist who was listening to my lungs told me that the left one, my historically bad one, had "taken a while to wake up." Just like that, I felt the fear and anxiety that always comes with remembering I have CF. After a few years of feeling like I could live a more normal life with less hospitalizations, I became the same little girl who sat underneath fairy lights and put legos together in a hospital bed for 15 years. The worst part of it being that now I was all alone. I think the hardest habit and thought process I learned from CF is that I am strong. Anytime I was sick or doing a treatment or complaining about my reality, I was reminded that I am so strong. When I had gotten to the point where I needed help and was struggling, I was too afraid to ask because I am strong and to me that had always meant that I had to figure it out for myself. The only thing that saved my life this time around was not a miracle drug but admitting I needed help. Since this hospitalization, I have completely changed my life. I am now pursuing a different major more focused on my love of writing and filmmaking. I live with friends I love and trust. I travel by myself, which can be very intimidating for someone with CF. I run two student organizations on campus and am not afraid to make my voice heard. I have learned to live with my CF and changed my medications to allow me more mental clarity and peace. Most importantly, I always, always call my parents or someone I love when I need help or a friend. I know now that it's ok and natural to not always be strong. Samantha G.'s Artwork Samantha g.'s achievements. Mental Filmness Film Fest, Featured Panelist and Live Screening, 2023 Filmmaking in Paris with CUNY CSI, Student Director and Screenwriter, 2023 Strategy for Access (Fun4theDisabled), Documentary/Videography Intern, 2023-Present Blow-Up Arthouse Film Fest, Semi-Finalist, 2023 Independent Filmmaker, Director and Screenwriter, 2022-Present Fire Escape Film Production Organization, President, 2022-Present Artistes Student Organization for Gender Diversity in the Arts, President, 2023-Present US-PANC-230039 2024 ABBVIE CF SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST RULES The 2024 AbbVie CF Scholarship (“contest”) is sponsored by AbbVie, and is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. AbbVie reserves the right to change, alter, or modify these rules and/or dates at any time without notice. Scholarship funds may be considered non-taxable under applicable federal tax laws. Please direct all questions about tax preparation to your tax advisor. Scholarship funds may be disbursed over multiple years, as needed. Forty scholars will be chosen by a panel of judges selected by AbbVie to receive the $3,000 AbbVie CF Scholarship. Submissions will be judged and ranked using a point system based on the following criteria: Academic record and extracurricular activities (assigned a score up to 30 points) Essay (assigned a score up to 20 points) Creative presentation (assigned a score up to 20 points) All eligible submissions will be evaluated based on academic record and extracurricular activities. The top 60 submissions will then also be evaluated based on creative presentation and essay to determine the top 40 scholars. Under no circumstances will the judges’ scores be disclosed to the public. All decisions made by the judging panel are final. In the case of a tie, those submissions will be evaluated according to the original criteria by a new judge selected by AbbVie who was not involved in the initial scoring process. The submission with the highest cumulative score by the new judge will be declared an AbbVie Scholar. Submission guidelines and eligibility requirements are included in the application. By participating, applicants agree to these contest rules and the decisions of the judges, which are binding on matters relating to this contest. It is not necessary for applicants to have taken, currently take, or intend to take in the future any medicine or product marketed by AbbVie, and this will not be a consideration in the recipient selection criteria. Scholars will be notified on or around May 23, 2024, if they have been chosen to receive a $3,000 scholarship, using the contact information provided in this application. JUDGING CRITERIA TO DETERMINE THE 40 ABBVIE CF SCHOLARS A panel of judges selected by AbbVie will evaluate all eligible submissions based on each student’s academic record and extracurricular activities, essay, and creative presentation. Forty scholars will be determined by the highest cumulative points awarded by the judges. Please refer to the contest rules to see details on scoring. Scholars will be notified on or around May 23, 2024 , if they have been chosen to receive an AbbVie CF Scholarship, using the contact information provided in this application. SELECTION OF THRIVING UNDERGRADUATE AND THRIVING GRADUATE STUDENT Each scholar’s first name, last name initial, photo, creative presentation, essay, and achievements will be posted online at www.AbbVieCFCommitment.com/cfscholarship . From August 15 to August 29, 2024, the public will have an opportunity to vote for one Thriving Undergraduate Student and one Thriving Graduate Student who inspire them based on their creative presentation, academic achievements, community involvement, and ability to serve as a positive role model for others. The overall Thriving Undergraduate and Thriving Graduate Student will be determined by the number of valid votes cast by the public and the cumulative points awarded to each scholar by the judging panel. Please refer to the contest rules for details. All applicants will be notified of the results following the closing of the voting period, no later than September 4, 2024 . ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS This scholarship is designed for students with Cystic Fibrosis pursuing an undergraduate degree (Associate’s/2-year college, Bachelor’s/4-year college, trade school/vocational school) or graduate degree (Master’s, Doctorate) during the 2024-2025 academic year. Applicants must have completed high school or obtained a General Educational Development (GED) certification on or before June 2024. Students applying for the scholarships must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in the 2024-2025 school year. Students in their final semester of undergraduate study may only apply if they will be pursuing a graduate program in the 2024-2025 school year. Both full-time and part-time students may apply. All prior scholars can apply for the 2024 AbbVie CF Scholarship. However, all prior Thriving Scholars (recipients of the larger scholarship) are ineligible to apply for any AbbVie CF Scholarship again. Scholarship funds may be considered non-taxable under applicable federal tax laws. Please direct all questions about tax preparation to your tax advisor. Students are expected to behave in a respectful manner towards fellow contestants during all phases of the scholarship, including online and on social media channels. Bullying, discriminating, profane or threatening comments, and/or harassment may result in disqualification. Employees of AbbVie and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply. Healthcare providers, including physicians and those who can prescribe medications, and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply. Each applicant must be: A United States citizen or a legal and permanent resident of the United States Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis by a physician Enrolled in or awaiting acceptance from an accredited institution (i.e., college, university, or trade/vocational school) for an educational program during the 2024-2025 academic year PUBLIC VOTING FOR THE THRIVING UNDERGRADUATE AND THRIVING GRADUATE STUDENTS The overall Thriving Undergraduate and Thriving Graduate Student will be determined by the number of valid votes cast by the public (weighted 30 percent) and the cumulative points awarded to each scholar by the judging panel (weighted 70 percent). The Thriving Scholars will be determined using a point system based on the following criteria: Public votes (assigned a score up to 30 points) Academic record and extracurricular activities (assigned a score up to 30 points Under no circumstances will the judges’ scores or tallied votes be disclosed to the public. All decisions made by the judging panel are final. In the case of a tie, the tie will be broken based on the student who received the most cumulative points during the initial judging period to select the 40 scholars. The Thriving Undergraduate and Graduate Students will each be awarded a total of $25,000 (the original $3,000 AbbVie CF Scholarship plus an additional $22,000 scholarship). Applicants will be notified of the results following the closing of the voting period, no later than September 4, 2024. GENERAL VOTING RULES AND REGULATIONS Voting opens to the public at 11:00 AM (ET) on August 15 and closes at 11:00 AM (ET) on August 29, 2024. ONLINE VOTING Vote Online: Visit www.AbbVieCFCommitment.com/cfscholarship  and register by providing your first name, last name and a valid email address. To place a vote, click the “VOTE ONLINE” icon linked to a specific recipient profile in the Thriving Undergraduate Student and Thriving Graduate Student categories. Please note that you can vote for your chosen applicant online one time in each category for the duration of the campaign. This means one email address equals one vote for the Thriving Undergraduate Student and one vote for the Thriving Graduate Student. All duplicate votes cast by an existing registered user will be considered invalid. MOBILE VOTING Text to Vote: Each of the scholars will be assigned his or her own ID [VOTE1, VOTE2, etc.] to be text messaged to 58185. Please note that voting permits one text message per mobile device for the Thriving Undergraduate Student and one text message per mobile device for the Thriving Graduate Student. More than one text vote in each category from the same phone number will be considered invalid. Mobile voting is accepted in the US and Canada. All other voting may be done online by visiting www.AbbVieCFCommitment.com/cfscholarship . VOTING DISCLAIMER Online votes will be considered made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of the vote. AbbVie has the right to void any vote that appears, in AbbVie’s sole discretion, to be an automated or duplicate vote and/or any other “hack” violating the voting rules or otherwise interfering with the administration of the vote. AbbVie reserves the right to withdraw the transmission of, or otherwise disregard, any such vote and/or permanently disqualify from any promotion any person it believes has intentionally violated these voting rules. Moreover, AbbVie may, in its sole discretion, terminate the competition and voting at any point and declare winners based on the votes up to that point, if it appears to AbbVie that the voting process has been so distorted by hacking or other interference that the results would not reflect actual valid votes should the competition and/or voting continue. AbbVie and its respective officers, directors, employees, subsidiaries, and affiliates assume no responsibility for: (1) any injury or damage to any person’s computer relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software in connection with this vote; or (2) telecommunications, network, electronic, technical, or computer failures of any kind; or (3) inaccurate transcription of voting information; or (4) errors in any promotional or marketing materials; or (5) any human or electronic error in connection with the voting and/or tallying of the votes; or (6) votes that are stolen, misdirected, garbled, delayed by computer or telephonic transmissions, lost, or late. Any questions related to voting may be directed to the program administrator at [email protected] . Unless expressly noted, all services are offered without charge by AbbVie CF Scholarship, but messages and data rates may apply. The customer is liable for any mobile phone charges incurred (usage, subscription, etc.) as a result of voting in the AbbVie CF Scholarship contest. Please consult your mobile service carrier’s pricing plan to determine the charges for sending and receiving text messages. SERVICE AVAILABILITY The services are available on the following carriers: U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, CellCom, Appalachian Wireless, IMMIX/Limitless Wireless, West Central Wireless, Cellular South, ACS Wireless, GCI Communications, Illinois Valley Cellular, Inland Cellular, Nextech Wireless, Thumb Cellular, United Wireless, Viaero Wireless, Carolina West, Union Cellular, Pioneer Cellular, Northwestern Missouri Cellular, Chat Mobility, Cellular One Nation, Duet, Panhandle Telecommunications, Cross Wireless, RINA Wireless, Pine Cellular, Sagebrush Cellular, Claro (Puerto Rico), Copper Valley, Bandwidth, Cellular One Northeast Arizona, Google Voice, Enflick, Nemont (Sagebrush PCS), ASTACBrightlink, Inteliquent, Pine Belt Cellular, SouthernLINC, Standing Rock, ATNI, IT&E, James Valley Cellular, Textme, Digital Communications Consulting, Pinger, Aerialink, Telnyx, Altice Mobile, Viya, Indigo Wireless, Ring Central, First Point (1st Point), GTA, Zip Whip, Truphone, TSG Global “Flextalk”, NumberAccess, Dish Wireless, Evolve Cellular, ISP Telecom, Liberty Wireless (PR), Bell Mobility (Canada), Aliant (Canada), NorthernTel (Canada), Telebec (Canada), Rogers Wireless (Canada), Videotron (Canada), Fido (Canada), Telus Mobility (Canada), MTS Mobility (Canada), SaskTel Mobility (Canada), Virgin Mobile (Canada), Wind Mobile (Canada), Moblicity (Canada), Public Mobile (Canada), Eastlink Wireless (Canada), SSi Micro (Canada), International Number, UK Carrier, US Carrier, Internal Vibes Test Carrier. Additional carriers may be added as they become available. PRIVACY POLICY AbbVie will never, under any circumstances, sell or otherwise distribute your personal information or cell phone numbers to third parties. AbbVie will never market to you directly any services for which you have not opted in, either by cell phone, text message or email. AbbVie may share your personal information with partners that help manage the AbbVie CF Scholarship program for purposes of selecting the scholarship winners and issuing scholarship checks. US-PANC-230023 314 COMMENTS PDF Bright Star Scholarship Scoring Rubrics Essay written that respond to the prompt given in the application 2. Interview each applicant will conduct with the executive director and Scholarship Advisory Committee members 3. Three letters of recommendation required to be submitted by applicant ... Criteria 1 point 2 Points 3 Points 4 Points SCORE Essay does not Quality of Response to Inside the Scholarship Judging Process: How Winners Are Chosen The scholarship judging process is a critical component in the world of academic and financial support. It serves as the bridge between deserving students and the resources they need to pursue their educational goals. ... Common Criteria for Scholarship Evaluation. ... and suitability for the scholarship. A well-crafted essay or personal ... Using Rubrics to Review Scholarship and Fellowship Applications These criteria identify each component for assessment. For fellowships and scholarships, common review criteria include: 4. Design the rating scale. Although this could include letter grades, for application review, numeric scores are likely to be the most useful. Most scales include 3-5 rating levels. 5. 7 Criteria to consider when evaluating scholarship applications 7. Other specific criteria set by the donor. If your scholarship is funded by a specific donor or organisation, they will likely have their own additional criteria to include in your scholarship rubric. Review the donor's guidelines for the scholarship for a clear understanding of their motivations and objectives for the scholarship. PDF Essay Contest Judging Rubric Essay Contest Judging Rubric For each criterion listed, score the essay on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best score. Use a separate form for each essay. Do not score in decimals or fractions - whole numbers only. 5=Excellent 4=Above Average 3=Average 2=Below Average 1=Poor/Incomplete Criteria 5 4 3 21 Score PDF Scholarship Essay Scoring Rubric Scholarship Essay Scoring Rubric This rubric is used when evaluating essay responses in scholarship applications submitted through AwardSpring. O points Does not ... essay. (0 10) 1-4 points Little personal experience or examples related to prompt content; or response demonstrates weak personal experience or PDF VCF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION SCORING RUBRICS Essays . Scored separately are the . Phoenix essay (pg. 5) and the . optional supplemental essays (pg. 6) that follow the same point scale as both required essays in the table above. Students who submit responses for the Phoenix and/or supplemental essays become eligible for additional scholarship opportunities. PDF Sample Scoring Rubric for Scholarship Application The applicant's name and the wording "Personal Statement" at the top of the page. Gives you a picture of the student. 300-400-word limit. Spelling and grammar. Essay (20pts) Based on the following: Applicants address the "Essay Topic" for the specific scholarship for which they are applying (400 - 500-word limit). Understanding the Judging Process Every organization that offers a scholarship has their own way of judging the applications they receive. Please understand that this article is intended to be more of an "overview" based on a variety of judging committees than a description of how any one particular scholarship contest is judged. 1. "Weed out the Junk" stage. How Scholarships are Judged: An Inside Look Leadership —If leadership is part of the criteria they're looking for, judges will examine your activities. They'll also look for a range of leadership positions. Service —Some providers are interested in knowing what community service you've done. They'll want to know if you've been continuous in your volunteer efforts. PDF Nafws Scholarship Selection Committee Rubric Overall Essay: Criteria: Essay does not read easily with flow and organization, shows that the student took minimal amount of their time, effort and thought into writing their essay, seems rushed and put together quickly. Student did not address essay prompts: Essay somewhat reads easily with flow and organization and shows Evaluating the Scholarship Rubric and Picking Recipients Here are some scholarship criteria examples that may help inspire you as you are developing your rubric: You could use a scale of 0-5 points with 5 being the most thorough answer to an application question. Perhaps your question is assessing the accomplishments of the applicant. A point value of 5 may be awarded to an applicant who has listed ... Scholarship Judging Scholarship Judging. ... You will be evaluating 2 personal statements/short essay answers. There is one score for each essays' content. There is a separate combined score for spelling, grammar and punctuation. ... students then go through a process where they are matched to potential scholarship opportunities based on the criteria of each ... Judging Judging Global Winners 2024 Regional Winners 2024 Winning Essays 2024 Winning Essays 2023 Winning Essays 2022 Argumentative ... Find out how essays from each stream will be judged and graded here: Creative essay rubric . Argumentative essay rubric. Journalistic essay rubric. Follow us on social media. Guidelines for Reviewing Scholarship Applications Scholar's App provides a complete set of online tools so you can post listings, accept completed applications, collaborate within your review committee, and send notifications of awarded scholarships. Reviewing scholarship applications can be a daunting task. With hundreds applications to review, these guidelines can simplify the process. How Do Rubrics Help With Reviewing Scholarship Applications? For example, a holistic rubric might ask reviewers to assign a score of 1-4 for the application as a whole (where a Level 1 application includes a high GPA, excellent references, and an outstanding essay). An analytic rubric would assess the GPA, references, and essay using distinct scales and criteria. Define your rubric criteria Top 4 Things Scholarship Judges Look for in Applications 2. Organized Appearance. Scholarship judges are also looking for applications that are easy-to-read, free of typos and are not missing any components. Most scholarship applications these days are hosted online, but for those that require a handwritten application or essay, make sure you use your best penmanship. PDF Essay Contest Judging Rubric For each criterion listed, score the essay on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best score. Use a separate form for each essay. Do not score in decimals or fractions - whole numbers only. 5=Excellent. 4=Above Average 3=Average 2=Below Average 1=Poor/Incomplete. Criteria. Scholarship Application Rules and Guidelines Applicants must complete all required information on the entry form. Essays must be the applicants' original work and no more than 550 words in length. Essays must be entered via cut/paste on our scholarship application form on this website. Essays will be truncated to the limit specified. Essay submissions are stored and reviewed as "plain ... Scholarship Essay Judges Needed Judging takes place from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. Each judge will receive a packet of no more than 50 essays, a scoring sheet, and scoring criteria. You'll have a few days to return scores for each essay. This all happens via email. Each essay is 550 words or fewer. Ultimate Guide to Crafting a Winning Scholarship Essay To craft a winning scholarship essay, you must include key elements that showcase your unique qualities and experiences. These elements include: 1. Personal Story: Share a personal story that highlights your values, goals, and aspirations. This will help the scholarship committee get to know you better. 2. How to Judge a Contest: Guide, Shortcuts and Examples Judging Shortcut. A shortcut to judging large numbers of entries is to use social media networks to judge on your behalf up to a certain degree. For example, you can run your contest on Facebook and have the fans vote for the top five entries. From there a more formalized judge or contest administrator can select the winner based on the criteria. Berkeley Prize Essay Competition February 1, 2022. (Stage Two) Essay Semifinalists' 2,500-word essays due. February 8, 2022. Launch of Community Service Fellowship Competition for Essay Semifinalists. Early-March, 2022. Essay Finalists announced. March 12, 2022. Community Service Fellowship proposals due. Mid-April, 2022. Sample Selection Criteria Must have a financial or economic need. Student must attend _________ school. (If you wish to limit your scholarship to a particular NHUSD school or program.) Has overcome a significant family, academic, or emotional hardship. (Include a brief paragraph description of the hardship.) Generally, four to six criteria are enough to ask students to ... Henry A. Bern Memorial Essay Competition: Scholarships + Awards Submissions will be numbered for judging purposes. Among the criteria considered significant for English submissions will be clarity, focus and development of the subject or problem, quality of evidence, use of sources, craftsmanship, and originality. ... "Bern Essay Submission". This scholarship was established to honor the memory of Henry ... Samantha G JUDGING CRITERIA TO DETERMINE THE 40 ABBVIE CF SCHOLARS. A panel of judges selected by AbbVie will evaluate all eligible submissions based on each student's academic record and extracurricular activities, essay, and creative presentation. Forty scholars will be determined by the highest cumulative points awarded by the judges. assignment essay homework paper report resume review speech thesis