Questions & Answers about the Heritage Fund Scholarship Process
- How do I apply for the scholarships administered by Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County?
To apply for the scholarships administered by the Heritage Fund, you will need to complete an application and return it to the Heritage Fund office at 538 Franklin St., Columbus, IN 47201. While some scholarships require a specific application, 56 different scholarships administered by the Heritage Fund use one Combined Scholarship Application Form.
- Where do I find the Heritage Fund scholarship applications?
All applications are now available to be downloaded from this website as well as at the Heritage Fund office, located at 538 Franklin St., Columbus. Applications also are available at the guidance offices of all Bartholomew County public and private high schools, Trinity Lutheran High School, the IUPUC Financial Aid Office, Ivy Tech Community College Financial Aid Office, Purdue College of Technology at Columbus, Harrison College and McDowell Education Center.
- How do I determine if I am eligible to apply for a scholarship?
Check our listing of scholarship criteria. Every scholarship administered by the Heritage Fund is listed. Criteria may include certain academic requirements, specific majors, financial need, attendance at specific colleges and/or participation in a particular sport or extracurricular activity. Please review the criteria for each scholarship carefully.
In addition to the 56 scholarships that use the Combined Scholarship Application Form, several other scholarships use their own applications.
The alphabetical listing indicates which scholarships require the Combined Scholarship Application and which use a separate application. This information is listed as "Application Required."
- What steps do I take to complete the application?
Each application states what documentation is needed to accompany that application. Most require an essay; official high school transcript, college transcript or GED certificate; and a recommendation to be completed by a high school teacher, high school counselor, clergy or other professional, who is not a relative, with whom you have had a working relationship.
It is your responsibility to obtain the required documentation for each scholarship for which you plan to apply and to ensure the materials are at the Heritage Fund on or before that particular scholarship's application deadline.
Aspplication can be downloaded and filled out elecronically. However, you will still need to print out the completed application, sign it, and turn it in with required transcripts and recommendations to the Heritage Fund office. The application includes space to answer the short answer questions and the one required essay. The only scholarships that require a second essay are the Finkel, Columbus Rotary, Sonntag and Steinbarger scholarships. The additional essay for these scholarships must be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced and no longer than one page (please include title of essay and last four digits of your Social Security Number in the upper right hand corner of the page).
The scholarships that use the Heritage Fund Combined Scholarship Application Form are listed on its front page. You must place an "x" in the box next to the scholarships for which you are applying. Please look over the criteria for each scholarship carefully and select only those scholarships for which you meet the criteria. It would be impossible for any individual to apply to all scholarships. If "x's" are placed in every box, the application will not be considered.
Official transcript: Heritage Fund accepts online transcripts submitted through the Docufide web system. Bartholomew County's public high schools' guidance offices are set up for this system. (Check your school to see if it has Docufide capabilities.) When using your Docufide account to have a transcript sent, the Heritage Fund is listed as an institution. If your transcript is not submitted through Docufide, the Heritage Fund will only accept official transcripts that are in an envelope sealed separately from the application. Copies or other online transcripts will NOT be accepted. You must submit an offical transcript with each separate application submitted.
Essay: - The Combined Scholarship Application Form includes three short-answer questions and a one-page essay. Answers to the short-answer questions may be no longer than 200 words and no smaller than 10-point font. The essay for the Heritage Fund Combined Scholarship Application asks: Describe how you have been influenced by an individual or an event and how you believe it will shape your future. The essay is limited to one page (450 words max.), no smaller than 10 point font. Anything longer than one page for the essay will not be accepted. Separate attached sheets also will not be accepted.
For applications other than the Heritage Fund Combined Scholarship Applications, essay topics vary. Please review all applications carefully. Unless otherwise noted, essays should be one to three pages, typed in 12-point font and double-spaced. Please number each page and put the last four digits of your Social Security Number in the upper right-hand corner of each page.
Recommendations: Please consult each scholarship application to see if character recommendations are required. Recommendations must be delivered to the Heritage Fund in a sealed envelope. For applications that include a character recommendation form, the form must be typewritten in no smaller than 10-point typeface or legibly handwritten in black ink. It is also acceptable to cut and paste a word document if desired; however, the recommendation form must fit in the space on the form. All information must fit on the front side of the recommendation form. Any information that is written on the back side of the recommendation form will not be considered. A student applying for the Philip R. Miller Memorial Scholarship may include a second recommendation since one is required by the art teacher reviewing their artwork portfolio. Additional papers will not be considered.
Financial information: Please use figures from your 2012 Federal tax return. If you are unable to provide your 2012 tax information, please use your 2011 tax return to estimate 2012 financials. Please indicate any financial changes that would affect your income status this year. All information will remain confidential. If there are financial circumstances that you think need further explanation, please explain on a separate piece of paper and submit along with the application. If parents are divorced, and do not want to share information on one form, parents of the applicant may submit two separate financial information forms. Information left blank may affect the outcome of your application.
Applications may be hand-written or typed. Handwritten applications should be printed legibly using black ink. Do not use a pencil or other colored pens.
Complete all information.
Please do not submit more information than is requested. Additional resumes, recommendations, etc. will not be considered.
- What are the application deadlines?
Completed applications must be received in the Heritage Fund office by noon the day of the deadline. This does not mean postmarked by that date. Applications may be delivered directly to the Heritage Fund office at 538 Franklin Street or mailed to P.O. Box 1547, Columbus, IN 47202-1547.
2012-13 deadlines are:
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship TBD Anna Newell Brown Awards for Vocal Excellence TBD Betty F. Brown Awards for Instrumental Excellence 2008 TBD Heritage Fund Scholarships TBD Columbus Youth Hockey/Bryan Ritz Memorial Hockey Fund October 2, 2012 - Travel League
November 13, 2012 - House League - After I have submitted my application(s), what happens?
You will be informed by mail or email that our office has received your completed application and the date by which you can expect to be notified if you have received a scholarship award from the Heritage Fund. All applicants will be contacted by mail no later than May 31, 2013 of whether or not they receive a scholarship.
- What happens if my application is incomplete or arrives after the deadline?
Only complete applications that have arrived by the deadline will be considered. It is your responsibility to ensure that all transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc. have been sent in a timely manner. Please do not hesitate to contact our office at any time to confirm receipt of your application and/or additional documents. Incomplete information does not constitute an application and, thus, will not be considered.
- How are scholarship recipients determined?
Each scholarship application is thoughtfully and carefully reviewed by a selection committee of community volunteers. An applicant's name is not included with the applications that the selection committees review. Instead, each application assigned an identification number.
Some scholarships require an interview. Usually these interviews are conducted during the school day. For high school students, arrangements are made through the school guidance offices so that students may be excused from school. These interviews last about 20 minutes.
- How will I know if I have been selected to receive a scholarship?
You will receive a letter informing you of the scholarship(s) you have received with the total amount of the scholarships(s) and the documentation necessary from you in order that a scholarship payment can be made.
A Scholarship Acceptance Agreement will be included with this letter stating the conditions of the scholarship. If you agree to these conditions, you must sign and return the form to the Heritage Fund.
- What documentation is required for my scholarship payment to be made?
The documentation necessary for a payment to be made is proof of enrollment from the college or university that you will be attending. This can be a letter of admission or a class schedule. If your scholarship is to be paid in two or more installments, you must submit your grades from the most recent semester and a class schedule for the next semester before the next installment will be paid.
If your scholarship is for private music or tennis lessons, you must let the Heritage Fund know the name of your instructor. The instructor should then send the Heritage Fund a bill for lessons given. If you are using the funds for a music or tennis camp, you must submit information about the camp to the Heritage Fund for approval.
- Will the check be made to me or to the school which I am attending?
All scholarship payments are made directly to the college, university, camp or private instructor on the student's behalf. Scholarship amounts of $1,000 or more will be paid in two installments. A copy of the letter sent with the check to the college or university will be sent to you so that you know that the payment has been made.
- If I withdraw from classes, am placed on academic probation or do not attend classes one semester for some reason, what happens to my scholarship?
We request that scholarship recipients inform the Heritage Fund's Scholarship Manager of any changes in their status as students. If you have any extenuating circumstances, we will work with you. If not, the the scholarship for that semester would be forfeited.