Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation

The Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation is providing need-based scholarships up to $5,000 to students enrolled full-time at any accredited four-year institution.

In order to be eligible & considered for the award, students must:

1. Reside in or be a permanent resident of the state of Louisiana
2. Be an underrepresented minority (Black/African American, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latinx/Hispanic American)
3. Possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
4. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
5. Have demonstrated unmet financial need as verified by your college or university

Application Requirements:

1. Applicants must submit via UNCF’s online scholarship application portal by the November due date. All parts of the application must be completed and submitted by the deadline
2. One letter of recommendation.  The recommender must not be a family member / relative. The Letter of Recommendation (LOR) must be made through the UNCF online Application System and must be received by the application due date. Emailed LORs will not be accepted.
3. Essay – Submit a one-page personal statement regarding your career interests
4. A recent official or unofficial academic transcript

Scholars will be selected on the basis of academic performance, the content and quality of the essay, financial need, and the letter of recommendation.

An email confirmation will be sent to applicants who have submitted complete applications. If you do not receive this email, the application was probably not submitted correctly.

Final awards are also announced by email within 10-12 weeks of the application close date.