Give Back Better: Retooling Your Scholarship Program for 2021

On December 9, 2020, Kim Stezala led Retooling Your Scholarship Program for 2021, as part of our Give Back Better Series.

Give Back Better: Retooling Your Scholarship Program for 2021

Give Back Better: Retooling Your Scholarship Program for 2021

On December 9, 2020, Kim Stezala led Retooling Your Scholarship Program for 2021, as part of our Give Back Better Series.

Kim Stezala is a Senior Partner at Design Group International where she is dedicated to educational access, specifically the pipeline to and through college.

This webinar was designed to help state organizations think about their current scholarship programs and prepare for the new year, while also considering the impacts of Covid-19. Kim reminded states to consider the challenges students are currently facing related to mental health, lodging, and study time due to the pandemic. Many students are attending classes and work remotely and may not be thriving in that environment. Some students may also be caretakers and working multiple jobs, so it is important to remember that scholarships are based on financial need and not merit or volunteerism.

3 Questions to Consider for Your Scholarship Process

  1. Are the questions you ask in your scholarship applications important? Kim cautioned states to only ask for information you need to determine the award of amount of scholarship.
  2. What is your scholarship timeline? The month when you announce and award your scholarships may impact where students may choose to go school so it is best to be transparent with these details so students can plan accordingly.
  3. Does your award criteria make the process easy for students to apply and be considered? Your state should want qualified students to apply for assistance. Think through how complicated your process may currently be.

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • October 1: Earliest date a student can complete FAFSA
  • January 1: Some college's admissions deadline
  • March 1: Most college's and state's financial aid deadlines
  • April 1: Award letters and financial aid packaging and decisions made
  • May 1: National Candidate Reply Date

In summary, your state should want to structure your application and scholarship process in such a way that it can help every student who qualifies for support. Think through your application and process carefully to ensure it is only asking necessary questions and is set up for success.

[fusion_separator style_type="single solid" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" sep_color="" top_margin="25" bottom_margin="30" border_size="" icon="" icon_circle="" icon_circle_color="" width="" alignment="center"][/fusion_separator]

#GiveBackBetter

Learn more about Kids’ Chance of America and the upcoming Give Back Better webinars, our dynamic forum for state-to-state exchanges that build on the best experiences, skills, and tools we all have to offer.