Golden Valley Lodge No. 616 Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Vasa Order of America Golden Valley Lodge No. 616

1. At the January business meeting, Golden Valley Lodge No. 616 will designate a chairperson for the scholarship. This chairperson will form a Scholarship Committee, consisting of at least three members, to handle the application process and selection of scholarship winners. It is important to note that no committee member should have any familial ties with any of the applicants.
2. This year, Golden Valley Lodge No. 616 has set aside $30,000 for scholarship purposes.
3. The Scholarship Committee has the authority to distribute scholarships in three different categories each year:
   1. A maximum of $4,000 can be awarded to a full-time undergraduate student attending a four-year university.
   2. A maximum of $3,000 can be awarded to a full-time student at a junior college, a vocational student, or a graduate student.
   3. A maximum of $1,000 can be awarded to a part-time student, regardless of their academic level. Full-time is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours, while part-time is defined as a minimum of 6 credit hours.
4. Students who have previously received scholarships can reapply in subsequent years, subject to certain restrictions. Since the scholarship program's inception in 2002, the total amount awarded to any individual cannot exceed $18,000, regardless of the scholarship category or criteria in place at the time of the award. If the total allocation for this year surpasses $30,000, priority will be given to applicants who have received $15,000 or less in total.
5. Applicants must have been members of Golden Valley Lodge No. 616 for at least a year prior to the announcement of the award. There are no age restrictions for recipients.
6. Applicants are required to submit their most recent official transcript. They must also provide either a Letter of Acceptance from their chosen accredited educational institution or proof of enrollment for the upcoming school year.
7. Each applicant must submit an essay of no more than 1000 words along with their application. The topic of the essay will be determined by the committee.
8. Applicants must also provide a letter of recommendation from a current board member of GV Lodge.
9. All scholarship applications and accompanying documents must be postmarked by October 1st. If awarded, the scholarship will be presented at the Golden Valley Lodge No. 616 Christmas Celebration in December. The recipient or a family member must be present to accept the award.
10. The committee will follow these guidelines when awarding scholarships:
    • Grades: up to 30 points
    • Essay: up to 15 points
    • Participation in GV Lodge activities: up to 30 points
    • Recommendation from a current GVL Board member: up to 15 points
    • Grade completion: up to 10 points, with 5 points awarded per year. To be eligible for a scholarship award, an applicant must score at least 60 points.
11. The scholarship funds will be paid directly to the student.
12. The scholarship is intended to cover direct school-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment. The student is required to provide documentation of these expenses for the relevant school year.
13. The recipient is expected to attend the award presentation at Golden Valley Lodge No. 616's Christmas celebration. If the recipient is unable to attend due to distance, scheduling conflicts, or travel costs, a family member may accept the award on their behalf, subject to the committee's approval.