The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has announced that applications for its annual academic scholarship cycle for graduate and undergraduate students will become available online on Monday, March 11. In line with the Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality of life for children, youth and families in the territory by making enriching opportunities attainable, funds for these offerings are provided through generous donors to CFVI.
In 2018, CFVI awarded more than $377,181 in scholarships and scholar-grants to students in the St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John districts. These scholarships and scholar-grants included funds to students who were directly impacted by the 2017 hurricanes.
This year CFVI will be awarding academic scholarships based on the following criteria:
An applicant must:
1. Be a senior in or graduate of a U.S. Virgin Islands high school (or a graduate of a high school outside of the territory who can provide documentation that they transferred due to hurricanes Irma and Maria)
2. Provide proof of enrollment or admission:
For undergraduate scholarships: be currently enrolled in or have applied for admission to an accredited four-year institution with a program leading to a bachelor’s degree
For graduate scholarships: be currently enrolled in or have applied for admission to an accredited institution with a program leading to an advanced degree (Master’s, Ph.D., JD, MD, etc.)
CFVI’s scholarship review committee will make recommendations for selection based on any specific criteria of the individual scholarships available, which may include: overall financial need, academic progress, extracurricular activities and answers to essay questions. Each year, over 20 different named scholarships are offered, spanning a variety of subject/ focus areas, such as marine biology, the arts, early childhood, education and health sciences. Scholarships specific to students enrolled/enrolling in the University of the Virgin Islands are also available.
Applications for undergraduate and graduate scholarships can be submitted through an online portal at http://bit.ly/CFVIscholarship-grant-portal. All applicants (new and returning) must create a new account with CFVI’s online scholarship portal (Foundant) before beginning the application process.
Applicant Checklist: (Graduate and Undergraduate students)
1. 2019 CFVI Undergraduate Scholarship Application Form | 2019 CFVI Graduate Scholarship Application Form
2. Two Letters of Recommendation (CFVI provides applicants with the option of manually uploading recommendation letters to their profile or submitting a request to their recommenders via the online application portal.)
3. Resume (Optional)
4. Transcript with Current GPA (Students are required to upload their most recent transcript. Unofficial transcripts are accepted).
5. EFC Score from FAFSA form
6. A statement that explains the student’s current financial status
7. College Acceptance Letter (Students are required to upload acceptance letters from the school of their choice. If students are already enrolled at an institution, the transcript is sufficient and there is no need to upload the acceptance letter. Students that have not yet received acceptance letters, should upload a document explaining that it has not yet been received. This information can be updated at a later date).
8. First two pages of most recent stamped tax return (Students that are listed as dependents should upload their parents’ stamped tax return).
The deadline for application submission is April 15.
For any questions or technical assistance, contact CFVI Grants and Programs Manager Khadija A.V. de Lagarde at kdelagarde@cfvi.net or 774-6031.
Anyone who is interested in donating to an existing scholarship fund or establishing a new scholarship fund, please contact CFVI Development Partner Katrin Braddell at katrinb@cfvi.net.