Florida 4-H Scholarships

The Florida 4-H Foundation provides over $30,000 in scholarships and National 4-H Trip Awards to 4-H members each year. 4-H youth compete for these scholarships through an application and portfolio process. Donors who support the 4-H program establish the amounts and quantities of scholarships offered. Youth may not apply for scholarships which they have previously been granted.

DEADLINES

The application process is open April 1 through June 1.

Completed references are due June 1, no later than 4 pm. Members are strongly encouraged to submit their reference contact information as soon as possible and well in advance of submitting their scholarship application. This will allow your references time to respond before June 1.

4-H Scholarship Applications are designed to help senior 4-H members (ages 14-18) identify and document skills and achievements they have gained over the course of their 4-H career. Youth will learn how to prioritize and summarize their accomplishments while creating professional documents.

Each year 4-H seniors are encouraged to complete and submit a scholarship application to the Florida 4-H State Office. Many awards, educational trips and college scholarships are given to 4-H members on the basis of their skills and achievements.

DECISION PROCESS

Upon submission of your Scholarship Application, a committee will review your application and decide who will be invited for an interview. Interviews will take place 2 weeks before 4-H University. Please check the State Calendar for Interview dates. Interviews are conducted online.

After careful deliberation, the interview team will select the appropriate winners of the scholarships and National 4-H Trip Awards from the cumulative score garnered from a youths application and interview score. Winners will be recognized at the 4-H University Awards Banquet. Attendance is highly encouraged, however, Scholarship and Trip recipients are not required to be present to receive an award.

Candidates are encouraged to apply for any applicable scholarships, but will only be awarded a maximum of three (3). The Presidential Scholarship is excluded from the previously mentioned award cap.

PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENT

Payment of scholarship funds is made directly to the accredited college, or university, or technical/trade school, or 529 account on behalf of the recipient. In the event of special education needs, payment of scholarship awards can be directed to the recipient upon prior approval of the Associate Dean for 4-H. Under these conditions an IRS Form 1099-MISC will be filed with the Internal Revenue Service and with you for the calendar year in which it is received.

Procedure for receiving a National 4-H Trip Award

Member will become a Florida 4-H Delegate for the National Trip they are awarded.  They will be contacted by the state office regarding travel plans and conference details.  Youth can learn more about the National 4-H Trips by visiting the following:

• National 4-H Congress
• National 4-H Conference

CONDITIONS GOVERNING STATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND NATIONAL 4-H TRIP AWARDS

A scholarship and/or National 4-H Trip Award shall be used within one (1) year of the date of the award. In the event that the scholarship is not used within the year of limitation, the winner must present in writing to the Assistant Dean for 4-H a request for time extension. Failure to do so will result in a forfeiture of the scholarship.