UMPS CARE Charities All-Star College Scholarship

The All-Star Scholarship is open to children adopted at or after the age of 13 (or who have exited foster care to permanent guardianship) to provide increased opportunities for advanced education. Each year, one student will be selected to receive the scholarship. This student will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 annually to go towards tuition, books, and other college-related expenses.

UMPS CARE continues to work with our scholarship recipients to help ensure lifelong success. Each recipient is paired with an MLB umpire and his family who mentor these students through their college years. Scholarship winners receive phone calls, care packages and on-field experiences at Big League ballparks to meet umpires and learn more about hard work, sacrifice and giving back.

How the scholarship works:

Application Requirements:

• A completed application that includes four short answer/essays written by the student.
• Three letters of recommendation. Letters should reflect the writer’s knowledge of the student’s achievements, improvements, and personal needs.
• Teacher/ Administrator: One letter should represent a teacher or administrator who is familiar with the student’s work and accomplishments.
• Personal Reference: The second letter should come from a significant person in the child’s life (i.e. social worker, coach, mentor, etc.).
• Parent: The parent letter should highlight the growth the student has shown since adoption. ​
• The student’s most recent high school transcript and a copy of first semester’s grades. The student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• A copy of the Student Aid Report (FAFSA). Visit the web for complete FAFSA details including deadlines at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• A copy of the student’s adoption or legal guardianship paperwork.
• If the student’s college or university requires submission of ACT/SAT scores for admission, a copy of the score report from the applicable testing agency

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must have been adopted or exited foster care to permanent guardianship at or after the age of thirteen (13)
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA Application.
• Applicants must be incoming or current college students, age 21 or younger at the time that the application is submitted, accepted to or attending an accredited college or university located in the United States.

UMPS CARE may award one or more grants of up to $5,000 each semester (for a maximum of $10,000 per school year, and up to $40,000 in total for a 4-year enrollment) to each student who is selected as a scholarship recipient, subject to continued compliance with the maintenance standards below. UMPS CARE will determine the amount of such grant in its sole discretion, taking into account theapplicant’s actual financial needs, as demonstrated by the FAFSA application and any other supplemental financial information provided by the applicant.

​Requirements to Maintain Scholarship:

A student’s ongoing eligibility to receive grants during their college enrollment shall be subject to the following requirements.  Our standards align with Federal Grant standards:

• Minimum 2.5 GPA during school if your GPA falls below 2.5 your scholarship will be considered ‘under review’ by the scholarship committee and additional actions will be required
• Submit grades and proof of registration for subsequent classes at the end of every semester
• Uphold an ethical code of conduct personally, academically and professionally
• Maintain communication with UMPS CARE staff and/or your mentor throughout each semester​
• Provide supplemental financial information as requested by UMPS CARE