Who Can Apply

Applicants apply for one of three need-based awards:

Richardson Scholar Awards: Highly competitive, 4-year awards of up to $7,500 per year (depending on recipients' unmet need). Applicants must be HS seniors with financial need who meet high academic, leadership and service standards. All Richardson applicants will be considered for all of our most prestigious awards.They will also be automatically considered for all other Scholarship Foundation awards.

Scholarship Foundation Awards: Awards renewable for 2,3, or 4 years sponsored by Scholarship Foundation of Indian River County, other community organizations and individuals. Applicants must be HS seniors with financial need who have demonstrated the ability and desire to succeed in college. Academic standards for these awards are set below those for Richardson Scholar applicants. Recipients are selected from the strongest candidates in the applicant pool.

College Student Awards: Awards renewable for 2 or 3 years for upcoming AA/AS degree recipients attending community college as well as students already pursuing a BA/BS degree who have an established track record of success in college.

Scholarship Qualification. All applicants must...

• Have strong academic and extracurricular and/or work records that demonstrates readiness to succeed in college.
• Have financial need and realistic plans for paying for the college they plan to attend. Our awards supplement a student' family funding, college scholarships, and loans. We grant awards only where the awards will help close a realistic gap.
• Plan to be a full-time student at an accredited public or private college or university (earning at least 12 credits/semester).
• Be residents of Indian River County and plan to maintain legal residency in IRC for the duration of any award received.
• Be graduates of an in-county high school or one that serves county students; a graduate of IRSC residing in Indian River County; a GED recipient living in Indian River County; a home-schooled student residing in Indian River County.
• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is strongly recommended that families file the FAFSA as soon as possible after the system opens. Due to FAFSA changes this year, the system is not scheduled to open until December. We and the colleges you are applying to need error-free FAFSA/SARs by our deadlines, and it can take time to work through the process and issues that may arise. You will also benefit from knowing how much aid your SAI (Student Aid Index, the new name for EFC), which will help you understand the financial aid you may be qualified for.
• Submit a Part One: Eligibility Screen by January 31, 2024 and Part Two: Full Application by February 9, 2024 and Online Intake Interview no later than February 14, 2024. See How to Apply for application instructions and forms.
• Attend a Student and Parent interview, accompanied by a parent or guardian (unless the student is confirmed as "independent" on their Student Aid Report (SAR).
• Attend the Awards Ceremony on May 14, 2024 at St. Edward's School, if invited. Must be present to get any award.

...and meet the academic requirements for the type of scholarship they apply for:

• Richardson Applicants: Must meet the Bright Futures requirements for an Academic Scholar Award and have a score of at least 29 on the ACT or 1330 on the SAT (combined math and evidence-based reading and writing) and have an unweighted academic GPA of 3.5. Must be a graduating HS senior who will be a freshman at a 4-year college. Call our office if you have questions about your eligibility, as exceptions are sometimes made due to extraordinary circumstances.
• Scholarship Foundation Award Applicants: Must have a minimum score of 22 on the ACT or 1110 on the SAT (math and evidence-based reading and writing) and have a minimum unweighted academic GPA of 3.0.
• College Student Applicants: Must be 1) a spring or summer 2024 candidate for an AA/AS degree from IRSC with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or 2) a college student who will have earned at least 48 college credits (post high school) by the end of the spring 2024 semester with a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or 3) a college student with fewer than 48 credits but at least 24 credits by end of spring 2024 semester who meets the current academic requirements for HS seniors based on their high school transcripts and scores (3.0 unweighted GPA and 1110SAT/22ACT).