Calhoun Scholarship Program

The deadline for completing the Scholarship application is March 1 each year.

Application Instructions and Awarding Criteria

1. The 2013-14 Scholarship Application is no longer available.
2. Only one application form is required (when students apply online) to be considered for all awards offered by Calhoun.
3. The scholarship application deadline is March 1 of each year.
4. The average scholarship awarded by Calhoun is $1,500. Valedictorians and Salutatorians graduating from Madison, Morgan, Limestone and Lawrence counties in Alabama are offered a scholarship equivalent to full-tuition and *fees for two consecutive years--contingent upon maintaining full-time enrollment and a GPA of 3.0 or greater. Students with an ACT composite score of 27 or greater that apply by the March 1 deadline are offered a scholarship equivalent to one year’s full-tuition and *fees--contingent upon full-time enrollment and maintaining a 3.0 GPA. (*By Alabama Department of Postsecondary policy, scholarships cannot pay for building fees).
5. All scholarship applicants must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  Note: this is a government website that allows you to apply for a variety of sources of federal tuition support. The college requires FAFSA completion in order to ensure that students receive all aid for which they are eligible. *Completion  of the FAFSA may be based on estimated income figures or the previous year’s data in order to meet the Calhoun scholarship application deadline. If students using estimated figures or last year’s income tax data are selected for an award, they will be given a follow-up deadline for completing FAFSAs with final income tax figures. Qualifying for federal aid does not affect a student’s ability to compete for Calhoun Scholarships. Calhoun's Title IV Code: 001013 (when selecting Calhoun as your School of Choice).
6. All applicants must complete an Application for Admission to Calhoun by March 1st. Note: the Scholarship Application and the Application for Admission (The application for admission to Calhoun is accessible by clicking here) are two separate documents.
7. High school applicants are required to send official transcripts with their Application for Admission to Calhoun. These transcripts will be used as part of the scholarship selection process and must reflect grades earned from 9th grade through the first semester of 12th grade. Final transcripts will be required after graduation.
8. Copies of transcripts from other colleges attended are also required, if applicable, for both Application for Admission and Application for Scholarships.  A copy of each college transcript must be submitted and include grades earned through the end of fall term preceding the March 1st deadline.  Send transcripts to: Calhoun Community College, Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 2216, Decatur, AL 35609.
9. All applicants are required to submit a brief essay with their online application.  The essay must be cut-and-pasted into the appropriate field within the online application.  Essays should be 300-500 words. The topics to be covered in the essay: your college goals and choice of major; what you intend to do with your education; why a scholarship is important to you; academic and non-academic accomplishments, personal characteristics, or experiences that make you uniquely worthy of scholarship consideration.
10. If applicants would like to voluntarily include reference letters with their application, please have reference letters mailed to:  Calhoun Scholarship Committee, PO Box 2216, Decatur, AL 35609.
11. Note that Fine Art scholarships (theater, jazz band, chorale, graphic/fine arts) require the submission of a portfolio or a personal audition/interview. The application will ask whether or not students would like to be considered for a Fine Arts award. If students select this option, they will be contacted to set up a time for an audition or portfolio review. If students would like to go ahead and make contact with the Fine Arts Department, they may reach them at (256) 306-2701.
12. Scholarships are awarded for the coming academic year: 50% of an award is released for the Fall Semester and 50% is released for the Spring Semester. Summer awards are awarded in full for the summer session. However, summer awards are only available to incoming freshmen who graduate from high school in May of the same year in which they are applying.
13. To be eligible for scholarships, students must enroll in and maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours, or be a Fine Art awardee participating in a performance-based program (chorus, jazz, theater) taking no less than 9 credit hours.
14. To be eligible, students must have and maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, or a 2.5 GPA for Fine Arts awardees and certain technology awards. For example: Scholars are expected to finish 12 hours in the fall semester with an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater in order to remain eligible for the spring portion of their award.
15. No student can receive more than one Calhoun funded or administered scholarship award.
16. The selection process gives preference to incoming freshmen. However, sophomores are encouraged to apply or re-apply for renewable awards and those reserved for second year students.
17. Selection is made based on information provided in the application and any letters of recommendation received. No effort can be made to verify information prior to the selection process. However, once students are selected, efforts will be made to verify the validity of data provided such as confirmation of GPA, citizenship, ethnicity, high school graduation date, place of employment, etc.
18. Calhoun College Scholarships can only be used to pay the cost of tuition and certain fees--this is a statewide policy. Calhoun Foundation Scholarships may be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, tools, or any supplies purchased through Calhoun’s Bookstore—up to the maximum amount of the award offered. Costs covered by Grant Scholarships vary and will be clearly outlined to each student that receives a grant-funded award.
19. Scholarships are valid only for the academic period for which they are awarded and cannot be carried over into another academic year. An academic year is: Fall-Spring-Summer.
20. Scholars are expected to maintain regular class attendance.  There are occasions where scholarship recipients are invited or required to attend functions such as receptions, award ceremonies, focus groups, etc.  They are encouraged to attend some events and are required to attend mandatory events.  Absences from mandatory events must be excused prior to the event.

Tips for Applying for a Calhoun Scholarship

• The deadline for applying is March 1.
• Students should fill-out the online Scholarship Application (link no longer available for 2013-14) 
• Officially apply for Admission to Calhoun by clicking here
• Submit an online FAFSA form by March 1.
• Remember that the FAFSA application will ask for income information. Get your tax records organized early (or use estimated figures, or your previous year’s income tax data, *see details in instruction item #5 above).
• A brief essay (300-500 words) is required. Get your thoughts together.
• If applying for a Fine/Performing Arts Scholarship, schedule your interview by March 1 by calling (256) 306-2701.