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Program
How To Apply
Letter of Recommendation
Candidate Review
Review Criteria
Notification of Awards
Application Questionnaire (pdf)
ITPE Annual Benefit Fund Scholarship
Educational ProgramsThe Trustees of the ITPE Annual Benefit Fund (ABF) have established an education scholarship program to help qualified active member employees, their spouses or dependents achieve their educational and career goals. Post-secondary scholarships will be awarded for study at a traditional college or university, a community college, or an accredited public or private vocational/technical institution. The competition will be open to the ABF's active member employees, their spouses or dependent children who plan to pursue study beginning in the fall of 2007.
The Scholarship and Recognition Programs Unit (SRPU) at Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, will provide a selection committee to evaluate all candidates and to administer the program, including the identification of the scholarship winners.
The Program
The educational benefit will be offered to active member employees, spouses or dependents, to include students currently enrolled in college. The goal is to provide the financial support to help individuals pursue post-secondary schooling or training and to extend an educational benefit to a broad spectrum of the membership.
Scholarships will be awarded in the following categories:
- five 4-year scholarships for study at a college or university in amounts up to $10,000.00 in each of the four years;
- two 2-year scholarships for study at a community or junior college in amounts up to $5,000.00 in each of the two years;
- eight awards for up to two years of study at a vocational/ technical school or institute in amounts up to $5,000.00 per year of study.
The Application Questionnaire is designed to allow applicants to summarize and present current and past work and/or educational experiences and other academic and personal information for review by the selection committee. These materials may include work history, previous school records, volunteer and community activities, leadership, and potential for success in the chosen field of study. The application deadline is February 1..
In completing the Application Questionnaire, please keep the following in mind:
- Be sure to check a box indicating the type of Educational Benefit applied for.
- ITPE-ABF participant data is required to verify your eligibility.
- High school seniors and recent graduates should complete the form and give the form to your guidance counselor or school official who will attach a transcript of grades and return this form to the Scholarship and Recognition Programs Unit.
- You do not have to complete 3A of the application if you have been out of high school for 5 years.
- Previous graduates should contact the school and request that the transcript be sent to the address indicated for the SRPU. Only an official transcript(s) may be submitted.
- You must indicate the name and address of the vocational/technical institution or college you are planning to attend.
- Before any scholarship award is final, you must provide a letter of admission from the post-secondary institution you a planning to attend.
- If you need any assistance with respect to your application, please speak to your union representative or your employer.
Each applicant must submit a letter of recommendation from an adult who can give a statement about your work experience, academic potential, school or community service activities and/or other qualities you would like to share with the Selection Committee. Letters of recommendation should be attached to the Application Questionnaire.
ITPE Annual Benefit Fund participants must include a statement of recommendation from their employer, supervisor, or manager. Such statements should include a comment on work habits, special recognition you have received, special circumstances and other factors for the Review Committee's consideration.
The selection of the education benefit winners will be by an appointed committee of educators from institutions selected by the Scholarship and Recognition Program Unit of the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ. Its committee review will place special emphasis on the employee member candidate's or the student's interest in and potential for success in the chosen program of study.
Each Application Questionnaire will be reviewed by two members of the Committee. The results from the two independent evaluations will be combined to assign a priority score. Candidates with the highest priority scores in the award categories would be identified as potential winners. The SRPU will forward the names to the ITPE ABF Trustees for approval.
Review Criteria
Employee member candidates, high school seniors and students planning to enroll in college will be asked to provide evidence of potential success in the area of study. Official transcripts of grades, a summary of school and community activities, memberships, honors and awards will be considered in the evaluation process.
Applicants are encouraged to document their interest in the chosen program of study, and summarize their immediate long-range career plans.
Employee member candidates, in addition to completing the Application Questionnaire, should submit copies of past academic records if the employee candidate has attended school within the past 5 years including a copy of the GED certificate and/or a statement of endorsement from their employer. These materials will weigh heavily in the committee evaluations.
All decisions related to the identification of scholarship winners will be made by the Scholarship and Recognition Program Selection Committee. No Trustee of the ITPE Annual Benefit Fund is involved in the review or selection process. All decisions are final.
Subject to the approval by the Trustees of the ITPE ABF the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, NJ will notify the winners. The notice will go to the employee participant student and the shop steward of the unit where awarded. Students will be asked for confirmation of their enrollment plans and to submit a statement of annual cost at the attending institution to aid in determining final stipend amounts as follows:
- Up to $10,000 at a four-year college
- Up to $5,000 at a two-year institution, and
- Up to $3,500 at a vocational/technical institution.
During the academic year, SRPU would monitor the academic progress of the recipients, receive/review official transcript reports and approve the continuation of the awards. Recipients are required to remain in good standing to qualify for renewal.
