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Harrell Foster Care Scholarship Application
Deadline has been extended to May 31, 2024!!!!
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
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)
Applicants awarded the scholarship must:
1) Attend the Annual HFCS Banquet on Friday, August 2, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa.
2) Work with assigned mentor regarding scholarship allocation
3) Provide a written recognition of gratitude for the award by June 28, 2024
4) Provide a recent photo suitable for publication
5) Provide official class schedule prior to August & January disbursements
There are two ways to complete the application:
1. Print & complete the application below and mail or email
OR
2. Complete the application here.
A completed application will include:
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Completed and signed application
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Essay
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Two letters of recommendation
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High school, GED, or college transcript
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Parent/Guardian Signed authorization letter for foster care verification (for minors only)
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Legal documentation of kinship care or out of home placement (if applicable)
Application must be submitted or postmarked by May 31, 2024
Send completed applications to:
LaTonya Calderon
8406 Sharon Circle
Urbandale, Iowa, 50322
Questions: Contact LaTonya Calderon at 515- 778-6551, pastorlatonya@hotmail.com or
Brittany Beard at 563-381-0927, brittanybeard121@gmail.com.