Can I complete one application (including a transcript, EFC information, personal statement, letters of recommendation) to apply for more than one scholarship listed Section 8 of the online applications?
Yes! You may be able to apply for several scholarship programs by completing one form. Some scholarships may require additional information, so make sure to read the brief information about each scholarship and click 'Yes' for those scholarships for which you are eligible and want to be considered. A small number of scholarships are awarded using specialized forms, such as the application for the Law Student Assistance Scholarship. Please check our Specialized Applications to view a listing. DO NOT COMPLETE MORE THAN ONE APPLICATION ON THIS SITE.

Should I complete the application for my high school or the General Comprehensive Application?
We recommend you pick the application created for students and alumni of your high school which features scholarships especially for students or graduates of your school AND all countywide scholarships we administer. The General Comprehensive (GC) application should only be used if you don't see your high school listed (for instance,if you are eligible for a scholarship we administer, but you live outside the Shelby County, Ohio area). If you live here or graduated from a school here, we will accept either application, but do not complete both...they feature the same scholarships in Section 8, but the GC application mixes in all scholarships including those that are only for students from other local high schools. If you complete two applications, we will contact you to ask which application you want us to send to the selection committees, since we won't send two versions of your application to any selection committee.

How do I see and select consideration for the scholarships you have available?
Section 8 of each scholarship application lists the available scholarships, the amounts awarded, eligibility criteria and selection criteria. We highly recommend you select your school's application from the dropdown menu of this website's Scholarships page.  It contains all scholarships for seniors and/or graduates of your school, including countywide scholarships and those whose criteria are open to a wide range of applicants.  The General Comprehensive Application mixes all scholarships for all local school districts and the countywide and broader scholarships, which makes the form longer. Make sure you go to Section 8 and click 'Yes' for those scholarships which you would like to be considered.  Any that are left with a 'No' will exclude you from the selection group for that scholarship.  You will also be excluded if you have not completed all required items in your scholarship application by the deadline, including all required attachments and information. Required items are marked with a red *.

How can I scan and attach documents to my online application?     
Here are some troubleshooting tips based upon calls we have received from students:

• Jot down where your computer is saving scanned documents by watching the monitor when you are scanning. It will briefly show which folder is receiving scans. When you are in the online scholarship application, click the Browse button(located at various points in the application), which opens to your computer. You will need to find the folder inside your computer where scans have been saved, find the correct file and click it to attach it to the application.
• If you are having difficulty replacing a document you have already attached to the online application, try saving the new document with a new file name and then attaching the newly named file.
• If you are unable to scan, stop by our office weekdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm and we will scan and return your documents to you.  See the Contact Us section of the website to see our address and locator map.  You can also mail the documents you want us to scan and attach or call us to set up a time after 4:00pm to have your documents scanned.  We want to help!

When I reopened my application, there was a yellow bar across the top saying I had an 'existing application' and wouldn't let me go to the page I wanted to update.  How can I go to the page I need to complete?
When you open your exisitng application, look to the list of items at the top right.  Click "Scholarship Application" and you will be taken to the opening notes page.  At the bottom of that page, click "Next" and you will be taken to the first page of your application.  From there, click "Next" at the bottom of pages or click the name of the section you want to update shown on the list at the top right.

What happens to my application if I am missing a Required Attachment?
Incomplete applications will not be sent to the selections committee. We typically send to the address you provided an email a week or two before the deadline that lists any missing documents. We strongly recommend that you get more than one recommendation letter in case someone can't send the letter by the deadline. Please call our office days and weeks BEFORE the deadline if you have any questions about the documents you need to attach.

My computer won't let me re-enter my scholarship application. Can you help?

• Click on the name of the school, General or Specialized application you wish to update. Once inside the application, click the 'Update Application' button found in the upper right hand corner.  Login using your password.
• If you have forgotten your password on an application that you have started and saved, please contact our office at (937) 497-7800 or info@commfoun.com. We will try to help.
• Is your computer blocking 'pop ups?'  This may be shown as a message along the top of your monitor screen.  Usually it will give you a button or words to click to temporarily 'enable' or 'allow' the pop up to proceed.  The online scholarship application is located on a different website, which may trigger the message from your internet service provider.

Which FAFSA page should I send with my scholarship application?
Please submit Page 1 printed/copied directly from your Student Aid Report (SAR) showing your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) number. You may also use the Electronic Student Aid Report (first page) or Confirmation Page (shows your EFC number).  See examples: EFC Example 1 or EFC Example 2 or EFC Example 3.  You will be asked to type your EFC number in the application, but we also would like to verify the number with one of the actual sheets attached to the form.  Apply for your EFC number at www.FAFSA.gov. 

Will you accept other documents if I have not applied for an EFC number?
At this time, we will only accept the EFC number from the FAFSA for those scholarships that have ‘financial need’ stated as a selection criterion.

Must I submit an ‘official’ transcript?
We do not require an ‘official’ transcript (one that is printed on special paper or with a raised seal in one corner).  You may include with your application a copy of an official transcript, an unofficial transcript or, if necessary, copies of grade cards.

I cannot submit because of an error in the 'College Costs' area. Why won't it accept the numbers I have entered?
Remove dollar signs ($) and any commas (,) you entered.  The form only wants to receive numbers.

I attached a document that contains my 'Personal Statement,' but I received an error message saying it was incomplete.  Why?
Because Personal Statements are an item we require, we gave two options for including it.  However, if you plan to attach a document, please follow the instructions in that section by typing "See Below" in the box.  So long as the application has something typed in the box, the system will allow you to continue and submit the application.

What is the timeline for scholarship decisions?
Unless otherwise stated, the deadline for nearly all of our scholarships is March 21, 2013.  Most scholarships for high school seniors are decided before graduation and recipients are announced at each school’s awards event or graduation ceremony. We will not notify you if you did not receive one of these scholarships. Scholarships with a June 3 application deadline, typically for college age students, are decided by mid-July. We will send a letter to all June 3 applicants informing them whether they were awarded a scholarship.

Which college expenses can be paid with a scholarship?
Tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at an accredited educational institution.

What do I need to do to receive my scholarship check?
1.Sign and return the Acceptance Letter which was mailed to your home. If you do not recall receiving the letter, please call our office to ask for a replacement. Sign, complete and return the copy on light green paper. The white copy is for your files.
2.Send us your tuition invoice (often called a statement or fee bill) from your college or university. Colleges and universities typically make these available to you by logging into your account on the college’s website. Please mail or email a copy which shows what you owe to attend college. We consider this as proof of enrollment in the college.

Where should I send a Thank You note?
Send it to the Community Foundation address: 100 S. Main Ave Suite 202, Sidney OH 45365. Include details of where you plan to go to school, your major and your future career. Often, the person who established the scholarship is not involved with the selection and has not read your application. It makes their day to know about you and your plans. Show your gratitude and let them know that the money is going to good use. We will forward your note to the appropriate person.