The Adler House.

Leo Adler Scholarship Q & A's

Q. Who is eligible for a Leo Adler Scholarship?
A. Graduates of Powder Valley High School and a high school located in Baker County or Baker County/Powder Valley High School students who have acquired a GED certificate from an educational institution in Baker County, Oregon.

Q. Where do I get an application?
A. Applications are available on line at www.leoadler.com or by writing to the Leo Adler Foundation at P.O. Box 7928, Boise, ID 83707.

Q. How do I submit my application?
A. Applications must be mailed to the Leo Adler Foundation, P.O. Box 7928, Boise, ID 83707 and MUST be postmarked on or before April 1. Hand delivered applications will not be accepted.

Q. How long am I eligible to receive a Leo Adler Scholarship?
A. A Student is eligible for a total of up to 15 terms or 10 semesters.

Q. If my application is submitted late, do I still have a chance to receive a scholarship?
A. No.

Q. Can I submit an application any other time during the year?
A. No. Not without approval of the committee.

Q. Will I be notified when my application is received?
A. No. Students will only be notified that they have received or have been denied an award after the application process is complete. This is usually in June.

Q. Will I be notified if my application is incomplete?
A. No. You will be notified after the application process is complete that your application was denied because it was incomplete.

Q. What is the average amount of an Adler Award?
A. Award amounts vary from year to year based upon the number of students applying, the market value of the Trust as of the end of each fiscal year, as well as the applicants financial need, grade history, type of school, etc. The average award is approximately $2,000.

Q. Should I apply for a scholarship other that the Leo Adler award?
A. Yes. The Leo Adler Scholarship is just one of many worthy scholarships available. You should apply for all scholarships you feel you are entitled to apply for and those in which you meet the applicable criteria. Students may receive scholarships or awards that total in excess of educational expenses. If that occurs, the Leo Adler award may be reduced accordingly.

Q. What is the purpose of the financial information requested on the application?
A. Financial need is one of the criteria the Committee considers. Financial information is necessary for verification of need.

Q. What criteria does the Committee use to judge applications?
A. Applicants must meet all five (5) of the following criteria: graduate from Powder Valley High School or a high school in Baker County or have acquired a GED certificate from an educational institution in Baker County, Oregon (GED recipients will not be awarded a scholarship unless they document substantial educational and other ties to Baker County/Powder Valley educational institutions prior to application); enroll and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours per term or semester and work toward a degree or an academic award or certificate at an accredited college, university, technical or vocational school; have achieved a cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or better or have achieved a cumulative collegiate GPA of 2.0 or better; have need for financial assistance in obtaining further education; have good moral character and demonstrate good citizenship and respect for the law.

Q. Why does the Committee need to see our tax returns?
A. Tax returns are necessary to help identify the financial need of an applicant.

Q. Should I apply if my family has substantial financial assets?
A. Yes, financial need is only one of the criteria the Committee considers.

Q. What is a FAFSA or SAR? What is an Award letter and how do I get one? How does it affect my scholarship application?
A. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is used to apply for federal student aid and is available at any college Financial Aid Office. Once you complete a FAFSA and either submit it on-line or mail it to the processor, the U.S. Department of Education will mail back to you a determination called a Student Aid Report or SAR. This process takes about four weeks. Your scholarship application will be enhanced if a copy of the SAR is attached. An Award letter is a letter from the college you will attend, listing the financial aid they are offering and you are eligible to receive. This is referred to as your financial aid package. This letter is usually generated by the college after you have sent them your SAR. If you have not received and Award letter by the application deadline, please submit a copy of it to the Committee as soon as you receive it.

Q. Why must I report the scholarships and awards I have received other than Adler?
A. It is necessary to monitor total awards to confirm that a Leo Adler Scholarship falls within the Foundation guidelines. Reduction of an Adler award resulting from receipt of scholarships in excess of educational expenses will provide funds for additional qualified applicants.

Q. When are funds sent to my school?
A. Funds are sent at the beginning of your academic year upon receipt of the required Leo Adler Scholarship Information Form and a transcript following the end of the previous academic year.

Q. What happens if I get to college and my scholarship money has not been received by my school?
A. Make certain that you have provided the Foundation with your transcript from the previous academic year (if you applied as a renewal) and the Leo Adler Scholarship Information Form. Funds will not be sent until this information has been received. You will not be contacted to provide this information.

Q. I am enrolled in less than 12 credit hours. Am I still eligible?
A. No. You must enroll in at least 12 credit hours AND complete all 12 credits each term/semester.

Q. What happens to my scholarship if I fail a class or withdraw from a class?
A. Because your entire scholarship is sent at the beginning of your academic year, it is your responsibility to maintain a 2.0 GPA or above and complete 12 credit hours or more. If you fail or withdraw from a class and it brings your total credit hours earned below 12 credit hours, your school will send a refund to the Foundation, per instructions to the school from the Foundation. If they don't, you may not qualify for an award the following academic year.

Q. What are my responsibilities after I receive my award?
A. You must complete and return the Leo Adler Scholarship Information form to the Foundation. This form designates where you have enrolled in school and provides a signed certification to the Committee that you accept the terms and conditions of the award. You must maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete at least 12 credit hours each term or semester. Failure to do so will result in the denial of your next academic year's application. You must submit a copy of your transcript for the full academic year to the Foundation upon completion of your academic year. Failure to do so will result in the withholding of the next academic year's award.

Q. What if I decide to attend a different school?
A.You must notify the Foundation in writing and include a budget for the new school indicating the cost of tuition, books, fees, room & board, travel, etc. Your award amount was based upon your original application. Your award may be adjusted depending upon the cost variance between the current school and the new school.

Q. What if I decide to take time off from school?
A. Awards are sent to your school at the beginning of the academic year. If a student elects to withdraw from school for a period of time, you must send a written explanation to the Committee. Upon failure to enroll in school, the funds are returned to the Foundation by the school. Your eligibility for unused funds will depend upon the time and circumstances of your withdrawal.

Q. If I received an award for the first time but never used it, do I apply as a first time applicant or a renewal applicant?
A. Regardless of whether you have used your award, once you have applied using the First Time application, you will always use the Renewal application to apply.

Q. Is there any assistance for part-time students?
A. Yes. Assistance is available for part-time students only if they are attending BMCC or EOU, Baker City campuses. Applications are available through those campuses only and must be reviewed by a counselor. Part-time applications can be submitted twice yearly and must be post-marked or delivered to those campuses by April 1 or September 1.

Q. If I have questions, who do I contact?
A. You may e-mail Samantha Butero at U.S. Bank at samantha.butero@usbank.com or call her at (208) 383-7994. You may also contact either of them in writing at the Leo Adler Foundation, P.O. Box 7928, Boise, ID 83707.