1) Applicant understands and agrees that the purpose of the scholarship award is to provide a means to achieve a desired goal of higher education.  The scholarship recipient must be enrolled full-time at an approved school or institution.  The Miss Pierce County’s Teen (MPCTeen) program takes its role in this process very seriously.  To this end, applicant agrees to provide the MPCTeen program with a claim for scholarship funds on the appropriate form, including all required information.

2) Scholarships shall be disbursed for tuition, other necessary fees, and required course materials as provided for in Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

• (2) Qualifited tuition and related expenses
• For the purposes of paragraph (1), the term "qualified tuition and related expenses" means-
• (a) tuition and fee required for the enrollment or attendance of a student at an educational organization described in section 170 (b)(1)(A)(ii), and
• (b) fees, books, supplies and equipment required for courses of instruction at such an educational organization.

3) The MPCTeen program will allow scholarship money to cover room (dormitory) and board at an accredited college and university (not to be used for off campus housing.)  However, we will not allow the funds to be used for purchasing a computer.

4) Applicants must have incurred the expense(s) at a qualifying school.  Qualifying schools may include:

• Accredited community colleges
• Accredited four-year colleges and universities
• Accredited trade schools and technical schools
• Other schools (if approved prior to attending such schools)

5) Requests for disbursal of scholarship funds will be processed only upon receipt of statements, invoices, or bills (or copies of statements, invoices, or bills) from the qualifying schools to which the applicant owes the funds.  Request must be made on an official "Scholarship Request Form" to Miss Pierce County's Teen.  Funds will be paid directly to the qualifying school, but may be dispersed to the applicant upon presentation of the properly completed application with the necessary documentation and receipts attached (paid receipts and/or copies of canceled checks), applicant should be aware that anywhere from one to four weeks may be required to process the disbursal requests and issue checks to the school, so it is wise to submit requests as early as possible.

6) Applicants will not request payment for reimbursements for any otherwise qualifying expenses, if such expenses have been or will be paid through any other financial source.

7) 7. Applicants are expected to use their MPCTeen scholarship funds by the end one year following their High School Graduation. We use May 31 as our universal graduation date

• For example, a teen candidate who graduates high school in 2024, has until May 31, 2025 to request her scholarship funds. A candidate who graduates in 2025 would have until May 31, 2026 to request their funds

Scholarship recipients are expected to keep track of the scholarship redemption timelines. The MPCTeen program will not be required to notify recipients of upcoming forfeitures. If MPCTeen program does not receive a scholarship request form or a written request for extension, from the scholarship recipient within the designated 12 month time frame following high school graduation, the scholarship amount will automatically be forfeited. This extension must be received by us before the May 31st deadline. This should include an explanation of why the extension request is being made. Requests will be accepted via email or regular mail. Emails should be sent to both director@misspiercecounty.org and mpctreasurer@gmail.com. Our mailing address is Miss Pierce County, 3825 Fennimore St Gig Harbor, WA  98333.  It is the responsibility of the candidate to verify the receipt or the extension request. If verification does not occur and the request was not received the candidate will relinquish their rights to an extension.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to verify the receipt of the extension request.  If verification does not occur and the request was not received the candidate will relinquish her rights to an extension.

  7a.  Upon receipt of the extension request, an extension of up to one year may be permitted.  The MPCTeen program will review the request to determine whether an extension is warranted and shall notify the requestor of the decision.  This decision shall be final and binding.  Should an extension be granted, any scholarship funds remaining in the account at the end of the extension period will automatically be forfeited and no further extensions will be granted.

8.  Any and all forfeited scholarship funds will be retained by MPCTeen program in the scholarship fund account to be disbursed to future recipients.