Hearthstone Housing Foundation

Many students struggle to obtain a college degree due to the rising costs of education. To address this need, the Hearthstone Scholarship Fund was established in 2009. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $5,000 and are available to students who reside in a Hearthstone property or in the surrounding community.

Eligibility

• Be from a low-income household or demonstrate financial need
  • Low-income limits are determined by HUD. See current limits here
• Be 15-25 years of age as of 3/31/2023
• Be a resident of:
  • a Hearthstone Housing Foundation property or
  • a county where a Hearthstone property is located​
• Be one of the following during the 2023-24 school year:
  • a full-time high school student requesting support for any of the following:
    • college preparation courses
    • fees related to the college application process
    • other academically enriching activities
  • a full-time undergraduate student attending a college, university, or vocational school​ in the United States
    • Please Note: Funds may not be used for graduate studies or studying abroad​​
• Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA for current high school students or a 2.75 GPA for current college students
• Be available for a phone interview in May 2023

Personal Statement

Your personal statement should supplement the information you have already provided on your application and allow the committee members a greater understanding of the experiences that have shaped you, your growth and your academic and professional goals.

Your statement must include:

• Your goal(s) – either personal, professional, or academic
• Your plan to achieve your goal(s)
• How the scholarship funds awarded by Hearthstone Housing Foundation will be used
• The steps you have already taken towards your goal(s) – for example relevant extra-curricular activities

The committee will be reviewing your personal statement for the above as well as your overall writing quality. Additionally, you will be graded on how well you demonstrate:

• Community-Mindedness
• Persistence / Overcoming Obstacles
• Initiative / Leadership
• Financial Need

Formatting: Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disqualification.

• One page, single-spaced, with one-inch margins
• Typed in 12-point Times New Roman font
• Include your name in the top, right corner

Please note: If you are a renewal applicant, you must submit a new personal statement that incorporates your growth and experiences over the past year. Submitting a copy of last year’s personal statement will result in automatic disqualification.

Letters of Recommendation

You will be required to submit two (2) letters of recommendation written by professional or academic references. Common references include teachers, employers, coaches and club advisers.

Formatting: Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disqualification.

Each letter of recommendation should:

• Not exceed one page in length
• Be signed by recommender
• Be dated within past 12 months
• Be written on letterhead or include recommender’s verifiable contact information