Short Title

The Warhawk Scholarship Fund may hereinafter be cited as “the Fund.”

Purpose and Scope

The Warhawk Scholarship Fund is a Need-Based program for deserving students, ex-students and graduates of James Madison High School to assist with their high school and post-secondary level education. Funds for the support of scholarships are contingent each year upon donations and fund raising and thus may change from year to year.

Part I – Definitions

Unless the context clearly indicates some other meaning, the following capitalized words and phrases shall have the corresponding meanings in the Fund Rules:

1. “Academic Year” is defined as a time in which a student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least two semesters’ or three quarters’ of academic work.
2. “Approved Institution” means a postsecondary educational institution with a main permanent campus located in the Commonwealth of Virginia that is owned or operated either privately or by the Commonwealth of Virginia or by an agency or political subdivision of the State or by any combination thereof that satisfies both of the following:
   • Is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools under the standards of the College Delegate Assembly of the Association or by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
   • Awards an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science or Bachelor of Art or Bachelor of Science postsecondary degree.
3. “GPA” for post-high school participants, is based on the 0-4 grading schedule and is calculated by dividing the total amount of grade points earned by the total amount of credit hours attempted. Grades for courses being repeated after an initial grade of less than 2.0 are not calculated into the GPA.
4. “Main Permanent Campus” is defined as a campus owned by the eligible private postsecondary institution that provides permanent on-premises housing, food services, and classrooms with full-time faculty members and administration that engages in postsecondary degree activity.
5. “Participation Agreement” means the agreement by the participant of the Fund.
6. “Payment Schedule” means the schedule determined and disseminated by the Fund that sets forth the amount of Scholarships to be paid to students.
7. “Program” means the Warhawk Scholarship Fund.
8. “Scholarship” means the scholarship for education awarded under the Fund.

Part II – Eligibility Requirements

1. Initial Eligibility – A student qualifies to receive an Initial Scholarship if the student is a resident of Virginia and:

• Is or has been a student at James Madison High School (Matriculated or not) and;
• Maintained a GPA of at least 2.85 while at JMHS and;
• Is enrolled in Fairfax County Adult and Community Education classes to complete high school graduation requirements or;
• Is enrolled in an Approved Institution for no less than the minimum per-term credit hours to be considered as a full-time student as defined by the Approved Institution and;
• Is not in default, or does not owe a refund, under any federal or State loan or grant program and;
• Agrees to meet with their Fund advisor at least twice per semester or once per quarter and;
• Has demonstrated financial need through submission of a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or; if ineligible to complete the FAFSA, the applicant must submit EFC Calculator Results that are calculated using the FAFSA online process and;

1. Continuing Eligibility
   • Students attending Fairfax County Adult and Community Education classes are limited to two semesters of participation. In all other instances;
   • A post-high school matriculation scholarship recipient shall remain eligible for participation for a maximum of ten academic semesters or 15 academic quarters respectively so long as the recipient:
     2. Maintains at least a 2.5 GPA for the first four continuous semesters or six academic quarters and;
     3. Maintains at least a 3.0 GPA for all periods after the initial period and;

• Maintains enrollment in an Approved Institution for no less than the minimum per-term credit hours to be considered as a full-time student as defined by the Approved Institution and;

1. Registers only for courses that satisfy the degree completion requirements of the Approved Institution;
2. Provide the Fund with copies of all grade reports within 14 days of the close of a grading period and;
3. Is not in default, or does not owe a refund, under any federal or State loan or grant program and;

• Meets with their Fund advisor at least twice per semester and;
• Continues to demonstrate sound moral character and;

1. Continues to demonstrate a financial need and;
2. Continues to fulfill all other participation requirements.

Part III – Scholarship Amounts, Applications, Disbursement and Refunds

1. Number of Scholarships.

The number of available Scholarships shall be determined annually by the Fund based on the funds available.

1. Amount of Scholarships.

The maximum amount of each scholarship, depending on fund availability, shall be $2,500.00 per semester or $1,666.67 per quarter for a Not To Exceed total of $5,000 per Academic Year per recipient.

1. Scholarship Application Procedures; Determination and Certification of Eligible Students.
   • Method of Applying for Scholarships. Applications can be made either directly by an applicant or in extreme circumstances, by a concerned person.         If a concerned person is nominating a JMHS alumnus, they may write a letter directly to the Fund describing why they are making the nomination.  At that point, the Fund will contact the applicant directly and assist them in making an application.
   • To apply for a Scholarship themselves, a student must complete the application form along with all attachments.
   • Denial of Scholarship Applications. If, after notifying a student of an initial Scholarship award, the Fund determines that a student is not eligible to receive a Scholarship, the Fund shall notify the student of the determination in writing.
2. Scholarship Disbursement Procedures.
   • Method of Disbursement to the Approved Institution. The Fund shall disburse the Scholarship funds by check or by electronic funds transfer based on information provided by the Scholarship awardee to Approved Institution in the name of the scholarship recipient.
   • Timing of Disbursements to the Approved Institution. The Fund will disburse funds at such a time as to not precede the beginning date of the term by more than ten {10) days.
   • Disbursements to the Approved Institution for Students Not Matriculated in All Hours Certified. A student who is not matriculated in all hours certified shall not receive a Scholarship disbursement until he or she matriculates in hours equal or greater than those certified by the Approved Institution. Recipients must pass all classes for which they registered.
3. All refunds paid to the Scholarship awardee from funds disbursed by the Fund, are to be returned to the Fund within (10) days of refund.

Part IV – Public Relations and Advertisement

Scholarship awardees must agree to release to the Fund, the right to arrange a meeting with the Fund donor(s) and use their name, story, and picture for printed and video materials, reports, and press releases, without compensation.  Awardees must agree to attend all Fund ceremonies and receptions.  The Fund will not release any Personally Identifiable Information regarding awardees to any outside person or agency.