MEMO TO:
FROM :
SUBJECT:
Talent Search and Upward Bound Directors
Bonnie Dockry
GEAR UP Scholarships
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction/WEOP’s GEAR UP program is happy to offer an opportunity for your graduating seniors to apply and be considered for the GEAR UP Scholarship. Although the scholarship is targeted for the students in the GEAR UP program, there are funds remaining in our annual allocation to offer 50-60 non GEAR UP students who participated in either a federal Talent Search or Upward Bound program.
This year we awarded scholarships in the amount of $2,200 and we won’t know until July what the amount of the scholarship for the coming school year will be. Once the student qualifies as a college freshmen, they can continue to receive the scholarship each year for a total of 5 years (10 semesters). The students also need to attend a 2 or 4 year college in the State of Wisconsin; be enrolled in consecutive semesters; make academic progress according the college’s institutional policy; and qualify for a PELL grant and either WHEG or WTG.
This year’s scholarship is only offered to students who plan to attend college either the first or second semester of the 2010-2011 academic school year. The attached application needs to be completed and signed by the student and a TS or UB staff member must also sign the form to verify their enrollment in the program. We also need a copy of the student’s award letter from the college they plan to attend in the fall.
I anticipate awarding the scholarships to this group of students sometime in July after I complete the GEAR UP student award process. Therefore, I would like to encourage you to return the application forms to me by July.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I can be contacted either by email at: bonnie.dockry@dpi.wi.gov or by telephone at: 715-836-3469.