Essay Information

Your essay may include information such as the following: 

• your background: family, activities, and hobbies

• your educational and life goals: what you hope to accomplish during your time at SAU and your career plans

• your need for financial assistance: what about your circumstances makes it difficult or impossible for you to attend college without additional assistance

Note: The award committee is aware that receiving a scholarship may relieve you and your family of financial obligations, reduce your need to work, and possibly allow you to avoid borrowing money. Mention these circumstances if they are essential to your story.

Note of Appreciation Requirement

All recipients must write a thank you message to the donor of the scholarship. The following items are provided to assist you in composing your message:

• A donor provided this scholarship to help students like you. Please tell the donor what this scholarship means to you personally as well as financially.

• Your donor – an alum, parent, or friend — gave to SAU because it influenced their life or the life of someone dear to them. Please tell the donor how attending SAU is meaningful to you or has changed you.

•  SAU alumni and donors have many different life experiences, and they are interested in what you are planning to accomplish. Please share your plans.

• The SAU community is important to your donor. What activities are you participating in on campus and how are these activities affecting your campus experience?

General Information

• SAU Foundation Scholarship Awards are supplemental funds that do not generally provide full tuition and/or housing.
• SAU Foundation Scholarships Awards are for one semester or one school year based on funds available. Recipients who wish to be considered for the next school year must re-apply.
• Awards funded by endowments will repeat each year although the amounts may vary.
• Awards funded by annual gifts will repeat when the donor renews his support.
• Students who wish to apply for SAUF Scholarship Awards should fill out the SAUF Scholarship online application and with the required essay.

Eligibility

• Each scholarship award may have specific criteria. Generally, applicants should be full-time, degree-seeking students who have been accepted by or are currently enrolled at SAU.
• Preference is given to students who are not over-awarded [not receiving full financial aid].
• Faculty may recommend students for the awards. Students may attach faculty recommendations to their applications.
• Students who have taken out loans to cover their cost of attendance remain eligible for additional awards that may reduce their student loan balance.

Award Process

• Scholarship awards will be made by the Scholarship Committee, consisting of representatives from the Admissions Office, Financial Aid Office, and SAU Foundation, in consultation with such other faculty/staff as they deem appropriate.
• SAU Foundation will notify the recipient of the award and that they are to write a meaningful and appropriate thank you letter/note to their donor. Guidelines for the note are available on this website.
• The student will deliver the note to SAU Foundation, which will forward the note to the donor with a letter of thanks.
• Funds will be released to the student only after the thank you note is delivered.

Review Process

• Specific criteria for each scholarship
• Grade point average and/or ACT scores
• Academic progress in the major field
• Leadership abilities and involvement
• Financial need