Reaching Your Potential

Awards
EducationQuest selects scholarship recipients in the fall and spring. Individual scholarship amounts range from $2,000 to $6,000 annually and are renewable based on satisfactory academic performance. Scholarships for part-time students are prorated.

Student Eligibility Requirements
The scholarship is open to current or future college students who meet the following qualifications:

• a Nebraska resident
• a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
• referred by a Nebraska community agency or college
• seeking their first certificate, diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree
• enrolled in and attending a Title IV-eligible course of study at a Nebraska college within six months of receiving the award
• completed the FAFSA and eligible for a Pell Grant
• not in default on a student loan or owe repayment on a student grant

In addition:
• Current college students must have at least two semesters or two quarters remaining in college or, if enrolled at a two-year college, intend to transfer to a four-year Nebraska college.
• High school students must be in the final semester of their senior year.

Referring Students
If you have students with the desire and potential to go to college but face significant obstacles, refer them to the Reaching Your Potential scholarship program. Each college may refer three students and all referrals must be submitted by the financial aid office.

Submit your referrals using the Application Referral Form below. EducationQuest will mail an application to the students.

This scholarship is not available to the general public so please do not publicize this program on your Web site or bulletin board. We rely on the referral system to find students who best fit the intent of the program. Do not refer fellow employees, family, or friends.

Deadlines

Online Referrals		Postmark for Student Application
March 21		April 1
September 21		October 1

Disbursements
Recipients selected in the fall receive a prorated award for the current academic year. EducationQuest will disburse funds in December.

Recipients selected in the spring will receive an award for the upcoming academic year. EducationQuest will disburse those funds in August.

EducationQuest commits funding to recipients through completion of their program. Renewal awards are disbursed in August. Verification forms are sent to the financial aid office to verify student eligibility. Students must:

• maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your institution, and
• be enrolled at least half-time as defined by your institution.

Scholarships can be used for all educational expenses. The Reaching Your Potential scholarship should NOT replace any financial aid already packaged and/or awarded to the student unless the student is in an overaward status. If an overaward occurs, the financial aid office should reduce the amount of the student's loans first before reducing or eliminating any grant or other scholarship aid.

Support Services
Recipients receive support services from EducationQuest, a campus mentor, and a bi-annual newsletter with "college survival" information and program reminders. Read about our recipients in the latest edition of Reaching Out.