GOAL
Give away 50 scholarships of up to $10,000 each to the 2023 graduating class to students in different schools, from diverse backgrounds, attending all types of post-secondary institutions, empowering them to tell the story of the impact that personalized learning, technology, and embracing their voice to inform, and inspire, others.
Technology has the potential to close enormous opportunity gaps for students challenged by geography, health, family issues, economic constraints, limitations in academic choice, or suboptimal school environments.
As a result, a growing number of students are seeking out blended and online learning programs to personalize their learning so they can move beyond constraints they face. For those who have already demonstrated their willingness to embrace the power of technology in their educational journey, we have the FoS Student Scholarship Program.
Since 2016, this one-of-a-kind scholarship program has provided graduating seniors with $5K and $10K awards to continue their innovative education in post-secondary environments. In addition to financial support, winners are given a platform to become luminaries for other students by sharing personal stories of the goals they’ve set, challenges they’ve overcome, and the role technology-enabled learning has played in their success.
Scholarship recipients completed a minimum of five blended or online classes while in high school, in any type of educational setting: public, private, charter, online, magnet, or homeschool.
Grades are only one part of the scholarship review process ― the primary focus is helping learners achieve success in higher education and beyond, not simply acknowledging their performance in high school.
A majority of winners attend community college, vocational, technical or trade schools, and others go on to attend four-year universities.
Offering financial support to continue on learning pathways that maximize their interests, talents, and focus creates a ripple effect within their families and their communities:
Many graduating seniors that are first-generation college students, or those who would otherwise struggle to afford higher education, now have the means to further their education without pause or significant compromise.
Students and their families fully realize that a successful future is within reach, as their motivation is rewarded and their dreams are supported.
Scholars and their parents demonstrate, through their experiences and voices, the impact that technology, innovation, and ultimately digital learning courses play in personalizing the teaching and learning process for all students. This information helps inform decisions down the line that impact education policy and practice.
A diverse talent pool of students is equipped to successfully participate in the future of work.
The wide range of opportunities and positive outcomes experienced by students who participated in online and blended learning options are showcased, motivating schools and communities to identify new and innovative ways to support equitable achievement for all students.
Shift throughout society to recognize students as critical voices in the transformation of not only our schools, but the future of our workforce and communities.
“Stemming from character building, classic hard work and self-dependent advancement, online courses have opened me up to a future I did not find possible even just a year ago.”
– Fiona Gannon, 2020 SSP Winner
THE APPLICATION PORTAL IS NOW CLOSED.
If you'd like to get notified when we start accepting submissions for our 2023 Student Scholarship Program, please join the list here:
Stories from previous scholarship winners
Application Process & Timeline
THE APPLICATION PORTAL IS NOW CLOSED.
Get notified when we start accepting submissions for our 2023 Student Scholarship Program:
We partner with Scholarship America who manages the application process. Applicants must meet the program’s eligibility requirements and submit the appropriate documents by the deadline. Scholarships are accepted for 6-8 weeks in the winter (Dec-Feb). The application review takes about a month and we anticipate scholarship winners will be notified by Scholarship America near the end of April, once the FoS board approves the recipient candidates.
AWARD
Ten scholars matriculating to four-year institutions will receive an award of up to $10,000 per year for two years. Twenty scholars will receive an award of up to $5,000 for their post-secondary experience in any program of their choice, with the opportunity to apply for an additional award as they successfully enter their second post-secondary academic year.
Our scholarship program is highly competitive. The 2020 cohort had over 1,000 initial applicants and less than 40 were chosen as the final recipients. Recipients of our 2-year awards are required to maintain a certain GPA during their first year in order to qualify for their second-year award.
ELIGIBILITY
Our Student Scholarship Program is for high school seniors who have completed a minimum of five (5) blended and/or online courses during their last two years of high school and plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year. All students who meet this prerequisite are invited to apply, and scholarships are not granted based upon financial need.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Recent high school graduates who meet the specific selection criteria outlined by The FoS Scholarship Committee will be considered for one-year tuition-based awards to four-year universities, community colleges, and accredited vocational programs.
The evaluation criteria based on a numeric ranking that includes the following components (estimates):
academic performance (20%)
letters of recommendation (20%)
breadth and depth of online courses (40%)
extracurricular activities (20%)