Frequently Asked Questions

Do you award scholarships to individuals from outside of the Texas Panhandle?

The Foundation requires that an applicant be a permanent resident of the northernmost 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle and be a citizen of the United States of America. A permanent resident of the Texas Panhandle is defined as an individual who has resided in or been gainfully employed in the northernmost 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle for the 12 months preceding the date of application or who graduated from a high school in the Panhandle and has been continuously enrolled in a postsecondary education program since leaving the Panhandle. Exceptions to residency criteria will be considered on an individual basis for applicants who have served in the military or Peace Corps for the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of application; however, they must have been a resident of the Texas Panhandle immediately preceding service. The counties of the Texas Panhandle are:  Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, and Wheeler.

What is the deadline for scholarship applications?

The Foundation accepts and reviews scholarship applications once a year. The application will open in early January and is typically due the second Friday in February.  This will allow students approximately six weeks to complete the application and submit all necessary materials.

Can you send me an application?

No. All applications must be submitted online. You can access the application on our website starting in early January.
An example application is available here so that you can start preparing and planning for the online application.

How do I get a copy of the scholarship criteria?

A downloadable copy of scholarship purpose and criteria is available on the website here.

How will I know you received my application?

We acknowledge receipt of every application by email.

Can scholarship dollars awarded go toward indirect costs associated with my schooling?

Scholarship awards may only be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for college/university attendance. (The scholarship cannot cover non-required items such as room and board, travel expenses, optional equipment (e.g. laptop/tablet/etc.), family allowance, and any other non-essential items.)

When and how will I know if my application has been accepted or rejected?

Scholarship applicants are generally notified around the middle of May as to the outcome of their application. Applicants receive communication regarding the disposition of their application by email, following a decision of the Board of Directors.

I submitted an application in the past and was declined. May I re-submit?

Yes. Students who have been denied in the past may reapply for funding for a future academic year.

Can you help me with writing my application?

While the Foundation does not provide assistance in the actual crafting of content, we encourage applicants to follow our guidelines in preparing their materials and to call if they have questions.

I don’t have all the information required for submission. Can I still apply?

We recommend that you contact the Foundation staff to determine if a submission at the current time is appropriate.

Before I submit an application, can you tell me if the Foundation is interested or would consider my request for assistance?

We can give you a better response after seeing a complete application. As long as your application is complete and meets all of the requirements the Foundation has outlined in the guidelines, we will review it.

Are there any other requirements once I have submitted my application?

All new applicants are required to interview with the Foundation’s Scholarship Advisory Committee. Applicants are generally contacted during the month of February to schedule the interview. Interviews are held in March and recommendations from the Committee will then by provided to the Foundation’s Grants and Scholarship Committee.  The Grants and Scholarship Committee will formulate a recommendation to the Board of Directors.