The DMACC Foundation provides a wide range of scholarship opportunities to students, and the deadline to apply is right around the corner on March 1.
For returning and incoming students, one application gets students applied for every scholarship through the Foundation, meaning students can spend less time than they would imagine applying.
For example, students involved in visual arts programs can automatically apply for the Dee Johnson Design Scholarship, which awards $2,500 for students in that field, by simply completing a General Scholarship Application.
Any student who has a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma, has enrolled in DMACC classes or has been admitted to the college, has a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher, and is enrolling in a minimum of six credit hours for the fall and spring semesters or four hours for the summer semester is eligible to apply.
DMACC Foundation Executive Director Amanda Nuzum said, “The purpose of these scholarships is to remove financial barriers for students. We want students to know they’re there, so they should apply, and we want students to come to DMACC and stay.”
In the application process, students are asked to answer some short questions and to write some short essays. These essays are reviewed by two local community and faculty volunteers. Each volunteer reads the response, and the average score is the final total.
“We really look for authenticity, especially in today’s world where AI is used so much,” Nuzum said. “The biggest advice I can give students for their essays is to proofread them and make sure the grammar and punctuation are correct.”
The deadline for the first cycle of scholarships is March 1, while the second cycle deadline is July 15. Applying in the first cycle gives students a better chance at getting scholarships, especially with more money given.
Private donors provide nearly all of the funds for the scholarships, and many of them are department-oriented. Meaning students involved in medical work at DMACC can get scholarships specifically for students in that field, for example.
There are still plenty of unrestricted scholarships that any student is eligible for, regardless of major. DMACC Foundation Administrative Assistant Darcy Palan said, “DMACC is always looking to up the funds for more unrestricted scholarships.”
DMACC does have many fundraisers for scholarship dollars, including the Fleur de Lys Gala on April 11, the DMACC CEO Golf Invitational on June 18, the Shrimp & Bingo Fundraiser on August 29, and the DMACC 5k Walk/Run & Kids Fun Run on September 26.
In total, nearly $2 million is given out in scholarships every year, with an average scholarship being worth $1,000-1,500. All of the funds allocated for scholarships are used every year, meaning there is no extra money left over.
“Don’t be scared to apply, it is super accessible and easy,” Palan said. “Every dollar counts, and with the scholarships, you can focus more on school and get a big confidence boost.”
Students with scholarships are 30% more likely to graduate on time, and often retain a 92% credit completion rate, according to a study by Frontiers.
Comments