SCHOLARSHIP STIPULATIONS

-The Mary Smathers Ward Scholarship is an annual scholarship.

  Application can be made on a yearly basis while enrolled as a full-time student in an

  Institution of higher learning.

-The amount of each award will be determined by the amount of available funds created

  by interest earned on the principle of the endowment.

-The Committee will determine the amount of awards based on the declared needs

  documented by each student.

-Based on the number of applicants, the level of awards will be determined by a base line

  amount which will be established by the committee.

-The Committee has the discretion to give special attention to the needs of seminary

  students, as well as to applicants who exhibit exceptional financial need.

-The Committee maintains the discretion to cap the award amounts in the event of a low

  number of submitted applications.

-Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student in an institution of higher learning.

 An institution of higher learning is defined as a college; university; post high school

 vocational program; or graduate program.

-Applicants must be a member of First United Methodist Church. (The Committee

 maintains discretion to give special consideration to non-members based on their

 current active involvement at First United Methodist Church, Vero Beach, Florida.)

-Advertisement of application availability, deadline dates, etc., will be made through the

 bulletin; Circuit Rider; and, on the FUMC web site.

-Scholarships will be awarded no later than September 1 of each academic year.

-In the event of a low number of applicants, the Committee may choose to extend the

 deadline date and re-advertise application availability.

APPLICATION PROCESS

-An application form must be completed and filed at the FUMC Office by the stated

 deadline.

-An application form is required for each year of higher education enrollment.

-Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

-Applications submitted after the published deadline date will not be accepted.

-Scholarship awards may be used for tuition, books, college fees and room

  and board.

-Scholarship awards will be paid directly to the institution of higher learning.

-The Committee maintains discretion to reimburse individuals who have pre-paid tuition upon    submission of a paid receipt from the institution of higher learning.

-A letter of reference (from a teacher or FUMC church staff member) must accompany

 the application of first-time applicants.

-Applications for the Freshman Year must include a copy of a letter of acceptance 

 from the Institution of Higher Learning.

-A statement of Faith/Church Membership must be included as part of the application.

-Notification of awards will be made by a personal phone call and/or by a mailed   

  letter.

-If, for some reason, a recipient leaves school prior to the end of the second semester

 (or last quarter) of the academic year, a prorated amount, of the award, should be

 returned to the Scholarship Fund of First United Methodist Church.