The Program
The Chance to Become Scholarship Program is aimed at students that might not be eligible for a typical scholarship. Recipients of The Chance to Become Scholarship are often average students not catered to by other scholarship programs. They might also be students with a special talent or they may have overcome challenges. This program aims to give them a CHANCE to BECOME successful in life.
The Award
A $5,000 scholarship is given to a student over two continuous school years, $2,500 each year. The program will pay for expenses associated with attending a four-year college or university, a community college or a career school for a professional trade certificate. However, programs like Beauty College or Aviation schools for a private pilots license will not be supported. The Columbia Learning Center will make the decision which other alternative courses of study will not be eligible. Scholarship funds will cover tuition, books, fees and living expenses, depending upon the needs of the student.
The Award Process
Students may not apply for this scholarship. The faculty and administrative staff at each Columbia County high school submit deserving students names to the Chance to Become Scholarship Committee, which then selects the students who will receive this scholarship. Students may be generally aware of this program and can express a desire to continue their education to a teacher or counselor. Often students may be more apt to apply themselves to their high school studies knowing through this program they may have a chance to continue their education beyond high school.
The Criteria
A faculty or admin staff member at the High School nominates the student for their drive, desire to continue their education, special talent or other special reasons.
Scholarship recipients will be selected without regard to sex, race, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.
Recipients must be respected by their peers as well as by high school faculty and staff.
Grades are not a determining factor although a cumulative grade point average above 2.5 is desirable.
The Sponsor
All Chance to Become sponsors are anonymous. Their donation is for personal satisfaction. They believe a Chance To Become was offered in their lives in some way and want to return the gift by giving deserving students their own Chance to Become.
The sponsors will not receive any public recognition for their contributions. This program is not about the sponsors, but about the scholarship recipients. The sponsor’s reward comes from within.
The sponsors have no input regarding selection of recipients.
No extrinsic benefit will be derived from this program by any of the sponsors or their relatives.
The Commitment
By accepting this scholarship, the student commits to someday return the favor to another deserving student perhaps through this same program.
To continue participation, the student must:
- Be a full-time student as defined by the institution.
- Provide Columbia Learning Center with their most recent grade report each grading period.
- Express reimbursement needs consistent with program intent.
- Maintain a 2.5 GPA. If grades fall below a 2.0, one grading period is granted to correct their GPA or they will not be allowed to continue in the program.
- Demonstrate satisfactory progress in non-graded apprenticeship programs, as certified by the instructor.
How to Help
If you would like more information or would like to donate to the Chance to Become Scholarship Program, please contact us:
Columbia Learning Center – PO Box 1094 – St. Helens, OR 97051
email:btbjsocial@gmail.com
OR donate through our secure Anedot donation portal here:
https://secure.anedot.com/columbia-learning-center/donate
The Columbia Learning Center is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations to this program may be 100% tax deductible. Tax ID# 93-1165080
Columbia Learning Center 