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Click here for the Online Applications for
2008 Scholarships
History of United’s Scholarship Program
United Cooperative Services created a scholarship award
program to encourage and assist in the educational pursuits of United
Cooperative Services members and their families.
More than 20 years ago, United Cooperative Services awarded its first
scholarships to local high school students and returning college
students. United made the funds available with the idea in mind to
reinvest into the communities it serves. In those first years, United
awarded one scholarship to one student at each high school in its
service area.
In 1997, new funds were made available by House Bill 3203, which allows
not-for-profit electric cooperatives like United to put unclaimed funds
to use for student scholarships. This change in the law allowed United
to take advantage of money previously lost in the state’s general
revenue fund and reinvest it locally with a greater and broader impact.
That year, United awarded $500 scholarships to 10 students and the next
year, 29 scholarships worth $1,000 each were awarded.
In 2007, United awarded $86,000 in Energy Scholarship awards.
Designated for 69 recipients, the scholarships were representative of
the number of years United has served members in this area. Of the 69
students to receive scholarships, 65 students won a $1,000 scholarship,
two winners accepted $5,000 college scholarships and one fortunate
student won a $10,000 college scholarship!
To date, more than 720 students have received United scholarships
totaling more than $760,000 in award money. Winners are chosen from
numerous applicants area-wide based on financial need, leadership,
community involvement and school activities. Applicants must live at
the residence of their parents or legal guardians who are active United
members at their principle residence.
Scholarship
Criteria
Graduating high school
seniors must:
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Be an active member
of United or be claimed as a dependent of parents or legal guardians
who are active United members at their principle residence.
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Graduate high
school with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0
scale. High school counselors must certify the accuracy of the GPA
by signature and date. Home school students must provide a copy of
their transcript from high school level coursework.
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Meet the general
entrance requirements at an accredited four-year university, junior
college or TEA approved trade school of their choice.
Current college
students must:
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Be an active member
of United or be claimed as a dependent of parents or legal guardians
who are active United members at their principle residence.
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Provide proof of
2.0 post-secondary grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
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Be enrolled as a
full-time student (12 semester hours minimum) at an accredited
four-year university, junior college, or TEA approved trade school.
After receiving a
United Energy Scholarship, students must:
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Be enrolled as a
full-time college student (12 semester hours minimum).
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Provide proof of
enrollment and coursework at the beginning of each semester and
proof of grades at the end of each semester in order to receive next
scholarship disbursement.
- One-page typed personal essay explaining community and school service,
financial need and seriousness of purpose
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Maintain a 2.0 GPA.
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Apply the
scholarship money toward tuition and fees required for enrollment,
books, supplies or equipment required for coursework.
Scholarship
Award Information
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Award is based on
financial need (60 percent weight) and leadership, community service
and school activities (40 percent weight).
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United will award
70 scholarships in 2008, in part to recognize 70 years of continuous
service.
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United will award
67 scholarships valued at $1,000 each.
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Three additional
scholarships will be awarded: two scholarships valued at $5,000 each
and one scholarship valued at $10,000.
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The students with the
three highest accumulated point totals, as determined by the committee,
who plan to attend an accredited four-year university will win the
$5,000 and $10,000 awards.
§
Students who attend a
junior college or trade school will not be eligible for these larger
awards.
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Any ties in grading
will be broken according to the grade given for financial need.
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These students (or
their legal guardians) must maintain membership with United at principle
residence.
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Applications will
be submitted to the selection committee in an anonymous format and
graded on the listed criteria.
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Scholarship money
must be used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment,
books, supplies and/or equipment required for coursework at an
accredited or TEA approved educational institution. Scholarship
money may not be used for housing or living expenses.
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Recipient is
required to submit proof of previous semester’s coursework and
cumulative minimum 2.5 high school or 2.0 college GPA.
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If recipient’s
cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, or if the recipient fails to
register as a full-time student for the spring semester, the
scholarship recipient will be placed on probationary status and
United reserves the right to withhold the scholarship payment until
probationary issues are resolved. If probationary issues continue
beyond one semester, any unpaid scholarship funds will be revoked.
If a student fails to register for coursework or submit
documentation to United, the scholarship for that semester will be
revoked.
Financial
Information
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Each $1,000
scholarship is paid in two $500 installments, for a total per
student per lifetime of $1,000.
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United will award
the first installment of $500, payable to the school’s financial aid
or business office, at an awards dinner in August 2007. The second
installment will be mailed directly to the recipient’s school of
choice.
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Recipient is
required to submit proof of spring enrollment and sustained 2.0 GPA
from fall semester to qualify for the second installment of $500.
Payment will be made to the school’s financial aid or business
office after all documentation is provided to United.
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The winner of the
$10,000 scholarship will be paid in disbursements of $2,500 over the
course of four long semesters (fall and spring) in which they are
full-time students after appropriate documentation is provided. The
two winners of the $5,000 scholarship will be paid in disbursements
of $2,500 over the course of two long semesters in which they are
full-time students after appropriate documentation is provided.
Other
Scholarship Criteria
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All scholarship
applications must be submitted electronically through United’s Web
site at
www.united-cs.com. Any additional documentation (as outlined in
the application) that cannot be submitted electronically must be
mailed to the address below or delivered in person to any United
office.
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United’s Board of
Directors, employees and their immediate family members are not
eligible to apply.
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Applicant may apply
as often as desired, but may only receive a United scholarship once.
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Applications will be submitted to the selection
committee in an anonymous format and graded on the criteria
mentioned above.
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All items submitted
become the property of United Cooperative Services.
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Applicants may call
(817) 556-4000 or e-mail scholarships@united-cs.com to verify the
online application and supporting documents were received.
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Electronic applications will be accepted from May 1 through June 6,
2008. Students will not be able to submit an application before or
after these dates.
Supplemental documents as required and outlined in the application
may be delivered in person to any United office or sent by mail to:
United Energy
Scholarship
P.O. Box 16
Cleburne, TX 76033
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