The Federation of Italian-American
Organizations of Greater Houston,
Inc. awards annual scholarships to
graduating high school seniors who
submit complete applications and are
chosen by the Board of Directors based
on scholarship, leadership, and financial
need. It is a great honor to receive
this $1,000 Scholarship that is to
be applied to the student’s
college tuition ($500 in the Fall
and $500 in the Spring). The winner
may apply for a renewal of the scholarship
every Spring (renewal application
due in May) for a period totaling
four years. This is a total of three
renewals after the initial award.
Renewals are only awarded for consecutive
Fall/Spring semesters. To qualify
to apply for the renewal the winner
must maintain a GPA of 3.5 and a minimum
semester total of 12 hours.
1. At the beginning of the Spring
Semester, applications are distributed
to the Federation Members, Federation
Club Presidents and to High Schools
in the Houston-Galveston area. Applications
also are available to those who
request copies.
2. Completed applications are due
in the Federation office on the
date stated on the application.
The deadline is strictly observed.
3. The Chairperson makes an initial
pass through the applications making
sure that all who have applied qualify
and have turned in an appropriately
completed application.
4. When the Chairperson receives
the applications, all references
to the name of the applicant will
be removed and replaced with a code
number. The Chairperson will keep
a master list so that codes can
be matched with names once the winner
is chosen.
5. For Merit/Financial
Based Scholarship: At a
meeting of the Scholarship Committee,
the committee first selects applicants
who have a reasonable prediction
of success in College, which can
be determined from SAT/ACT scores,
class rank, high school GPA, awards
and honors, letters of recommendations,
and the narrative essay. Once reasonable
success in college is predicted,
the applicant’s financial
picture is considered: parent’s
jobs and their financial obligations.
If, during a Scholarship Committee
meeting, a Committee member recognizes
among the candidates his/her relative,
such Committee member must remove
himself/herself from the voting.
6. For Merit Only Scholarship
(Federation Members Only): At
a meeting of the Scholarship Committee,
the committee selects applicants
who have a reasonable prediction
of success in College, which can
be determined from SAT/ACT scores,
class rank, high school GPA, awards
and honors, letters of recommendations
and the narrative essay. Once reasonable
success in college is predicted,
the essay regarding what it means
to the student to be an Italian-American
or the essay regarding what it means
to you to be a member of the Italian
Cultural and Community Center is
evaluated. If, during a Scholarship
Committee meeting, a Committee member
recognizes among the candidates
his/her relative, such Committee
member must remove himself/herself
from the voting.
7. Once the Committee selects its
recipients, the Chairperson identifies
them to the Committee. The winner
of the scholarship is then notified
by a letter, which describes the
procedure for awarding. The check
is sent directly to the university.
Upon receipt of a copy
of the winner’s Fall registration
five hundred dollars will be sent
to the University for the Fall and
upon receipt of a copy of the winner’s
Spring registration
another five hundred dollar check
will be sent to the University for
the Spring. The scholarship recipient
must furnish the Federation Office
his/her University’s name
and the University’s mailing
address, his/her student ID number
and his/her social security number
in order so that the funds are not
misdirected. The above information
is contained in the body of the
check and it is the
scholarship recipient’s obligation
to provide it to the Federation
Office.
