Rhode Island 4-H Club Scholarships

All applications and accompanying documents must be postmarked by June 16th or hand-delivered to the State 4-H office at East Farm, Kingston by 5:00pm on Friday, June 16th. However, unless someone is in the office, the doors will be locked, although you can leave the application in a sealed envelope in the plastic bin to the right of the front door. But, it's better to mail or email your application.

Some of the requirements may take time to obtain, such as letters of recommendation, signatures and transcripts.  These requests should be made early in order to meet the deadline of June 16th.  

Applications must be completed by typing your responses into the online form.  The application can be also be downloaded from the Foundation web site: www.ri4hclubfoundation.org  

Answer all the questions completely.  If your application is submitted with omissions, such as signatures (an electronic signature is acceptable if you submit by e-mail), transcripts, or letters of recommendation, the application WILL NOT be accepted.  The application must be complete.

Our scholarship funding is awarded primarily on academic achievement and 4-H involvement, but we may also take financial need into consideration. If you wish to include a Current Financial Aid form (FASFA) with your application, you are welcome to do so.  

Please be assured that the ONLY individual that will have access to the Financial Aid Form will be the Executive Director of the RI 4-H Club Foundation.  The form or your family’s financial status will not be distributed to or shared with members of the Scholarship Committee.  The Executive Director alone will review the Financial Aid form and report to the Committee, in very broad terms, whether or not the Committee should take financial need into consideration.

Who is eligible?

1. Present or former Rhode Island 4 H members with at least 1 year in 4-H and who now continue to volunteer within the 4-H organization or serve 4-H in some capacity.
2. Graduating high school seniors, current undergraduate and graduate level students who are:
   • Accepted or enrolled in an accredited college or technical school. Undergraduates must be taking at least 12 credits in the Fall 2023 semester, and at least 6 credits for grad students.
   • A student in good academic standing who has achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better in the past and continues to achieve at least a 2.5 GPA in the Fall 2023 semester.
3. Eligibility for financial need based funding will be based on financial aid forms (FAFSA). To be considered, applicants MUST submit a FAFSA form with their scholarship application.

Your application must include:

1. 4 H Scholarship Form – type your responses in the online form.  The application form is in Microsoft Word format and can be downloaded from www.ri4hclubfoundation.org.  Enclosing your Financial Aid form (FAFSA) will cause us to consider financial need in addition to your academic and 4-H activities. Please note: applicants that have applied in past years MUST update their application form to include more recent info and achievements.
2. Current Transcripts or copies of transcripts of high school grades (or post secondary school grades if applicable) must be signed by an appropriate official or sent in an official format. (A current semester GPA of at least 2.5 or a B average is required for scholarship consideration).  Home schooled students may submit a one page summary of their portfolio along with their SAT scores (if taken) and any exams taken that show proficiency in high school level subjects.
3. Two letters of recommendation:

• One from someone knowledgeable about current academic performance (Graduate level applicants may submit a professional letter of reference) and one from someone knowledgeable about your 4 H work, including your current work as a 4-H member and/or volunteer; previous year’s recommendation letters will not be accepted.  
• Recommendation letters must be dated within the last 12 months (anytime after June 16, 2022)
• Recommendations submitted by e-mail will be allowed, but the email must be sent directly to the 4-H Club Foundation (dimondi4@etal.uri.edu) from the writer, rather than forwarded by the applicant.