Scholarship

GEAR UP VA Scholarship

Members of the 2000-06 cohort began 7th grade at one of the participating GEAR UP schools in 2000-01.

Initial Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Been a member of the original 2000-01 cohort of the GEAR UP project
Provided documentation verifying participation in a GEAR UP/ACCESS Virginia college preparation program
Been enrolled in the 12th grade at a participating GEAR UP high school as of October 30, 2005
Maintained a minimum high school cumulative grade point average of 2.0
Graduated with a standard, modified, or advanced diploma
Taken the SAT or other college entrance exam if required by the participating postsecondary school
Been accepted and enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting, diploma, or certification program at a participating postsecondary school by the fall of 2007
Been eligible for a federal Pell grant as determined by the information submitted on the FAFSA (Non-Pell students were eligible to receive the scholarship due to excess funding)
Been under twenty-two (22) years old at the time the scholarship was awarded
Submitted a GEAR UP scholarship application by March 1, 2006

Students were required to submit the following with their original scholarship application:

Copy of official high school transcript mailed directly from school
Copy of resume
Copy of completed Student Aid Report from the U.S. Department of Education
A separate sheet indicating the GEAR UP activities in which the student participated, including the dates and descriptions of the activities
A letter of recommendation from a school official

Scholarship Renewal Criteria

To maintain continued scholarship eligibility, students must reapply annually and meet all of the following requirements:

Submit a completed renewal application package by the specified deadline
Continue to enroll at least half-time each term in an undergraduate degree-seeking program, diploma, or certification program at a participating postsecondary institution
Remain in good academic standing with institution and for purposes of financial aid as determined by the institution
Must not have exceeded the maximum length of eligibility (The scholarship is renewable for a total of 4 years after the initial award or until a student earns a first-time bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.)

To be provisionally eligible for the scholarship, students must submit a completed renewal application and a sealed, official transcript to show proof of good academic standing and continuous enrollment history. Transfer students must also submit a copy of their acceptance letter from their new institution before the scholarship can be transferred.

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