Gordon A. Rich Memorial Scholarship

Gordon A. Rich was a committed supporter of people of lesser means and limited opportunities. While he was alive, he donated enormous amounts of his incredible energy, passion and resources to help improve their conditions. The Gordon A. Rich Memorial Foundation (GAR) intends to carry on that commitment.

Requirements and Selection Process

1. Applicants must be dependent children of full-time employees in the financial services industry (commercial banks, investment banks, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, fund and asset management companies, credit card and finance companies and similar businesses as determined by the Foundation). Employees must be presently employed with at least five years of experience working in the financial sector.
2. Students must be graduating high school seniors who are enrolling as full time first year students in pursuit of a four-year bachelor's degree at an accredited college/university in the United States.
3. Students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and rank in the top 20% of their class.
4. Students must demonstrate financial need.
5. Students must be a US citizen or legal resident.

Continuing Eligibility/Renewal Requirements

The Gordon A. Rich Memorial Foundation requires an annual review of each scholarship award to determine renewal eligibility. Recipients must maintain full-time enrollment status and be in good standing with their college to have the award renewed for the next academic year. GAR Scholars are expected to exhibit satisfactory citizenship in both the academic community and in the community at large. Therefore, recipients may not be on any form of academic probation or suspension. In December of each year, a renewal form is sent to each recipient. In April of each year, a letter is sent to each recipient requesting confirmation of full-time enrollment status and intent to maintain that status, a current academic transcript, and a detailed update on the courses, projects, and activities with which the recipient has been involved during the current award year.

Selection Criteria for "GAR Scholars"

• Academic record and grade point average
• High school activities and demonstrated leadership
• Responses to questions on the application form
• Demonstrated financial need

Academic Talent

GAR Scholars must have high grades; not necessarily the highest, but in the top 20%. It is essential that the applicant has already demonstrated academic excellence and/or creativity in some subject area of inquiry. An example would be experience or achievements in research. GAR is looking for students who have challenged themselves with their academic programs and who demonstrate a passion for learning.

Extracurricular Activities

GAR is seeking the student with an "extra dimension" which can often be demonstrated through extracurricular activities. GAR considers both "well-rounded" people who have contributed in many different ways to the lives of their schools or communities as well as those who have pushed a single endeavor to the highest level of recognized achievement. Extracurricular successes can come in virtually limitless forms. Examples include athletics, community service, media and journalism, and the visual and performing arts.

Financial Need

GAR Scholars must demonstrate financial need. GAR's mission is to help excellent students with financial need to face less educational debt on graduation. GAR scholarships will enable a student to have more time to concentrate on the academic and extracurricular opportunities that made them GAR Scholars in the first place.

Financial need will be determined by examining the information provided by each student on the application.

Overall

There will be no such thing as a "typical" GAR Scholar. GAR Scholars will all have certain similarities: exceptional talent, dynamism, passion and financial need. But as a group they will reveal a diverse mix of activities, interests and accomplishments as well as religion and ethnicity.