Ford Scholars Program

Each year, up to 120 students throughout Oregon and Siskiyou County, California are selected as recipients of the Ford Scholars Program. The scholarship award is not a set amount, but is calculated to cover 90% of each student’s college costs ($1,000 minimum/$25,000 maximum per academic year) that are not covered by other resources (such as grants and other scholarships), his or her expected family contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and a $1,000 Ford Scholars work expectation. The scholarship can be renewed annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Applicants must be residents of Oregon or Siskiyou County, California, as well as U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. There are two types of eligible applicants: 1) students with a high school diploma or GED, or about to complete high school, and have not attended college full-time 2) students who have completed or will be completing two years at an accredited public or private two-year college, and who will be entering their junior year at a four-year college in his/her home state in the fall of the application year.

Applicants must plan to earn a bachelor’s degree and to enroll full time in the fall of the application year at a public or private, accredited, Title IV eligible, nonprofit college in his/her home state. Students with existing bachelor’s degrees are not eligible for Ford Family Scholarships.

All Ford Family scholarship recipients are subject to a criminal background check. Awards can only be disbursed to recipients with a felony conviction if he or she has completed parole, probation, or any type of post-prison supervision, and has paid any required restitution and/or court fees by August 1st.

Graduate school funding may be an option for Ford Scholars who were awarded the scholarship as an undergraduate and who successfully completed their bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.6 cumulative grade point average (GPA) from their degree-granting institution. For further eligibility requirements, contact the Foundation Scholarship Office.

Below are additional selection criteria for the Ford Scholars Program. The applicant must demonstrate:

Financial need. Each applicant must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and not exceed the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) limit, as established by the Foundation. For 2013, the EFC upper limit is anticipated to be $6,000. Scholarship offers may be rescinded if an applicant's EFC changes prior to fall term/semester of the application year and he/she no longer meeting the financial need criteria. The FAFSA should be filed early in January and must not have a rejected status at the time of the scholarship application review (mid-March).
Leadership skills and leadership roles in his/her school and/or community activities.
A concern for others and a contribution of time and energy to volunteer projects and/or service organizations.
A contribution to personal success through paid work experience.
An ability to clearly communicate about personal strengths and goals and to present ideas clearly and concisely in both the Personal Statements and the required individual interview with a Foundation selection committee.
An ability to succeed in college* as demonstrated by a high school or college GPA of 3.00 or higher, or a GED score of at least 2650. Applicants with less than a 3.00 cumulative GPA or 2650 GED score must have a counselor, advisor, or teacher submit a Special Recommendation as part of the online application.

*Submitting SAT or ACT scores is highly recommended.

The Ford Family Foundation partners with the Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) to administer the scholarship application. Apply for a Ford Family Scholarship at www.OregonStudentAid.gov. The online application is available in the fall of each year.

OSAC’s one online scholarship application offers more than 400 scholarship opportunities. Consult the OSAC website for application materials and additional information about financial aid and scholarships.

Don’t forget that in order to qualify for need-based scholarships, applicants must submit a FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 and before March 1 to be certain it is available in time for the Ford Family Scholarship application review. Submit online at www.fafsa.gov.

Your online application and related materials must be submitted online by March 1. All eligible applications are reviewed and the most qualified applicants are invited to interview in mid-May. Applicant interviews are conducted throughout Oregon.

Please contact:

The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship Office
440 East Broadway, Suite 200
Eugene, OR 97401
Toll free: (877) 864-2872
Local: (541) 485-6211
E-mail: fordscholarships@tfff.org
Fax: (541) 485-6223

Ford Scholars Program

Tips for Completing a Ford Family Scholarship Application