Important Information for Yolo Community Foundation Scholarships
Guidelines and Operating Procedures (for applicants)

Usage

1. Scholarship funds shall be used as awards to assist Yolo County students who participate in post secondary school study.

Eligibility

1. Participants not planning on post secondary education in an approved program are not eligible for Yolo Community Foundation scholarship support
2. Students who are on academic or disciplinary probation or have delinquent financial obligations to Yolo Community Foundation are not eligible for YCF support.
3. High School senior students are eligible for support.

 
Potential Selection Criteria

·       Yolo County resident

·       Financial need

·       Grade point average

·       ACT/SAT scores

·       School activities

·       Noteworthy achievements

·       Awards and recognition

·       Work history

·       Class rank or percentile ranking

·       Special talent

·       Community and personal activities

·       Demonstrated creativity

·       Attendance or graduation from a particular Yolo County high school

·       Participation in a certain sport or extracurricular activity

·       Field of study

·       Enrollment in a particular college, university, vocational, technical institute, commercial art school, school of nursing, etc.

·       The foundation may make grants for scholarship purposes to educational institutions and give the institutions the discretion to select the individual scholarship recipient. The foundation may choose to make grants to individuals as well in accordance with IRS rules.

General Policies

1. The minimum amount of the YCF scholarship per student is $500. The final amount will depend on the applicant’s qualifications, program costs, donor intent of the scholarship fund.
2. Once awarded, YCF scholarship funds may be disbursed directly to the post secondary school. Payment may be made directly to the student with proper documentation.
3. Each recipient is required to participate in the program listed on the application and at the time listed. Any change will require YCF Awards Committee approval or reapplication.
4. Recipients wishing to defer their attendance to a time or institution other than listed in their application are required to reapply for the YCF scholarship.
5. The student or educational institution must submit an official transcript for verification of attendance to the secondary institution within 60 days after enrollment in the program specified in their application; otherwise, the YCF scholarship will be revoked and repayment required.
6. Students who do not engage in or complete their study must return the funds to YCF. Any student who changes programs as listed on the application, must reapply.
7. The YCF Awards Committee may revoke an award if the information on the application or in an interview is found to be intentionally false.
8. In case of non-compliance with these rules and operating procedures, the YCF Awards Committee may seek to place a block on the student’s records to ensure repayment of the scholarship.
9. The YCF Awards Committee has the responsibility to announce the availability of the award and the deadline for applications.
10. The guidelines and procedures will be reviewed annually by the YCF Awards Committee. Appeals for any exceptions to the general policies must be addressed to the YCF Awards Committee in writing.

YCF Awards Committee Membership
 
The YCF Awards Committee will consist of a minimum of three persons who are approved by the YCF Executive Committee. This may include YCF board members, YCF staff, and may include students, faculty, or staff at a relevant high school or other persons deemed experts in the scholarship area. The donor or their representative (including relatives) of the particular donor to the scholarship fund may not hold more than one seat on the awards committee. The YCF Program Committee chair appoints the members of the committee. One person will be designated as committee chair.
 
Priorities

1. Full-time students are given preference over part-time students.
2. Students with higher GPAs are given priority over students with lower GPAs.

Consequences of Noncompliance

1. A scholar found in noncompliance with YCF’s scholarship rules shall

1.            Repay the amount of the scholarship funds received, prorated according to the fraction of the school year not completed;

2.            Pay all reasonable collection costs as determined by YCF.

2. A scholar is not considered in noncompliance during the time he or she is:

1.            Engaging in a full-time course of study at an institution of higher education;

2.            Serving on active duty as a member of the armed services of the United States, or serving as a member of VISTA or the Peace Corps, for a period not in excess of three years;

3.            Temporarily totally disabled, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician, for a period not in excess of three years;

4.            Unable to continue their post secondary education by reason of the care required by a disabled child, spouse, or parent for a period not in excess of twelve months;

5.            The scholar has died, on the basis of a death certificate or other evidence under state law.