Welcome to the WCTC Foundation Scholarship Portal! The portal provides information on Foundation scholarships available to WCTC students.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When should I complete the scholarship application?
• The WCTC Foundation scholarship application is open May through October 31. Priority will be given to early applicants. Only one application is needed for the academic year.

Who can use the system?
• WCTC students who have been admitted to a certificate, technical diploma or associate degree program; Undeclared students are not eligible
• Enrolled in 6 or more credits for the upcoming semester (total for Term 1 and Term 2 combined)
• Cumulative 2.0 GPA

How do I get started?
• Sign in using your WCTC login information. User name is only the first half of your WCTC email (only up to the @ sign).
• Complete the General Application. You may save your work and come back to it later to finish if you wish, so long as it is before the application deadline October 31. You will not be able to access your application after that date.
• Internet Explorer CANNOT be used as your web browser. Use Firefox, Chrome or another browser.

Do you have any helpful hints for completing the Foundation scholarship application?
Essays questions
• Essay questions hold the most weight of the application. Use your responses to the essay questions to share your personal story and show the reviewer that you are a “good investment.” Scholarships are funded by individuals and local companies who are looking to invest in your success and in the future of our community. The application is your opportunity to share your educational and career plans with the reviewer and make the case why you deserve the scholarship award more so than the next applicant.
• Be sure to answer using complete sentences and proper grammar and spelling. Visit the Writing Center or review your application with an instructor, friend or family member.
• Answers should be a minimum of 75 words to a maximum of 500 words.
• The quality of your answer is the most important.
Resume
• Highly recommend that you attach a resume.
• Save it as a PDF document before uploading it.
• We are not looking at your experience. We are looking that it is done in a proper format and is grammatically correct. Have Career Connections review it if you are unsure about it.
References
• Highly recommend that you include 2-3 references. You will need to include their name and email address on the scholarship application.
• Be sure to reach out to your reference prior to listing them in the scholarship application.
• If you are a current WCTC student, one reference should be from an instructor here at WCTC, and one from an employer, if possible.
• If you are a new student to WCTC, then one reference from a previous teacher/counselor and one from an employer.
• All references are asked to return their reference letter within two weeks of being notified via email. Not all references complete the letter, so it may be good to list an extra. You are able to view on your application what references have turned in their letter.

What happens after I complete the application?
• Once you complete your general application, you will be automatically matched with scholarships for which you may qualify. It is important to understand that due to the competitive nature of many scholarships, matching does not guarantee you will receive a scholarship. Last year nearly 70% of those students who completed the scholarship application received a scholarship. Scholarship amounts range from $250-$1000 with the average award being $500.

When/how will I receive notice if I have been selected to receive a scholarship?
• You will be notified via your WCTC email only, so please be sure to check your WCTC email regularly. Generally, fall scholarships are awarded August through November and spring scholarships are awarded mid-January through mid-February.

What should be done after I have been notified via email that I received a foundation scholarship?
• Follow the link provided in the email you received.
• “Accept” the scholarship.
• New this year, you will then be prompted to answer four essay questions. A Thank You letter will be created from the answers you provide, so please answer the questions in complete sentences, using good grammar and correct spelling. Each answer should be a minimum of 3-4 sentences. This should be done within 2 weeks of receiving the initial email, so that you don’t risk having your scholarship rescinded and awarded to another WCTC student.
• Once your responses have been received, the scholarship will be disbursed to your student account within 7 business days. If you do not have a balance on your student account, then a refund will be issued to you.

How are students selected for scholarships?
• Each student’s scholarship application is reviewed by our scholarship committee made up of WCTC faculty and staff.
• Each student’s application is reviewed 3 times.
• The student’s application is scored by each reviewer based on the following items:
 The quality of your answers to the essays questions regarding accomplishing your academic and career goals, any challenges you may have faced, influences to the development of your character, and reason for seeking financial assistance. (These questions hold the most weight in your scoring.)
 Resume
 Returned references (ideally two references – one academic and one employer)
 Community service/volunteer opportunities within the last 5 years
• Each scholarship has qualifications decided upon by the donor. All scholarships are matched with those students who meet the donor qualifications and are ranked by their reviewer score. The most qualified student with the highest reviewer score is then considered for the scholarship.

When are scholarships typically awarded?
• Fall Scholarships are awarded October through December 2022. After all Fall scholarships have been awarded, we will begin awarding Spring scholarships through the end of January (or until all scholarships have been awarded). If you are selected for a scholarship opportunity, you will receive an email to your WCTC student email address. After all scholarships have been awarded for the 2022-2023 academic year, we will notify all students that applied and were not selected for a scholarship opportunity.

Do I have to apply every year for Foundation scholarships?
• Yes, just like you would for financial aid. You apply once for the entire academic year – fall and spring. The scholarship cycle is open May through October 31, with a preferred deadline of June 30 for fall scholarships. Overall application deadline for the academic year fall/spring is October 31. Priority will be given to early applicants.

Who can I contact with questions?
• You can email scholarships@wctc.edu with general questions about the application.