Student Scholarships

Scholarship Goals

The Coffey Scholarship rewards and encourages high academic standards, leadership, service to others, and a spirit of resourcefulness and initiative – those characteristics that Harold Coffey admired.

College costs are increasing at a far greater rate than wages are, and the Coffey Scholarship seeks to assist families with the burden of college expenses.

Eligibility

A student must meet the following requirements:

• Be a Caldwell County resident and a student in one of the Caldwell County public high schools
• Be ranked in the top 5% of his/her senior class according to weighted GPA
• Have not received 80% of cost of attendance of his/her college of choice in scholarships
• Be accepted at an accredited four-year college
• Have completed the application and all required materials (recommendations, transcript) by the stated deadline

Selection Criteria

In keeping with the values of the Coffey family, the Selection Committee will consider the following:

• Academic achievement
• Leadership in school and community activities
• Character and commitment to serve others
• Resourcefulness and initiative
• Ability to express oneself in writing and orally
• Financial resources available to achieve one’s educational goals

Scoring

The following three component scores will be used to determine scholarships awarded:

• Application/Recommendations
• Financial Resources
• Interview

The Scholarship

The amount of the scholarship and the number of scholarships awarded are determined annually, based on revenues produced by the investments of the Coffey Foundation. The Coffey Scholarship is intended to help cover tuition and other educational costs for a set term of two to four years.

In previous years, the average amount of a full scholarship has been approximately $8,000 a year for two to four years. The average amount of a partial scholarship has been $4,000 a year for two to four years.

Annual renewal of the scholarship is based on a review of the recipient’s academic progress.

Applying for the Scholarship

• The Scholarship Committee will provide school counselors with procedures and guidelines for completing the scholarship application in March of each year.
• Students will complete the application online, print a copy, and submit all materials to their counselor by the date set by their counselor.
• Applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee who will select approximately sixteen candidates to be interviewed.

Awarding the Scholarship

• Students who are chosen to be interviewed but are not selected as winners will receive a one-time $1,000 educational stipend.
• Scholarship winners and school counselors will be notified by mail within one week of the last interview.
• Winners and their parents will be formally recognized at an awards dinner in May.

The Coffey Foundation does not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of race, religion, color, gender, handicap, national origin or political belief or affiliation.