Robert Holmes Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Southeast Michigan Community Foundation

Introduction
The Detroit Economic Club Scholarship Program helps students from Detroit and the surrounding counties of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne pursue undergraduate education. Each year up to two renewable awards of $2,000 each are available to students beginning college as freshmen in the fall. Recipients may apply for renewal for up to three additional years. The Detroit Economic Club Scholarship Program Advisory Committee assists in selecting awardees.

Background
The Detroit Economic Club Education Endowment Fund was created with contributions from the Detroit Economic Club to provide post‑secondary scholarships to qualifying residents of the metropolitan Detroit area. Scholarship application materials are posted on the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan website: http://cfsem.org/scholarships.

Who is eligible
- Graduates of a high school located in the City of Detroit, or in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties.
- Applicants must be entering their first year of college in the fall as full‑time students in an accredited, tax‑exempt post‑secondary certificate or degree program.

Who is not eligible
- Employees of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and their dependents.
- Members of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Board of Trustees and their dependents.
- Members of the Scholarship Advisory Committee and their dependents.
- Employees of the Detroit Economic Club and their dependents.

Selection criteria
Applications are evaluated based on a combination of academic achievement, personal qualities, and demonstrated need. Factors considered include:
- Consistently strong academic performance in high school or marked year‑to‑year improvement, with an equivalent 3.2 GPA in the last two years or at graduation.
- Leadership and character shown through extracurricular involvement, school and community service, volunteer work, and paid employment.
- Academic honors, class rank, and standardized test results.
- A written personal statement outlining educational plans, career objectives, key motivating experiences, and the applicant’s personal philosophy. Applicants who have overcome significant hardships should describe those challenges and how they were addressed in the personal statement; such applicants will receive special consideration.
- Demonstrated financial need shown by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.gov and submitting a copy of the online FAFSA to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
- Application to, or acceptance at, an accredited, tax‑exempt post‑secondary institution as a full‑time first‑year student.
- Awards are granted without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Award conditions
- If a recipient withdraws from their institution, the scholarship will be cancelled and any unused funds must be returned to the Foundation.
- If a recipient transfers to or takes courses at a different qualified, tax‑exempt institution, the award may continue provided the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is notified in advance of the change.

Payment process
- Scholarship funds are paid directly to the financial aid office (or equivalent) of the enrolled institution in the name of that institution. Funds may be used for tuition or other educational expenses as the recipient designates.
- Payments will be released once all of the following are completed: (1) the recipient signs and returns the Terms of Grant Agreement to the Foundation; (2) the recipient informs the Foundation of the institution they plan to attend; (3) the institution verifies the student’s enrollment; and (4) the institution confirms it will not reduce previously awarded grant aid because of this scholarship, except where required by federal or state law.
- Awards are subject to applicable state and federal tax regulations.

Renewability
- Recipients may apply for renewal for up to three additional years (a total possible four years) while maintaining full‑time enrollment in a degree or certificate program, keeping a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and meeting other program requirements. Renewal is not guaranteed.
- Students denied renewal are not eligible to reapply.
- The Foundation will contact those who qualify for renewal consideration before the end of the academic year in which they received their current award.

How to apply
- Register to access the application portal by February 15 at: https://cfsem.fluxx.io/apply/student
- Complete and submit your application at: https://cfsem.fluxx.io/
- The application deadline is March 15.

For more information and application materials, visit http://cfsem.org/scholarships.