Tyler Jazz Heritage Festival

Scholarship Fund

Criteria:

 

Purpose:

The Rose City Jazz and Heritage Foundation Scholarship offers education opportunities to economically disadvantaged graduating students from East Texas High Schools. Prospective recipients must have outstanding achievement in Mathematics, Science, English, Drama, Band, Orchestra or Choir and be accepted into an East Texas Institution of higher learning.

Selection Criteria:

Counselors of Robert E. Lee High School or John Tyler High School will choose prospective recipients based upon academic achievement and economic status.  The selection committee will be comprised of high school counselors and no more than two representatives of the Jazz Heritage Festival or their designee.

Thus, for purposes of this program, the following selection criteria are established:

A.     High School Graduate or equivalent: Applicants for the Rose City Jazz and heritage Foundation Scholarship must be a high school senior or must have completed a curriculum of it’s equivalency.

B.     High School graduation GPA-2.5: Any applicant who wishes to be considered for the Jazz and Heritage Foundation Scholarship must achieve at least a 2.5 grade point average or better upon completing high school or equivalent program.

C.     Smith County Resident: Applicants must be permanent residents of Smith County with residency established no less than 12 months prior to submitting application.

D.     Letter of Recommendation:  In order to be considered, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation.  One from a teacher, one from the counselor and one from a community leader.

E.      Interview Results: Each applicant is required to interview with the selection committee who will determine the applicant’s commitment to academic/personal social and career success.  

F.      Nepotism/Patronage:  In order to avoid questions of nepotism and patronage applicants cannot be a family member of anyone who is a member of the Jazz and Heritage Festival planning committee.

G.     Special Consideration: Special consideration may be given to students in the freshman year attending one of the local institutions of higher education.

Scholarship Award:

The total scholarships awarded equal $5,000.00.  A $1,250.00 scholarship will be awarded to four students with two from Robert E. Lee and two from John Tyler High School receiving the awarded amount.

Funding:

Payment for the first year of this scholarship must be made no later than September 5, of the year the scholarship is awarded

Payment:

The Jazz and Heritage Festival Executive Staff, upon notification of the name, home address, social security number of the recipient; identification of the college or university attending, address, admissions officer or contact person and phone number, will disburse scholarship funds directly to the institute to be attended by the scholarship recipient.