Introduction
Dorothy A. Swope Foundation provides financial scholarships to support high achieving students attending tuition-based schools through the Dorothy A. Swope Scholars Fund.
Honoring the legacy of a master educator, the Dorothy A. Swope Foundation is dedicated to furthering the life-changing potential of education. We believe that dedicated, high-achieving students should have every opportunity to flourish in an environment that challenges and supports them. Through the Dorothy A. Swope Scholars Fund, we provide crucial financial scholarships to support talented students attending tuition-based elementary schools. This fund helps to alleviate financial burdens for families, allowing young scholars to focus on achieving their academic best while benefiting from a quality education.
Eligibility
- Applicant must currently attend a tuition-based school in Chicago, Illinois.
- Award winners must be enrolled as a full-time student for the 2023-2024 school year and maintain a minimum 3.0 (out of a 4.0) or 4.0 (out of a 5.0) grade point average.
- Excellent attendance record with no more than 3 excused absences or tardies.
- Since this is a needs-based scholarship, applicants must be able to express in their application how the scholarship will help to alleviate financial burden.
- Each award winner is required to submit a grade report for the school year for which the scholarship is awarded. The report will be considered if the recipient applies for the scholarship again in the future.
- Scholarship recipients must be able to attend a recognition event.
Criteria: Applicants will be selected based on the following
- Scholastic ability
- Financial need
- Personal character
Scholarship
Scholarship Range: $500 + annually. Number of Awards: Approximately 6 per year (up to 2 scholarships for each school).
Number of Awards: Approximately 6 per year.
How to apply
For an application to be deemed complete and considered by the Selection Committee, it must include the following:
- A completed application packet that lists all honors, awards and/or recognitions received by the applicant, a description of their career goals, and any special personal or family circumstances affecting the applicant’s need for financial assistance.
- A video introduction (1-2 minutes).
- A written response to the essay prompt that follows the guidelines listed below for the applicant’s grade level:
- Grade Levels K-2: Written response to the essay prompt could consist of an applicant created picture with a caption. There should be evidence that the student applicant created the picture.
- Grade Levels 3-5: Written response should consist of a two-paragraph typed essay to the essay prompt.
- Grade Levels 6-8: Written response should consist of a one-page, three (3) to five (5) paragraph typed essay to the essay prompt.
- Official letter from the current school that the applicant attends that verifies the grade point average.
- A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s teacher, school administrator, school staff, coach, or club sponsor. No recommendations from family members will be accepted.
The Scholarship Selection Committee comprises the Board of Directors of the Dorothy A. Swope Foundation and foundation managers shall make the selection of each scholarship recipient. The scholarship disbursement shall be made directly to the institution for the benefit of the scholarship recipient. The scholarship must be utilized within one year of the date of the award.