Community Foundation Now Accepting Scholarship Applications
The Outer Banks Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications online. The scholarship application deadline (for both applications and letters of recommendation) is Saturday, March 20, 2021 11:59 PM EDT. We have 55 different scholarships available, and about $178,000 to give away this year. We look forward to getting your application!
How to Start: CLICK HERE to begin your application. This link will take you to our singular common application. We use a “common application” for ALL our scholarships, so you only must complete our application once.
Create an Account: You must create a (free) account in the system in order to apply. By creating an account, you can save an incomplete application, and log back into the system later to complete it. To log back into the system to finish your application, go to www.smarterselect.com, click login, enter the email and password for your account, and you will see your application, including it’s status incomplete, pending, and submitted.
Common Application: Students complete one common application for all Community Foundation scholarships. This singular application includes all your financial information, academic information, extracurricular information, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. You will need to upload your most current transcript into our application form. Ask your guidance counselor for an electronic copy. You may use an “unofficial transcript” for this purpose.
Letters of Recommendation: We require two letters of recommendation. The application form will prompt the applicant to identify two people to submit letters. The system will automatically email your recommenders once you enter their email addresses. It is the applicants’ responsibility to ensure that their recommenders upload their letters by the March 20 deadline. We regret that late letters cannot be accepted.
Need-Based Awards: Though many of the Community Foundation’s scholarships are merit-based, the majority of awards consider financial need. For the need-based awards, students should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and upload the resulting Student Aid Report into their application. Students whose citizenship status prevents their completion of a FAFSA (e.g., DACA students) may still be considered for need-based awards, they can, in place of a SAR, upload a document that outlines their financial need. Please reach out to us or your guidance counselor for further instructions.
Students start your applications today! Our application closes on Saturday, March 20 at 11:59 pm. Unfortunately, late applications are never accepted. All scholarship winners will be announced at their school’s Senior Awards Night in May or June.
