Miss Missouri Scholarship Competition 2023
Scholarship Rules and Regulations
Effective December 2007
1) Scholarship Usage:
Delegates may submit invoices for payment directly for the provider of the educational service or may submit a receipted bill and request reimbursement. All invoices and receipts must be originals. Delegates may not request payment or reimbursement for expenses, which are or have been covered through any other financial aid source other than student loans, which meet the provisions of paragraph #5 below.
Delegates should be aware of the following:
• Amounts received, as scholarship payments, are taxable income to the extent that they exceed “Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses.”
• Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses include tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance of a student at an educational organization, including fees, books, supplies, and equipment required of all students in the particular course of instruction.
• Incidental expenses such as room and, travel, research, clerical help and equipment and other resources not required for enrollment, attendance or for an instructional course may not be considered related expenses and may be includable as taxable income.
• A delegate should consult a tax adviser to determine if the scholarship payments received are taxable. Payment of all approved expenditures will be made directly to the college, university or other accredited institution unless paid receipts and/or copies of canceled checks are furnished which qualify the expense for reimbursements to the payer or scholarship contestant.
2) Requesting Usage:
Requests for scholarships are processed by Miss Missouri Scholarship Foundation upon written receipt of statements from colleges and schools or from the delegate for other educational expenses. All statements and invoices must be accompanied by a cover letter from the delegate. Requests for computer or musical equipment will be considered only if the college or school states in writing that it is a mandatory requirement for the contestant to complete the coursework. The delegate may be reimbursed for this expense provided the delegate submits either a letter from the school stating the mandatory requirements or a list of course requirements. There will be a $2000.00 cap on computer equipment and this type of expense will only be reimbursed only once. Computer software is not a reimbursable item. The original bill of sale must be submitted as well as the original credit card receipt or a copy of the canceled check.
Requests for payment for other educational expenses, e.g. private instructors or coursework not related to an accredited college, university or other accredited institution four year college or university must be pre-approved by the Miss Missouri Scholarship Committee and will be recommended only if the delegate is enrolled in school at an accredited institution at least part time or is taking the course as a continuing education unit.
3) Reimbursement Guidelines:
Reimbursements for room and board will generally be made to the educational institution and such request must be accompanied by appropriate documentation from the educational institution evidencing the charges for same. If the delegate has already made payment for this expense to the educational institution, reimbursement may be made with the appropriate documentation. delegate must maintain at least 12 credit hours as a full-time student, 9 credit hours part-time status and 9 credit hours for graduate in order to qualify. Reimbursements do not cover key fees or deposits. Utilities (electric, gas, cable, phone, etc.) are also not covered. It is the delegate's sure obligation to determine whether the scholarship, in whole or part, is includable in gross taxable income, regardless of whether a Form 1099 has been issued by either Miss Missouri Scholarship Foundation or Mexico Community Foundation. Delegates are encouraged to consult a tax advisor regarding the taxability of the scholarship payments.
4) Priority of Level in Usage:
Delegate must use the scholarships won at the local level prior to applying for their state scholarship. Verification must be submitted in writing from the Local Director that all local scholarship funds for this delegate have been paid. Request for computer equipment was discussed in Item 2. The request for an exception must be submitted in writing to the Miss Missouri Scholarship Committee for consideration.
5) Student Loans:
Scholarships may be used for outstanding/unpaid student loan obligations provided the delegate has satisfactorily completed the coursework for which the loan was obtained. In all cases, requests much include a current bill from the lender showing a current address, a copy of the promissory note showing that the delegate is either the primary or secondary payer of the obligation, and an official transcript showing completion of the coursework.
6) Usage for Future Expenses and Forfeitures:
Scholarships may be used for future educational expenses. Delegate must begin use of their scholarships within one (1) year of the date of the award (2 years allotted for Miss Missouri herself). If a delegate has no activity in her scholarship account during this period, the funds in her account will be forfeited. If a delegate forfeits any money from her scholarship award at the local level, her award at the state level will automatically be forfeited.
A Delegate who begins use of her scholarship within the time designated above will then be required to show continuous activity in her scholarship endeavors up to a limit of four (4) years following the date of the award. If there occurs a one (1) year period in which there is no activity in an account, then the balance of that account will be forfeited. Similarly, any balance remaining in a Delegate's said account four (4) year following the date of the award will be forfeited.
Scholarships, which have been forfeited, will remain in the scholarship account for future awards.
7) Cash Awards:
NO cash awards will be made.
MISS MISSOURI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND AND OR MODIFY THE FOREGOING SCHOLARSHIP RULES AND REGULATIONS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.
All bills and correspondence relative to the scholarship awards should be directed to:
Molly Hanley, Chairman
Scholarship Committee
Miss Missouri Scholarship Foundation
P.O. Box 351
Mexico, MO 65265
molly.hanley@hotmail.com