4. Obtain one letter of recommendation that focuses on your abilities, grades, work, community service, etc.  Obtain a second letter of recommendation that focuses on your personal qualities. Letters of recommendation should not be specific to a particular scholarship, but please read the criteria listed on each scholarship for qualifications.

5. Include in your application a two-page personal essay (double-spaced).  Follow directions on page 4 of the application.  Examples of what you might want to include in your essay:

• Write about something (an experience, a person, a social or political issue or an organization) that is important to you and explain why.

• Describe an experience where you attempted to help, lead or serve others and were unable to do so. Explain what you learned about leadership, volunteering, or community service, and what you would do differently next time.

• Bill Daniels, the founder of the Daniels Fund, once said "A challenge will often bring out the best in people and enable them to find courage and strength they never even knew they possessed." In these uncertain times, there is always a chance you might find yourself in a similar situation. Describe a challenge or unusual circumstance in your life and how you responded to and learned from it.

• This answer will give you an opportunity to provide information not gathered elsewhere in this application. Describe how the experiences you have had, the people you have met, and the activities you have joined have prepared you to reflect and honor the high standards required of a PCC scholarship recipient.

• Be sure to include specific statements as required by some scholarships

6. Submit the complete package. Make sure all requested items are turned in all together and on time. If we do not receive a complete package, you will not be eligible for a scholarship. THE COMPLETE PACKAGE IS DUE APRIL 11, 2008. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Impact on Financial Aid
Because scholarships are considered resource funds under state and federal guidelines, scholarship awards become a part of the student's financial aid package.  Therefore, an award letter will be sent to the student from the PCCF office indicating the scholarship.  The student must complete the Scholarship Agreement and return it immediately together with the thank you letter/note in a stamped envelope to the PCCF office.  After the PCCF office has received the signed Agreement and thank you letter/note, the student must sign a Third-Party Agreement with the Cashier's Office.  If the Third-Party Agreement is not signed by the recipient, the scholarship will not be released.

Disbursement of Scholarship Funds
Scholarship funds will be credited against any charges with Pueblo Community College (PCC) after the student has successfully completed classes per donor's instruction (i.e., GPA and credit hours).  Any balance remaining will be available to the student.  In some instances, the scholarship donor may make the checks payable to the student and/or PCC and must be endorsed by the student.

Availability
Endowed scholarships are available each year.  Annual scholarships awarded may vary from year-to-year. 

Full and Part-time Attendance
Unless otherwise noted, all scholarship award amounts are based on full-time attendance at PCC (12 or more credit hours per semester).  All part-time recipients must attend a minimum of six credit hours per semester.

Thank you Letters
A very important aspect of participating in the scholarship program is to thank the donors who have made the scholarship(s) possible.  Scholarship funds will not be awarded until the scholarship recipient prepares a thank you letter/note and is delivered to the Foundation Office.  Thank you letters must be delivered to the PCCF office with a stamped envelope at the time of returning your signed Scholarship Agreement.  The Foundation Office will forward the thank you letters to the donors.  You may wish to include the following points in your thank you letter:

• Express your appreciation for the award
• Explain how the scholarship will assist you
• Share your educational and career goals

Scholarship/Donor Reception
The PCCF Scholarship Committee mandates that the scholarship recipient attend a Scholarship/Donor reception which is held in October.  This is the time to meet the donor and thank them in person.  Invitations will be mailed to all scholarship recipients three weeks prior to the event.  If recipient has not received an invitation they are expected to call the office at 549-3314.  The reception will always be held between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.