Scholarships

Our scholarships are made possible by the generous help of local businesses, people, civic groups, churches, and organizations that care about supporting our students. We are very thankful for their support. Their help makes a big difference in our community and can change the lives of families. The scholarship application period is January 1st through March 1st (at 11:59 pm). Please read the details below to learn more about how to apply for our scholarships.

Scholarship Information – Please read before applying

To be considered for a college scholarship, you must complete and submit the online application by 11:59 pm on March 1st EST. You can log in as many times as you need. Your entries will be automatically saved, but you can also click SAVE DRAFT at the bottom of the application. When you’re ready to submit, click APPLY at the bottom.

All required fields (marked with a red asterisk) must be completed, and you must upload the necessary documents to finish the application and be considered for a scholarship.

Our scholarships are funded by local community donors, including individuals, businesses, civic organizations, and churches. We have strict guidelines for awarding these scholarships, so please answer each question carefully and thoughtfully. Our panel of reviewers will use your answers to choose the right applicants for these scholarships. There is only one application to fill out. You will be notified in April if you’ve been selected and invited to the Community Achievement Celebration in May. Checks are available after you submit your completed Scholarship Agreement and a "thank you" letter to your donor, usually after July 4th.

Eligibility Requirements:

All applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and meet one of the following requirements:

Be a high school graduate as of May 2026 or a previous graduate from a school in Bartow County and enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university, or technical school during the current academic year.
Be a home-schooled student who has lived in Bartow County for 3 years or more and enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university, or technical school during the current academic year.
Be a GED student who has lived in Bartow County for 3 years or more and enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university, or technical school during the current academic year.
Be a non-traditional student who has lived in Bartow County for 3 years or more and enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university, or technical school during the current academic year.

NOTE: Proof of residency may be requested if you are not a graduate of a Bartow County high school.

Application Process and Materials Needed:

You will need a username and password to complete the online application.
The Application Checklist below lists the required documents. Upload these documents in PDF format.
The student applying for the scholarship must fill out and complete the application and essay. It should not be done by the parent or anyone else. Not following this rule can lead to immediate rejection of the application.
Office hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The office is closed on Fridays.
All documents must be received electronically by 11:59 pm on March 1st EST. Late applications or documents will not be considered.
If your application is missing documents or has errors close to the deadline, we cannot help you resolve these issues, and your application will be incomplete. Start early!
For help with your application, reach out to our Future Center Advisor at each high school campus, email [email protected], or contact our office before the deadline.

Checklist for High School Senior and Dual-Enrollment Applicants:

Complete the basic scholarship application online.
Submit an official high school transcript through the online application.
Provide a copy of your official ACT and/or SAT scores.
Write a 500-word essay about your educational and career goals, how the scholarship would impact you, and what you want to achieve in college and beyond. Include any leadership or work-study experience, citizenship, and service to others. Explain anything that helps the selection committee understand your desire to advance your education or challenges you face. It's best to write the essay in Word and then copy and paste it into the application. Essay space is included in the application.
Include a copy of one college acceptance letter from an accredited college, university, or technical school.
Include a copy of the current Student Aid Index (SAI)* for those applying for need-based scholarships. After completing the FAFSA, you will get a SAI showing the Student Aid Index (SAI).
Any SAI not received by 11:59 pm on March 1st EST will make the application eligible for merit-based scholarships only, limiting the scholarships for which you are eligible.

NOTE: The application for government financial aid is available at www.fafsa.gov. All students applying for need-based scholarships MUST complete and upload this form into the application.

Checklist for Current College Students:

All scholarships require an application EVERY year.
Submit a copy of your transcript and current spring semester schedule proving full-time status (showing the number of credit hours). We no longer accept transcripts emailed directly to our office. You must upload a copy of your transcript into the application.
Write a 500-word essay about your educational and career goals, how the scholarship would impact you, and what you want to achieve in college and beyond. Include any leadership or work-study experience, citizenship, and service to others. Explain anything that helps the selection committee understand your desire to advance your education or challenges you face. It's best to write the essay in Word and then copy and paste it into the application. Essay space is included in the application.
Include a copy of the current Student Aid Index (SAI)* for those applying for need-based scholarships. After completing the FAFSA, you will get an email notifying you that your SAR is available, showing the Student Aid Index (SAI).

Any SAI not received by the deadline will make the application eligible for merit-based scholarships only, limiting the scholarships for which you are eligible.

NOTE: The application for government financial aid is available at www.fafsa.gov. All students applying for need-based scholarships MUST complete this form.

Checklist for Home-Schooled Students:

Complete the basic scholarship application online.
Include a copy of your acceptance letter from an accredited college, university, or technical school that you plan to attend.
Include a copy of your Home Study Program Declaration of Intent.
Include a copy of your Annual Assessment Report supporting your GPA.
Provide a copy of your official ACT and/or SAT scores.
Write a 500-word essay about your educational and career goals, how the scholarship would impact you, and what you want to achieve in college and beyond. Include any leadership or work-study experience, citizenship, and service to others. Explain anything that helps the selection committee understand your desire to advance your education or challenges you face. It's best to write the essay in Word and then copy and paste it into the application. Essay space is included in the application.
Include a copy of the current Student Aid Index (SAI)* for those applying for need-based scholarships. After completing the FAFSA, you will receive a SAI showing the Student Aid Index (SAI).

Any SAI not received by the deadline will make the application eligible for merit-based scholarships only, limiting the scholarships for which you are eligible.

NOTE: Application for government financial aid is available at www.fafsa.gov. All students applying for need-based scholarships MUST complete this form.

Claiming your scholarship check:

The Etowah Foundation will notify you if you have been named a scholarship recipient around mid-April. You will receive an invitation to the Community Achievement Celebration held in May, where scholarship details are given out.
You will receive a Scholarship Agreement form with required steps to accept your scholarship.
Once all documents are received by our office, a check will be issued, and can be picked up or mailed to you.
All checks are payable to both you and the college and must be deposited by the college or institution.
All checks are made in one disbursement. Check with your school's financial aid office to understand how they handle scholarship money for each semester.

Frequently Asked Questions – Scholarship Application

(Q): How do I log-in again if I have forgotten or lost my username and password from last year?

(A): Use your last known email address. Request a reset of your password if necessary. If this doesn’t work, log-in using a new email address.

(Q): What if I can’t complete the application in its entirety? Can I come back to it?

(A): Yes. Before you leave the application, click the “Save Draft”. You may log-in as many times as you need to complete the application. When you are completed with the application, click APPLY.

(Q): I answered all the application questions, but cannot submit successfully?

(A): Did you answer all the required fields marked with a red asterisk? Are you using reliable WiFi? In some cases unreliable WiFi will cause the curser to spin and not complete the process.

(Q): I’m a college student, do you still need my high school transcript, ACT/SAT scores or Letter of Acceptance?

(A): No, just your college transcript, plus your spring schedule proving full-time status. If you are in a gap year, you will need to provide your high school transcript.

Other Scholarship Resources:

www.gafutures.org
www.bestcolleges.com/financial-aid/
www.reviews.com/best-scholarship-search-platforms/
www.fastweb.com
www.scholarships.com
www.scholly.com
www.studentscholarships.org
www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org
https://studentloans.net/guide-to-paying-for-college/
www.affordablecolleges.com/resources/paying-for-college-without-parents
www.affordablecolleges.com/resources/financial-aid-guide/
www.affordablecolleges.com/resources/fafsa/
https://www.discoverbusiness.us/resources/accounting-degree-scholarships/
https://www.discoverbusiness.us/resources/business-degree-scholarships/

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