The students eligible for assistance shall be those:

• Who are graduating high school seniors in the Shawnee Mission School District who are interested in a career in a) Teaching, b) Nursing, c) Occupational Therapy, d) Physical Therapy or e) Speech-Language Pathology), OR
• Who graduated from the Shawnee Mission School District who are in the undergraduate Teachers College of Emporia State University; OR
• Who graduated from the Shawnee Mission School District who are in the University of Kansas School of Health Sciences and will be entering their last year of their graduate degree program in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or Speech-Language Pathology, AND
• For graduating high school seniors: (i) have taken courses in the humanities and/or sciences; (ii) have participated in school and/or community service organizations; and (iii) have been admitted to a public or private college, university or technical school. Consideration will also be given to the students high school GPA.
• For undergraduate students in the Teachers College of Emporia State University and for graduate students in the University of Kansas School of Health Sciences: (i) demonstrate financial need; and (ii) have a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.5.

Guidelines:

Scholarships will be awarded as follows:

For graduating high school seniors: One-half of the scholarship will be awarded upon graduation from high school. The other one-half of the scholarship will only be awarded if the student has proven to the satisfaction of the Advisory Committee of the Fund and the Community Foundation that he or she will complete a post-secondary degree or certificate program in teaching, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy or speech-language pathology. Such other one-half of the scholarship will be awarded at the beginning of the students final year in such degree or certificate program.

For undergraduate students in the Teachers College at Emporia State University: One-half of the scholarship will be awarded at the beginning of the undergraduates sophomore or junior year (depending on when the applicant applied). The other one-half of the scholarship will only be awarded if the student has proven to the satisfaction of the Advisory Committee and the Community Foundation that he or she will complete his or her teaching degree. Such other one-half of the scholarship will be awarded at the beginning of the students final year in such degree. For students who apply and are first awarded a scholarship in their final year of such degree, the full amount of the scholarship award will be distributed at the beginning of such final year instead of dividing the scholarship payment into two installments.

For graduate students in the University of Kansas School of Health Sciences: The scholarship will be awarded in full at the beginning of the students final year in the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or Speech-Language Pathology degree program.

Each scholarship payment will be sent directly to the students college or university at the time of fee payment. If for any reason the student does not attend the approved college or university, the money will be returned to the Community Foundation and the student will forfeit the scholarship.

Application Process:

Please submit application online using the link provided below. Please note, to be considered a complete application the student is required to attach:

• a current transcript,
• letter of acceptance,
• financial aid award letters (if received), and
• two (2) letters of recommendation including one from a teacher or counselor.

Renewal Process:

Students beginning their final year of a post-secondary degree or certificate program in teaching or health care must submit to the Community Foundation a current transcript and any other documentation necessary to prove he or she will complete the degree or program within the year.

How to apply:

1. Click here to access the application.
2. Create a new AwardSpring user account or log in.
3. Complete all APPLICATION sections.
4. You will be matched to the scholarship(s) you are eligible for based on your answers to the QUALIFICATION QUESTIONS.
5. Complete all FOLLOW-UP questions in the AwardSpring DASHBOARD.