Detroit Economic Club Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Southeast Michigan Community Foundation

Introduction
The Detroit Economic Club Scholarship Program helps students from Detroit and the surrounding counties of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne pursue undergraduate study. Each fall, up to two renewable scholarships of $2,000 each are awarded to students beginning their first year of college. Recipients may seek renewal in each of up to three additional years, when eligible. Award decisions are made with guidance from the Detroit Economic Club Scholarship Program Advisory Committee. Scholarship information and application materials are posted on the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan website: http://cfsem.org/scholarships. The application deadline is March 15.

Background
The Detroit Economic Club Education Endowment Fund was created using contributions from the Detroit Economic Club to provide post-secondary scholarships to qualifying residents of the metropolitan Detroit area.

Who is eligible
- Applicants must be graduates of a high school located in the City of Detroit or in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties and must be entering their first year of college in the upcoming fall term.
- Ineligible applicants include employees of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and their dependents; members of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Board of Trustees and their dependents; members of the Scholarship Advisory Committee and their dependents; and employees of the Detroit Economic Club and their dependents.

Selection criteria
Candidates will be evaluated using the following factors:
- Strong academic performance in high school, or marked year-to-year academic improvement, with an equivalent of a 3.2 grade point average in the final two years of high school or at graduation.
- Demonstrated leadership, integrity, and character shown through extracurricular activities, school and community service, volunteer work, and paid employment.
- Academic distinctions such as honors, class rank, and standardized test results.
- A written personal statement that outlines educational plans and career objectives, explains motivating influences and significant experiences that shaped the applicant’s values and goals, and—where applicable—details any hardships overcome. Applicants who have faced specific adversities should describe those circumstances in the Personal Statement on the online application.
- Demonstrated financial need as evidenced by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at www.fafsa.gov. A copy of the online FAFSA submission must be provided to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan so the Foundation can assess financial need.
- Application to, or acceptance as, a full-time, first-year student at an accredited post-secondary institution that is tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code.
- Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Award conditions
- If a scholarship recipient withdraws from their educational institution, the award will be cancelled and any unused funds must be returned to the Foundation.
- If a recipient decides to enroll in a different tax-exempt institution or transfer from the originally planned school, the scholarship is not forfeited provided the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is notified in advance of the change.

How scholarship payments are made
- Payments will be issued to the Financial Aid Office (or equivalent) of the recipient’s college or university, made payable to the institution. Funds may be used for tuition or other educational expenses as designated by the recipient.
- Disbursement will occur after all of the following have been completed: (1) the recipient has signed and returned the Terms of Grant Agreement to the Foundation; (2) the recipient has informed the Foundation of the college/university they will attend; (3) the college/university has confirmed the student’s enrollment; and (4) the college/university has verified it will not reduce previously awarded grant aid because of this scholarship, unless required by federal or state law.
- Scholarship awards are subject to applicable state and federal tax regulations.

Renewability
- Recipients may apply to renew the award for up to three additional academic years while they remain enrolled full-time in an accredited degree or certificate program, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and continue to meet program requirements. Renewal is not guaranteed.
- Recipients who are denied renewal may not reapply.
- The Foundation will contact applicants who are eligible to request renewal before the end of the academic year in which the current award was received.

How to apply
- Register for access to the application portal by February 15 at: https://cfsem.fluxx.io/apply/student
- Complete and submit your application at: https://cfsem.fluxx.io/
- The final deadline to submit applications is March 15.

If you have questions about the program or need assistance, refer to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan website (http://cfsem.org/scholarships) for details and contact information.