Additional Information for Students and Counselors
What are the eligibility requirements for CFWNC scholarships?
Our scholarships generally serve students in the Western North Carolina region. Each scholarship has its own specific eligibility criteria, which is usually based on where the student lives or goes to school (and may also include where the student plans to attend college or what they plan to study). To learn more, please visit the Scholarship Directory. You can use the Filter by Region option on the directory to filter eligibility by individual county, the 18-county region (Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey, and the Qualla Boundary) or the 29-county region (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey, and the Qualla Boundary).
Can I apply to a scholarship if I don’t meet all the eligibility requirements?
No, applicants must meet all eligibility requirements to be considered for a scholarship. Eligibility requirements are stipulated by fund establishers when a scholarship fund is created and are mandatory.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
Scholarship applications open in early November each year. At that time, an online application link will be available on each scholarship webpage in the directory. CFWNC partners with SmarterSelect to manage our online scholarship applications. To apply, you will need to create a user account with SmarterSelect.
What information do I need to complete a scholarship application?
You will need your most recent transcript, your test scores (SAT or ACT), your household financial information (if financial need is a criteria of the scholarship), a personal statement, a list of your top 3 college choices, a resume or activities list, and two contacts that will submit letters of recommendation on your behalf. Some scholarships may also require an additional essay.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes, we encourage you to apply for all scholarships for which you meet the eligibility requirements.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for each scholarship is located on the scholarship webpage in the directory. You can also find a list of application deadlines here. Students must submit their applications online by the stated deadline, and deadlines INCLUDE the two required letters of recommendation. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
For scholarships that consider financial need, is there a specific financial need criteria that I need to meet to apply?
No, there is not a specific financial need criteria that you must meet to apply. For scholarships that consider financial need, a student must provide general information regarding their household’s finances. This information will be considered along with the other selection criteria for the scholarship. Students are also strongly encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) within approximately one month of the scholarship application deadline. Students may be asked to provide their FAFSA Submission Summary to document financial need.
What happens after I submit my application?
Following the application deadline, staff screen applications for eligibility and completeness. A committee of volunteer community members then review applications according to selection criteria. In some cases, you may be invited to interview for a scholarship. You will be contacted via an email and/or text (if you opted in to receive texts) from the online SmarterSelect system if any additional action is required from you. After the scholarship committee’s review is complete and recipients have been selected, CFWNC will then notify both recipients and non-recipients via an email and/or text from SmarterSelect. We strive to notify all recipients and non-recipients by the end of April.
I am a recipient of a CFWNC scholarship. What happens next?
Congratulations! In addition to being notified through SmarterSelect, you will also receive an award letter in the mail that you must sign and return to accept the scholarship. Additionally, you must fill out an electronic payment designation form (sent to your email) indicating the school you plan to attend. Recipients can choose from all accredited nonprofit post-secondary two- and four-year colleges, universities, and vocational schools in the United States unless otherwise specified in the scholarship’s criteria. Scholarship payments are sent directly to schools in the summer for the upcoming academic year.
Questions about Scholarships?
Contact Amber Harrelson-Williams
Scholarship Officer
828-367-9916