Resources for Alumni Volunteers

Alumni Scholars Program

Training Document and Program OVERVIEW

The Alumni Scholars Program (ASP) serves as an outlet for alumni clubs to help alleviate financial burdens for local students. It gives clubs the opportunity to recruit exemplary students from their area and encourage them to attend The Ohio State University.

• We suggest that clubs award a minimum of $1000 from their Ohio State account.

• Active clubs with a current use account may also be able to award $600 of university money.  The university money is NOT A MATCH to what the club awards.

• Clubs with endowment accounts do not have access to the university $600 scholarship.

• Students must sign in the ScholarshipUniverse on the Financial Aid website with their name.#  https://osu.scholarshipuniverse.com/ and if they match the club scholarship criteria, they are able to apply for the club scholarship.  Students only need to have applied to Ohio State, they do not need to be accepted to Ohio State in order to apply in ScholarshipUniverse.

• Additional information on scholarships and financial aid at Ohio State can be found at sfa.osu.edu. For questions, contact Leslie Smith, Smith.6863@osu.edu, 614-292-6576 at the Alumni Association.

Who is Eligible?

ASP is a merit-based program. Financial need is not a component unless specifically stated in the club’s fund description. The Office of Undergraduate Student Financial Aid awards recipients based on the recommendations of a club’s scholarship committee.

Eligible students should:

• Apply to Ohio State by November 1. It’s preferable that a student is admitted to the University but not required.

• Have a record of performance in activities both in school and in the community.

• Impress the scholarship committee with a sound interest and positive attitude toward college work.

• Be residents or attend high school in the area in which the participating alumni club’s membership is based. (See fund description.)

The scholarship committee may recommend a currently enrolled undergraduate or transfer student to be awarded the University-funded $600 scholarship if no entering freshman is attending Ohio State from the club area. If the scholarship is from club funds, it must be in accordance with any current use or endowment description.

Renewal awards for upper class students can be made as long as they comply with the club’s endowment description.

Ohio State student athletes (varsity and walk-on) may be eligible to receive a club scholarship. Each case will be reviewed by The Athletic Compliance Office to determine if the student can keep the club scholarship.

Get Started

1. Download current forms from the Alumni Groups website. Never use old forms.

2. Select your committee, brief them on procedure.

3. Email the “Information for the Students and Counselors” with the application link to guidance counselors in the club area.

The projected available balance to award will be sent to the scholarship leader in February.

The Selection Process

1. Students complete the online application between November 1 and February 1.

2. Submitted applications will be sent to the club scholarship leader.

3. Review applications. Your committee can make recommendations based solely on applications or by phone interviews only. Virtual and in-person interviews are an option.  There are very particular guidelines that must be followed.  See ASP Scholarship Forms for process and forms required.  They are time sensitive. 

4. Evaluate applicants using the ASP Score Sheet.

5. Email the following items to Leslie Smith, smith.6863@osu.edu by March 1 or as soon as possible.

· Cover sheet

· Entering freshmen rankings and Alternate entering freshmen rankings

· If appropriate, currently enrolled Ohio State student rankings and Alternate currently enrolled student rankings

The club recommendations to The Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid are not final until they post awards to recipient’s Buckeye Link account. This process takes place in March for entering freshmen and late May for currently enrolled students.

Money

Financial Aid will not begin the process without money in the club’s account to cover the award(s).  Mail a club check using the Gift Processing Form to:

Ohio State Foundation lockbox, The Ohio State Foundation, PO Box 710811, Columbus, OH 43271-0811. Notify Leslie Smith of the date sent and amount of check.

*Send club scholarship fund-raised monies in to OSUAA twice a year, by June 30 and December 30.

Important Contacts

Leslie Smith, Stewardship Coordinator Alumni Scholars Program
E-mail: smith.6863@osu.edu
Phone: (614) 292-6576