Footsteps Scholarship Application

Academic Year 2023-2024

Footsteps is very pleased to announce our annual scholarship program. We urge all Footsteps members who are either applying for the first time or returning to institutions of higher education (e.g. college/university; undergraduate or graduate degree programs) to complete this application.  

Please note:  Application Deadline is Thursday, May 18, 2023. 

Footsteps Scholarship Mission Statement

The Footsteps scholarship provides core support for those who are following their intellectual curiosity and their academic and career goals.  Our goal is to make higher education accessible for our members so that they can experience this essential gateway to mainstream society and so that they can be economically empowered and self- sufficient. 

Eligibility Requirements*

To apply for a Footsteps scholarship, all applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Be a Footsteps member
• Come from an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Priority will be given to applicants who had limited access to secular education
  • Priority is given to undergraduate applicants working towards their 1st Associates or 1st Bachelor’s degree  
  • Limited funding is available for graduate or post graduate degrees 
  • Priority is given to applicants seeking access to secular education for the first time
• Be enrolled in an accredited academic institution (college or university), working toward a degree within a degree-granting program
  • Footsteps scholarships only support students studying in the USA or Canada
  • Footsteps does NOT support study in foreign academic institutions
  • Enrollment in “not-for-profit” schools is preferred, however, “for profit” schools will be considered on a case by case basis
• Be in good academic standing 
  • Our funders define this as a minimum GPA of 3.0 – please note that exceptions to this requirement have been made by funders depending on individual circumstances
• Scholars are only eligible for up to 6 years of Footsteps’ scholarship funding for their undergraduate degrees and up to 4 years for their graduate degrees

* Exceptions to the above mentioned criteria are always considered.

Review Process and Distribution of Awards

The Footsteps Scholarship Committee is comprised of Footsteps’ dedicated board members and volunteers. The committee members screen and evaluate all applicants and make decisions as to who is eligible to receive a Footsteps scholarship. Interviews may be required for some applicants at the discretion of the committee. The interviews will to be decided mutually between the candidate and committee member.  

Applicants will be notified by mid-August 2023 if they have been awarded a scholarship.  Scholarship award checks are made out to the college/university to cover tuition and other educational expenses.  Awards are divided into two payments – the fall semester award is mailed in mid-October; the spring semester award is mailed in mid-February. If the student’s account balance is paid in full prior to receiving the check, Footsteps asks the college/university to refund the award amount directly to the student.  

Staff is available to help Footsteps members apply and answer all scholarship application questions.

Expectations

Receiving a Footsteps scholarship is an honor.  If selected by the scholarship committee, you will become a representative of Footsteps. 

We encourage you to get involved in the Footsteps community and our programming. A list of ways you can get involved in the Footsteps community is available upon request.  

Upon receiving a Footsteps scholarship, we will ask you to sign a letter of agreement. 

If you have any questions, please contact scholarships@footstepsorg.org

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

1. Answer all questions on the scholarship application – write N/A (N/A = not applicable) when a question does not apply to you.  It may be beneficial to type out the answers to the essay questions prior to completing the application.  Then you can copy and paste them into the essay field. (If you need help filling out your application or writing essays, contact scholarships@footstepsorg.org so we can find a tutor/staff member to work with you.)
2. Don’t forget to hit the “SUBMIT” button!  Your application will not be reviewed unless it is officially “submitted.” You should receive an email to confirm that your application has been submitted. If you do not receive an email, please revisit your portal to check you application status.
3. Returning students, must submit a copy of their Spring 2023 transcript that shows classes taken to date and cumulative GPA along with an end-of-year reflection from last semester. We are aware that you may not have your grades by the application deadline.  As soon as you receive your spring 2023 transcript, submit it using your application portal. The deadline to submit your transcript is July 27th to be considered for a scholarship. (An unofficial transcript, e.g. a screenshot of your transcript from your student accounts page, is acceptable provided it has your name and student ID listed on it.)
4. All students must submit a copy of their Fall 2023 Proof of Enrollment or tuition bill that shows your name, student ID number, school’s name, and proof of their enrollment in the fall semester. The deadline to submit your proof of enrollment is July 27th to receive a scholarship. A tuition bill usually works best.