HOW CAN I BECOME A SCHOLAR?

SELECTION PROCESS and CRITERIA

Candidates must complete an application, apply for financial aid, provide three letters of reference, write a personal essay, provide proof of residency in Massachusetts, and participate in an interview with One Family Scholars staff. The deadline for applications for new Scholars for the 2008--2009 academic year was March 7, 2008.

A selection committee, comprised of representatives from Project Hope, Wellspring House, Housing Families, Inc., MainSpring Coalition, Community Teamwork, Inc., and major funders, meets in May of each year to review recommendations for acceptance. Interviews will be scheduled as applications are received and will be completed by the end of April.  Notification will be sent to applicants by June 1, 2008

A summer Orientation session and additional meetings are required, and the Scholar’s year is launched at the retreat in August.

Scholar selection is based on:

  • Financial need (family earnings below 200% of the federal poverty level - see guidelines )
  • Clear and realistic academic and career goals
  • Strong potential for success in chosen academic program
  • Desire to actively participate in all aspects of the program

Program Requirements:
One Family Scholars requires of its participants:

  • Successfully complete at least 6-9 credits per semester
  • Actively participate in Leadership Training*
    - Two annual weekend-long retreats in August and January
    - Several full-day workshops on Saturdays throughout the year
  • Maintain communication with mentors
  • Maintain communication with Site Coordinators
  • Attend bimonthly scholar meetings
  • Residency in Massachusetts

*Scholars may be reimbursed for reasonable childcare, transportation, and lost wages incurred to participate in mandatory activities.

Our successful scholars to date share these characteristics:

  • Their children are a strong motivating force; they are determined to see that they move permanently out of shelter dependence and the cycle of poverty;
  • They strive for self-sufficiency, are eager to remove themselves from government assistance and dependency of any kind;
  • They have taken a first step in their return to education that has allowed them to discover their own capacity for achievement – often after previous struggles with education; and
  • They have made the connection in their minds between education and long-term improvement.

Probably the most remarkable characteristic of the women who have participated so far is that almost unanimously they express an interest in helping other women in their situation, and in helping the systems that served them to promote economic independence.

For more information, contact: Yolande Pere, Field Services Director, at or 617-442-1880 x262

We are deeply committed to protecting your privacy and take all reasonable steps to protect all data and information supplied to One Family Inc. We protect your privacy in a variety of ways including using industry accepted security measures to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of data used by our system. Any information given to us will never be shared with third parties. We are absolutely committed to personal privacy on the Internet.



©2004-2006 One Family, Inc.