Charley Wootan Grant Program

NOTE: This is for US Citizens and Permanent Residents. Some of you are, or have friends who are US Permanent Residents, please share with them this opportunity.

In 2000, TG established a program to provide assistance to students who have difficulties pursuing their higher education dreams because of financial need. In 2001, the TG Board of Directors voted to expand and rename the program to honor the memory of former Chairperson of the TG Board of Directors, Dr. Charley V. Wootan, in recognition of his generous contributions and service to the state of Texas and the nation.

Dr. Wootan served on TG's Board of Directors for the six years prior to his death in March 2001. His accomplishments, lifetime contributions, and his outstanding character have had a profound impact on education and the lives of many students and their families. As a fitting tribute to Dr. Wootan, TG is proud to extend his legacy to directly impact students nationwide.

In the past, the Charley Wootan Grant Program has been awarded in the form of block grants to public and private schools throughout Texas, with schools determining grant recipients. In 2008, the program transitioned from an indirect grant program and awarded $2 million directly to individual students. During 2009, $2 million will again be awarded directly to students.
Scholarship Application

Apply for a Charley Wootan Grant

Award process
For the 2009-2010 academic year, TG will award $2 million to students through the Charley Wootan Grant Program. The program offers grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,245 to qualified undergraduate students. Charley Wootan Grants are awarded for one year only; however, recipients will be encouraged to reapply in subsequent years provided eligibility requirements are met.

Eligibility
The Charley Wootan Grant Program is open to students who:

• At the time of application, are U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands or any of the U.S. territories and commonwealths, and
• Are high school seniors or graduates (including GED recipients) who plan to enroll or are students who are already enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate course of study for the fall 2009 term at an approved* two or four year college or university or vocational-technical school, and
• Demonstrate financial need, and
• Are eligible to receive Title IV (federal financial aid) funding.

*Approved schools are defined as Title IV eligible accredited two- or four-year colleges or universities or vocational-technical schools in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands or any of the U.S. territories and commonwealths.

Note: TG employees or dependents of TG employees are not eligible to apply for the Charley Wootan Grant Program.

Awards
The program will award grants within the range of $1,000 to $4,245. These awards are considered grants for one year only. However, students will be encouraged to reapply for subsequent years.

Grantees from Texas will receive roughly half of the $2 million, and the remaining $1 million will be awarded to grantees nationwide, with $100,000 allotted to each U.S. Department of Education service region, provided there are qualified applicants from each region.

Application
To be considered, an application packet must be complete and postmarked by May 7, 2009.

Application packets are required to include:

• a complete and signed application, and
• if a currently enrolled undergraduate student, a copy of student’s most recent cumulative college transcript, or, if a student has not completed one full quarter or semester of post secondary education, a copy of their college acceptance letter, and
• a copy of the 2009-2010 Student Aid Report (SAR) or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR).
• You must submit one of the following:

1. Complete SAR Print Summary from the FAFSA web site, or
2. Student copy of the complete SAR, or
3. School’s complete ISIR

Please note that the SAR or ISIR must be for the 2009-2010 academic year and include the family’s adjusted gross income and the expected family contribution (EFC). Documents that are missing any of these items are not acceptable.

If the application is incomplete, students will not be considered. The application packet must be complete and include all documentation in one envelope to be considered.

Only the first 5,000 submitted applications will be considered. Applications received in excess of 5,000 will not be opened and processed.

As previously noted below, “TG reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this grant program and to make changes, including termination of the program, at any time. “ Please note that revisions have been made to the Wootan Grant program as of April 9, 2009.

There is strong demand this year for grant funding, and in the face of increased applications, because we try to maintain a fair nationwide distribution, our review process has been slightly amended. We will still process 5,000 applications. However, to ensure that national applicants are represented in the award pool, we will process the first 2,500 applications from residents of Texas, and the first 2,500 applications from outside the state of Texas. Inside Texas, and outside Texas in each Department of Education region, applications will still be processed on a first-come-first-served basis, as they were in last year’s competition. In the event that not enough applications are received from a region to award all of that region’s designated funds, any funds remaining will be awarded to other applicants on a first-come-first-served basis.
Applicant Responsibilities

Applicants are responsible for submitting all necessary information. Because Scholarship Management Services evaluates applications on the information supplied, it is important to answer all questions as completely as possible. Scholarship Management Services and TG keep all submitted information confidential.

Selection of Recipients Awards will be based on the applicant's:

• Ability to meet eligibility criteria
• Residence
• Date of application (only the first 2,500 applications from Texas and the first 2,500 applications from outside Texas will be considered)
• Financial circumstances

Notification of Awards
On July 3, notification will be mailed to all grantees that have been selected as provisional recipients. Only the provisional recipients will be required to mail an acceptance of the grant and verification of enrollment eligibility to Scholarship Management Services. Nonrecipients will not be notified.
Payment of Grants

Scholarship Management Services will issue first-half award checks on August 15 and second-half award checks on December 30. Checks will be payable to the institution for the student and mailed to the institution’s financial aid office.

Obligations
Charley Wootan Grant Program funds must be used for tuition, room and board, and/or other education-related expenses.

All applicants for the Charley Wootan Grant Program must acknowledge that they must provide permission for TG to use their name and testimonial for publicity purposes, and that they may be required to provide a photo. Grant recipients must authorize release of academic records to Scholarship Management Services and TG. Provisional recipients must supply Scholarship Management Services with additional documentation as requested, and notify Scholarship Management Services of any change of address, school enrollment, or other relevant information.

Revisions
TG reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this grant program and to make changes, including termination of the program, at any time.

Additional Information
TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program is managed by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America, the nation's largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship and educational-support organization.

For additional information about TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program, first read our frequently asked questions. If you still have questions, send an email to Wootan@scholarshipamerica.org or call Scholarship Management Services, toll-free, (800) 537-4180. Please ask for the TG Charley Wootan Grant Program Manager.

TG represents that there is no correlation or connection between its selection of recipients for grant awards and an institution’s or individual’s business relationship or potential business relationship with TG. Participation in TG’s Charley Wootan Grant Program does not require or impose any quid pro quocondition. If any participant believes that a quid pro quo condition exists or may exist, it shall call TG’s ethics hotline at (877) 842-6675 or TG’s Chief Ethics Officer directly at (800) 252 9743, extension 4966 to report the condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit a copy of my online transcript?
Yes. You may submit a copy of your online transcript if you are unable to obtain an official transcript. The online transcript must be a direct printout (do not copy and paste into another document) and each page of the transcript must display your name, school name, grade and credit hours earned for each course, and the term in which each course was taken.

Can you tell me if my application was received?
Due to the large volume of applications and the time it takes to process them, we are not able to tell you right away if your application was received. At the end of May, we will be able to tell you if your application was one of the 5,000 complete applications processed. Only provisional recipients will be notified in early July.

I am home-schooled but planning to attend college this fall. Am I eligible?
Yes. Students who are home-schooled and who have graduated or plan to graduate in spring 2009 are eligible to apply for the Wootan Grant, as long as they can provide an acceptance letter to a Title IV institution and a copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR).

I don't live in Texas. Am I still eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. citizens and permanent U.S. residents of any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands or any U.S. territory or commonwealth may apply for and, if eligible, be considered for a Charley Wootan Grant.

If I am applying for permanent residency, am I eligible for the grant?
No. You are eligible for the grant only if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident at the time of application.

Will all applicants be considered for the Wootan Grant?
Only the first 2,500 applications from Texas and the first 2,500 applications from outside Texas received by Scholarship Management Services will be given consideration for a Wootan Grant. Applications received in excess of these 5,000 will not be opened and processed. You should complete the application and mail all required documentation in one envelope as soon as possible.

Are there merit requirements?
You must be a student in good standing at your chosen institution, but there are no other merit requirements for receipt of a Wootan Grant.

Is this grant similar to a federal Pell Grant?
The Wootan Grant is not a federal Pell Grant. The Pell Grant is a federally funded financial aid program. The Charley Wootan Grant Program is a program sponsored by TG, a nonprofit corporation, as part of its educational mission. However, there are similarities. Both the federal Pell Grant and the Wootan Grant are need-based aid and they both rely on the information obtained after completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”). The maximum Wootan Grant for the 2009-2010 academic year is $4,245. No more than $2 million of Charley Wootan Grant funds will be awarded for 2009-2010.

How will I know if I've been selected as a finalist or as a recipient of the grant?
On July 3, provisional recipients only will be mailed a notification letter. When filling out your application, be sure to provide your correct address. If you do not receive notification shortly after that date, you have not been selected as a recipient.

Are your grants renewable for additional years of study?
Unfortunately, TG cannot guarantee that Charley Wootan Grants awarded for the 2009-2010 academic year will be renewable for subsequent years of study. At present, we can only guarantee that these grants will be for one year only. Recipients must reapply for subsequent years provided eligibility requirements are met.

For more information, contact Scholarship Management Services at (800) 537-4180, or email Wootan@scholarshipamerica.org.