SCHOLARSHIP FAQ
IMPORTANT
NESA announces a change to the 2013 scholarship submission deadline. The new deadline for submissions is December 31, 2012. Please be sure you have the current version of both scholarship applications, which are posted at www.nesa.org.
Due to the overwhelming number of scholarship applications we receive each year, our regional and area committees have requested more time to review the applications before selecting recipients. Moving the deadline up a month is the only way to ensure that our committees can reach a decision and recipients can be notified in time to make their college arrangements.
General Questions
Do I need to be a member of NESA to apply for a NESA scholarship?
Yes. Applicants must be a NESA member or apply for NESA membership on or before December 31, 2012 in order to apply for an Eagle Scout scholarship. Memberships may be purchased online at http://www.nesa.org/membership.html, or submitted by mail. A check and completed membership form may be attached to the scholarship application when submitted.
Other requirements for the scholarships are listed on the applications.
How many scholarships does NESA offer?
NESA offers two types of scholarships: the Hall/McElwain merit scholarships, and the Cooke academic scholarships. In 2012, NESA awarded 86 merit scholarships and 65 academic scholarships.
The Hall/McElwain merit scholarship is based on leadership ability in Scouting and a strong record of participation in activities outside of Scouting. The Cooke academic scholarship is based on academic participation, Scouting participation, and financial need. Academic scholarships range in size from $2,500, to one scholarship worth up to $50,000. Merit scholarships are awarded based on the amount of money in the NESA scholarship fund, and range in size from $1,000 - $2,500.
Can I win both scholarships?
You may apply for both scholarships every year you meet the eligibility requirements, but you may only win one scholarship from NESA. If you are selected as a finalist for both scholarships, you will be awarded the higher scholarship amount and the lower amount will be awarded to an alternate winner.
Do I need to submit separate applications to apply for the various scholarships listed on the back of the application?
No. One application covers them all, although applicants for the STEM scholarship will be required to attach additional pages to the application.
If a STEM or UHF applicant is not selected for either of these scholarships, he is still eligible to receive one of the Cooke or NESA scholarships worth $2,500 to $48,000.
It says that I need to apply through the region where I earned my Eagle rank. What does that mean?
NESA scholarships are awarded by regional selection committees. This is the region where you earned the rank, not the region where you currently live. Please leave this area blank and staffers at the national office will determine which regional selection committee should review your application. There is no need to contact the national office for this information.
Do you offer scholarships to graduate students?
No, not at this time.
Can I apply if I’m going to a community college?
No. As stipulated by the scholarship donors, NESA scholarships are awarded to Scouts attending four-year colleges only.
Why aren’t NESA scholarships available to students attending military academies?
As stated on the applications, NESA scholarships are not available to students attending any of the U.S. military academies, because at these academies, expenses covered by NESA scholarships are already paid by the United States government. Scholarships to the U.S. military academies are typically worth up to $450,000 each, and a NESA scholarship could make the difference in whether another Scout will even be able to attend college.
Do I need to list the Post Office Box and street address when I mail the application to NESA?
Yes. The mailing address is listed exactly as it needs to appear on the envelope for mail to reach us. The national office has been at this address for over 30 years.
I enclosed a self-addressed, stamped postcard with the application and it was returned and stamped several weeks after the deadline date. Does that mean the application was received late?
NESA goes by the postmark, so packages mailed and postmarked on or before December 31, 2012 will be accepted. NESA receives about 5,000 applications each year and 4,500 of those applications are postmarked the day of the deadline and received the week after the deadline. It takes our staff weeks to open 4,500 envelopes and sort through the attachments. We stamp the date on the postcard the day the envelope is opened and the contents accepted.
Notification
When will the winners be notified?
Winners will be notified by mail as soon as the finalists are selected. Winners are typically contacted by mid-July. Please do not contact NESA to inquire about your scholarship status. Winners will be notified as soon as possible. We will not award a scholarship to an alternate winner until the finalist has been contacted and given the chance to accept or decline the award. There is no need to assume that an acceptance letter was lost in the mail because we will make numerous attempts to contact you, your parents, your council, and your Scoutmaster until we reach you.
Do you notify the applicants who do not win?
No. If you were not a finalist, you will not be contacted. NESA does not have the resources to contact all 5,000 applicants. Winners will be notified by mail in mid-June and the list of winners will be posted on NESA.org by August 1.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
General Questions
Do I need to fill out an application for each scholarship listed on the back of the application?
No. You only need to fill out one form to apply for all of the scholarships listed on the back of the application (Cooke, STEM, United Health Foundation, and NESA). If a STEM or UHF applicant is not selected for either of these scholarships, he is still eligible to receive one of the Cooke or NESA scholarships worth $2,500 to $48,000.
Do I fill out one form for the NESA and Elks scholarships?
If your application lists an Elks scholarship on the back of the form, this form is outdated, as the Elks Foundation has not awarded scholarships through NESA since 2007. Please click http://www.nesa.org/2013_scholarships.html to be directed to the official NESA scholarship page with links to the current forms. For more information on Elks scholarships, contact your local Elks lodge using the lodge locator at http://www.elks.org/.
Requirements
1. Be an Eagle Scout having passed the board of review on or before December 31, 2012.
I found several versions of your application online. Some list a February 28 deadline. Some list a January 31 deadline. Which one is current?
The deadline for submissions is December 31 each year. Any scholarship listing a February 28 or January 31 submission deadline is outdated and will be disqualified, as the requirements have changed numerous times since these printings of the form. The Internet is full of abandoned websites that continue to post outdated applications. NESA cannot control these sites, and cannot make exceptions for Eagle Scouts who receive bad information from another source. Always refer to NESA.org when downloading the current scholarship applications. If you find an outdated application on another site, please consider messaging their webmaster to have them remove the form, as any Scout who uses an outdated form will be disqualified.
Do I need to have my Eagle Scout credentials from the national office to apply?
No. NESA has access to the Eagle Scout database. We can check to verify that your rank application has been processed. We do not need proof that you’ve attained the Eagle rank.
My board of review is scheduled a few days before the deadline. Should I apply by December 31, or should I apply for the next year’s scholarship?
If you pass the board of review on or before December 31 during your senior year of high school, you must apply in 2012 even if the board falls within days of the deadline. You should fill out the application and have it ready to mail as soon as you pass the board. The application only needs to be postmarked by December 31 – not received by the national office. If your board of review is delayed past December 31, you will still be able to apply between October 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013. Please contact your local council to check on the status of your rank application if you have concerns that your Eagle Scout rank application has not been approved by the national office. NESA is an alumni association and does not process the Eagle Scout rank applications.
2. Submit applications that are postmarked after October 1, 2012, but no later than midnight on December 31, 2012. Use sufficient postage.
Does the application need to be postmarked by December 31, 2012, or received in your office by December 31, 2012?
Requirement 2 states that the application must be postmarked no later than midnight on December 31, 2012. Applications that are postmarked on or before December 31, 2012 may be received by NESA after that date with no penalty whatsoever. In addition, since a postmark is a requirement, local residents may not drop off an application at the national office address as this does not meet the requirements, and is fruitless since the deadline is determined by the postmark, not the delivery date.
Can you extend the submission deadline if I can’t get the application in the mail on the day it’s due?
No, NESA will not extend the deadline or accept any applications postmarked after December 31 for any reason. NESA scholarship applications are posted at NESA.org on October 1 of each year, so the majority of applicants have three months to fill out the paperwork and send it to NESA. Unfortunately, applicants often wait till the last minute to fill out the applications, then request that NESA extend the deadline when weather interferes, or materials cannot be secured on time. This is unfair to the thousands of Eagle Scouts who made a commitment to apply on time. A deadline for scholarship application submissions must be set and enforced in order for them to proceed to the next stage of review.
If the Post Office is closed on December 31, does that mean I can wait to have it postmarked after the holidays?
No. The submission deadline is December 31 every year. If December 31 falls on a Sunday or a holiday, the applicant should plan ahead to submit the application before the holidays, or select another mail service that will postmark a letter on December 31.
Can I fax or email my application to NESA?
No. NESA requires a printed copy of each scholarship application and attachments because the NESA scholarship selection committees prefer to work from hard copies of the applications. We do not have the resources to print thousands of pages of documentation received as email attachments. In addition, the majority of applicants wait till the last minute to apply, which would fill up the NESA inbox and overload our fax machine when thousands of applicants try to submit their application at 11:55pm on December 31. Processing scholarships is one of dozens of projects NESA undertakes daily, and we must have access to our fax machine, copy machine, and email to send and receive NESA membership applications, contracts, council and committee correspondence, and other paperwork that is essential to the operation of NESA at a moment’s notice.
3. Apply during the senior year of high school.
When can I apply for the scholarships?
Cooke scholarship applicants must apply during their senior year in high school unless the Eagle Scout board of review was held after the December 31, 2012 submission deadline. In those cases, the applicant must apply by December 31, 2012 even if he is already attending college. If a four-year scholarship is won by an applicant who is already attending college, the monies will be paid retroactively to qualifying college semesters.
4. Provide a transcript of high school grades covering a minimum of six semesters. (The transcript need not be “official” and may be a photocopy.) The transcript must include your cumulative GPA.
My transcript covers more than six semesters. Is that okay?
Yes. Any number over six as fine as long as it includes at least six semesters.
Does the transcript need to be sealed or sent directly from the school?
No. Any photocopy of the transcript is acceptable. If you receive it sealed from the school, please open it and attach it (or a photocopy) as a single sheet to the application. This saves our staff valuable time. Each applicant must sign the last page of the application, which states that “the use of false information will result in termination of the scholarship and could expose you to civil or criminal charges.” If you sign the application, this is sufficient proof that the materials you submit are accurate and have not been altered.
5. Have an SAT composite score of at least 1800 and/or an ACT composite score of 28. Applications will not be considered if the minimum scores are not met.
The Cooke scholarship application requests verification of my SAT or ACT scores. What documentation is acceptable?
NESA does not communicate with the College Board or ACT, Inc. to verify each score on all 5,000 scholarship applications we receive each year. That is why we require verification from an educational institution that has previously verified the information with the test administrators. Documentation could include a copy of your high school transcript, a copy of the paperwork sent from the College Board or ACT, Inc., or any other paperwork you can acquire from an educational institution to verify your scores. Results need not be on an official form, or an original copy, and can be printouts from an online source.
Do the SAT and ACT scores need to be sealed or sent directly from the College Board or ACT, Inc.?
No. Any documentation from an educational institution is acceptable. This includes “unofficial” scores printed from online sources. The scores need not be sealed or sent directly from the test administrators and, in fact, NESA requests that you open and attach any scores to the scholarship application as this saves our staff valuable time. We do not check with the College Board or ACT, Inc. to verify scores or inquire whether they were sent to the student in a sealed envelope. Each applicant must sign the last page of the application, which states that “the use of false information will result in termination of the scholarship and could expose you to civil or criminal charges.” If you sign the application, this is sufficient proof that the materials you submit are accurate and have not been altered.
Will you accept an application that does not meet the minimum SAT or ACT score? My son is very smart, but he doesn’t test very well.
All applicants for the Cooke academic scholarship must meet the minimum test score requirements. No exceptions will be made. Each year over 50,000 Scouts earn the Eagle rank. Of that number, 5,000 meet the minimum test scores set by the scholarship donors. These applicants are some of the top achievers in their schools and communities and only 150 will receive a NESA scholarship. NESA receives so many top-quality applicants that we must set minimum requirements to narrow the field down to those who are the most well-rounded.
How do you calculate the SAT and ACT scores?
The minimum SAT score is currently 1800, and the minimum ACT score is currently 28. The scores do not need to be the most recent scores, just the highest scores achieved on any test taken at any time. The current SAT scoring system consists of three 800-point section scores. If the test was taken multiple times, the applicant may choose the higher section score from any test even if the different scores come from tests taken in different years. Example: If you took the SAT three times and your highest math score was received in 2010, highest writing score in 2011, and highest critical reading score in 2012, you can pluck the best score from each year.
The directions say to attach no more than eight pages to the application, but my test scores have ten pages. What do I do?
Include only the information requested on the application. This page limit was set to prevent applicants from attaching resumes, newspaper articles, Eagle project workbooks, and assorted documentation that has no effect on the scoring. We only need the sheet listing the score, not additional pages explaining the SAT or ACT’s scoring methods.
6. Have demonstrated leadership ability in Scouting and a strong record of participation in activities outside of Scouting.
When it asks for a list of activities I’ve been involved in outside of school and Scouting, how far back can I include?
The intent of this requirement is to assess each candidate’s recent participation and should include only those extracurricular activities done during the high school years. NESA scholarship candidates are not assessed based on their elementary or middle school performance.
7. Complete the Financial Need section of this application. It must be signed by the applicant and countersigned by the parent. Do not send W-2 forms.
I’m 18 years old. Do I still need to have my parents sign the application and financial needs statement?
Yes. This is required by all Scouts who apply and will not be enforced surreptitiously for some Scouts and not for others. Faxes, scans and photocopies of the signed letters and application are acceptable if the applicant’s parents are not available to sign the original paperwork in person.
8. Provide one signed recommendation letter from a volunteer or professional Scout leader who knows the applicant personally and list Scouting title on the letter. This is the only endorsement required. Endorsements from teachers, counselors, etc., will not be accepted.
How long does the reference letter need to be?
There is no minimum or maximum length required. The length of the letter should be of adequate length to clearly express your reasons for recommending this candidate for a scholarship. For those curious, the average length is usually a page to a page and a half.
I’ve been asked to write a reference letter for a Scout who wants to apply for a NESA scholarship. What should I write?
The reference letter serves the same purpose that a job or college reference letter serves: to present the qualifications of a candidate to a person, or persons, who may not know the individual. This might include the candidate’s character, work ethic, spiritual beliefs, community service, or school or troop participation. Write what you’d want to read if you were responsible for selecting a few scholarship winners from thousands of submissions.
Will the Scout see the reference letter I write?
All reference letters are destroyed after judging is complete. We have no way to prevent the Scout from reading your letter before we receive it unless you seal it in an envelope and request that the Scout submit it with the application unopened.
Can I request a copy of my son’s reference letter?
No. We do not share this information with anyone other than the selection committee. All applications and attachments are destroyed immediately after judging is complete. We want an honest opinion of the candidate and the only way to achieve this is to treat each reference letter confidentially.
Does the reference letter need to be sealed when I send it with the application?
No. Detaching and opening 5,000 sealed reference letters eats a large percentage of the limited time we have to review the applications. It helps us immensely when the reference letter is attached to the scholarship application as a single sheet.
Can I use the same reference letter for both scholarships?
Yes, you may submit a photocopy of the reference letter to meet the requirements for both applications.
Additional Requests
I forgot to attach a page to the application. Can I send it separately?
You may send additional information separately with a note of explanation, but we cannot guarantee that staffers will be able to match it to your application. To ensure that we receive all of the material you intend to submit, you may attach the missing sheet to a photocopy of the original application and submit a second application packet. You will not be penalized for submitting a second packet.
Can you verify that you received my scholarship application in time?
No. NESA staffers often spend more time responding to these requests than we spend processing the applications. Thousands of applicants are waiting for us to reach a decision to make their college plans, and our time is best spent choosing a winner rather than searching through thousands of applications to ensure that one made it to our office intact or on time. That is why we recommend that applicants send their application by registered mail, with a tracking number, or with a self-addressed, stamped postcard or envelope. It only takes us a few seconds to stamp your postcard and drop it back in the mail to you to verify receipt of your application.
Will you notify me if my packet is missing any of the requirements?
No, this is the applicant’s responsibility. Following the directions is part of the requirements to apply for the scholarships. It is also an impossible task as the majority of applications are received after the December 31 deadline. It would not be fair to give applicants extra time to resubmit their application after the deadline because they did not follow the directions the first time.
MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
General Questions
Do I need to send a high school transcript or test scores with the Hall/McElwain scholarship?
No. This scholarship was created to reward Scouts for their volunteer service to Scouting and the community and does not use test scores or financial need to select recipients. Please do not include test scores as this information is not used when judging the applications.
Do I need to fill out a second application to apply for the Palmer scholarship?
No. The two $2,500 Palmer scholarships are awarded to the top two merit finalists and requires no special application or additional judging.
Requirements
1. Be an Eagle Scout having passed the board of review on or before December 31, 2012.
Do I need to have my Eagle Scout credentials from the national office to apply?
No. NESA has access to the Eagle Scout database. We can check to verify that your rank application has been processed.
My board of review is scheduled a few days before the deadline. Should I apply by December 31, or should I apply for the next year’s scholarship?
If you pass the board of review on or before December 31, you must apply in your senior year of high school even if the board falls within days of the deadline. You should fill out the application and have it ready to mail as soon as you pass the board. If your board of review is delayed past December 31, you will still be able to apply for a merit scholarship the following year and every year up till your junior year in college. Please contact your local council to check on the status of your rank application. NESA is an alumni association and does not process the Eagle Scout rank applications.
2. Submit applications that are postmarked after October 1, 2012, but no later than midnight on December 31, 2012. Use sufficient postage.
Does the application need to be postmarked by December 31, 2012, or received in your office by December 31, 2012?
Requirement 2 plainly states that the application must be postmarked no later than midnight on December 31, 2012. Applications that are postmarked on or before December 31, 2012 may be received by NESA after that date with no penalty whatsoever. In addition, since a postmark is a requirement, local residents may not drop off an application at the national office address as this does not meet the requirements, and is fruitless since the deadline is determined by the postmark, not the delivery date.
Can you extend the submission deadline if I can’t get the application in the mail on the day it’s due?
No, NESA will not extend the deadline or accept any applications postmarked after December 31 for any reason. NESA scholarship applications are posted at NESA.org on October 1 of each year, so the majority of applicants have three months to fill out the paperwork and send it to NESA. Unfortunately, applicants often wait till the last minute to fill out the applications, then request that NESA extend the deadline when weather interferes, or materials cannot be secured on time. This is unfair to the thousands of Eagle Scouts who made a commitment to apply on time. A deadline for scholarship application submissions must be set and enforced in order for them to proceed to the next stage of review.
If the Post Office is closed on December 31, does that mean I can wait to have it postmarked after the holidays?
No. The submission deadline is December 31 every year. If December 31 falls on a Sunday or a holiday, the applicant should plan ahead to submit the application before the holidays, or select another mail service that will postmark a letter on December 31.
Can I fax or email my application to NESA?
No. NESA requires a printed copy of each scholarship application and attachments because the NESA scholarship selection committees prefer to work from hard copies of the applications. We do not have the resources to print thousands of pages of documentation received as email attachments. In addition, the majority of applicants wait till the last minute to apply, which would fill up the NESA inbox and overload our fax machine when thousands of applicants try to submit their application at 11:55pm on December 31.Processing scholarships is one of dozens of projects NESA undertakes daily, and we must have access to our fax machine, copy machine, and email to send and receive NESA membership applications, contracts, council and committee correspondence, and other paperwork that is essential to the operation of NESA at a moment’s notice.
3. Be a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate college student no later than completion of the junior year. You may receive the scholarship one time only.
What do you consider the junior year? I spent several semesters at a community college before attending a university.
If you are working on your bachelor degree, and still have at least one year left before graduation, you may apply for the Hall/McElwain merit scholarship. Eagle Scout scholarships were created to assist Scouts with college bills that might normally prevent them from attending college at all. Seniors may not apply because they have found a means to complete their education. In addition, seniors would be graduates by the time the scholarship winners have been selected.
4. Have demonstrated leadership ability in Scouting and a strong record of participation in activities outside of Scouting.
When it asks for a list of activities I’ve been involved in outside of school and Scouting, how far back can I include?
The intent of this requirement is to assess each candidate’s recent participation and should include only those extracurricular activities done during the high school years. NESA scholarship candidates are not assessed based on their elementary or middle school performance.
5. Provide one signed recommendation letter from a volunteer or professional Scout leader (please list Scouting title on the letter) who knows the applicant personally. This letter should attest to the general character of the applicant. This is the only endorsement required. Endorsements from teachers, counselors, etc., will not be accepted.
How long does the reference letter need to be?
There is no minimum or maximum length required. The length of the letter should be of adequate length to clearly express your reasons for recommending this candidate for a scholarship. For those curious, the average length is usually a page to a page and a half.
I’ve been asked to write a reference letter for a Scout who wants to apply for a NESA scholarship. What should I write?
The reference letter serves the same purpose that a job or college reference letter serves: to present the qualifications of a candidate to a person, or persons, who may not know the individual. This might include the candidate’s character, work ethic, spiritual beliefs, community service, or school or troop participation. Write what you’d want to read if you were responsible for selecting a few scholarship winners from thousands of submissions.
Will the Scout see the reference letter I write?
All reference letters are destroyed after judging is complete. We have no way to prevent the Scout from reading your letter before we receive it unless you seal it in an envelope and request that the Scout submit it with the application unopened.
Can I request a copy of my son’s reference letter?
No. We do not share this information with anyone other than the selection committee. All applications and attachments are destroyed immediately after judging is complete. We want an honest opinion of the candidate and the only way to achieve this is to treat each reference letter confidentially. If you have access to the reference letter before mailing it in, we recommend that you make a photocopy at that time.
Does the reference letter need to be sealed when I send it with the application?
No. Detaching and opening 5,000 sealed reference letters eats a large percentage of the limited time we have to review the applications. It helps us immensely when the reference letter is attached to the scholarship application as a single sheet.
Can I use the same reference letter for both scholarships?
Yes, you may submit a photocopy of the reference letter to meet the requirements for both applications.