Harrell Foster Care Scholarship Application

Deadline May 9th, 2025

 

This scholarship program seeks to encourage and support Black/African American students, who are or have been in foster care, pursue higher education by offsetting tuition costs, student loans, and/or expenses; while providing a mentor to help them transition and succeed through college. As this scholarship is offered to those associated to foster care, we adhere to the Iowa Department of Human Services’ administrative rules definition of foster care as: “Foster care” shall mean substitute care furnished on a 24-hour a-day basis to an eligible child in a licensed or approved facility by a person or agency other than the child’s parent or guardian but does not include care provided in a family home through an informal arrangement for a period of 20 days or less.

 

The award will be disbursed in the following way:

1st payment $1000.00 dispersed in August

2nd payment $1000.00 dispersed in January

 

Eligibility:

1) Must be furthering education post high school (trade school, associates, bachelors, masters, etc.) 

2) Black/African American

3) Resident of the state of Iowa

4) High school or GED graduate

5) Currently or have been in foster care with verification through the Department of Human Services OR

6) Currently or have been in kinship care with verification through legal guardianship documentation OR

7) Experienced out of home placement

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Application Materials:

1) Typed essay (250-500 words & double spaced) including the following:

a) Describe your foster care/kinship care/out of home placement experience.

b) Describe how events and obstacles have shaped the person you are, and how these life circumstances have influenced you to pursue higher education.

c) Why this scholarship is important to you and how it will help you pursue education post high school.

2) Two letters of recommendations (one must be from a teacher) including the following:

a)      How long have you known the applicant?

b)     In what capacity do you know the applicant?

c)     Strengths you have observed.

d)     Why you believe this applicant is deserving of this scholarship.

3) High school, GED transcript, or college transcript

4) Parent/Guardian signed authorization letter for foster care verification (for minors only)

5) Legal documentation of kinship care or out of home placement (if applicable)

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Applicants awarded the scholarship must:

1) Attend the Annual HFCS Banquet on Friday, August 1, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa.

2) Work with assigned mentor regarding scholarship allocation

3) Provide a written recognition of gratitude for the award by May 23, 2025

4) Provide a recent photo suitable for publication 

5) Provide official class schedule prior to August & January disbursements

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There are two ways to complete the application:

1. Print & complete the application below and mail or email

OR

2. Complete the application here.  

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A completed application will include:

• Completed and signed application

• Essay

• Two letters of recommendation

• High school, GED, or college transcript

• Parent/Guardian Signed authorization letter for foster care verification (for minors only)

• Legal documentation of kinship care or out of home placement (if applicable)

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Application must be submitted or postmarked by May 9th, 2025

 

Send completed applications to:

LaTonya Calderon

8406 Sharon Circle

 Urbandale, Iowa, 50322

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 Questions: Contact LaTonya Calderon at 515- 778-6551, pastorlatonya@hotmail.com or

Brittany Beard at 563-381-0927, brittanybeard121@gmail.com.