Professional Development Scholarship Application

Please email Meg Franges to notify the application has been submitted! Her email is: mfranges@co.routt.co.us

Application Notes

* If your application is approved, you will receive your scholarship agreement
letter. Please read your agreement letter carefully as it states the provisions of
your scholarship.
* The maximum scholarship amount for a student to recieve from First Impressions for a calendar school year will be $1,200. The FI grant review committee may make exceptions to this rule.

The First Impressions Professional Development Scholarship fund is supported through limited grant funding and other temporary financial resources. As such, funding availability is not guaranteed and may change at any time without notice. First Impressions reserves the right to approve, deny, or discontinue assistance for any applicant at its sole discretion and for any reason, including but not limited to funding limitations, eligibility concerns, or program priorities. 

CMC Students: FI will provider you a 3rd-party-billing-form which you to complete and return before or immediatly after registration. CMC will then bill FI at the end of the semester for 90% of your tuition costs. This should be reflected in your student account portal.

CNCC or Other Accredited University Students: As of 2025, CNCC is no longer extending 3rd party billing options to First Impressions. Due to this, teachers or their centers are responsible for initially paying the bill for CNCC classes or classes at other accredited universities. At the end of the semester, approriate reimbursement will occur if the following steps have been completed by the applicant and First Impressions:

* Student has applied for a professional development scholarship and been accepted by First Impressions Staff after confirming their enrollment in the purposed class(es). 

* Student has completed the Professional Development Scholarship for First Impressions, complete with their center/school Director's signature before begining to take the class. 

* Student has recieved a passing grade in the approved class. A passing grade is defined as a C or above. 

* First Impressions has received a copy of your final class transcript and an offical receipt from the university details exact payment details for the class. 

If all steps are completed, First Impressions will reimburse you or your center for the tuition costs of the class, up to a maximum of 90% of tuition costs (excluding book and technogy fees) or up to a maximum of $1,200 per calendar school year (as stated in the scholarship agreement letter). If a center is requiring reimbursement, a proper invoice detailing the expense relating to the specific student approved for the scholarship, date, and payment address must be delivered to First Impressions Staff. If no invoice or recipet is presented to First Impressions for reimbursement after 90 days of class completion, no reimbursement will be given. 

* Alternative pathways for professional development scholarship awards outside of college classes will be considered on a case by case basis. Please note that there is the opportuntiy to sign up for the Colorado Opportunity Fund if available at your college or university.

135 6th Street, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
E-Mail: mfranges@co.routt.co.us

If you decide NOT to take the class(es) after you have completed this application or drop the class after you have been approved, please contact First Impressions at 970-870- 5270 or agustke@co.routt.co.us to let us know of this change. If you drop after the full reimbursement period for the college/university, you will be held responsible for all tuition, technology, and book fees incured for the approved class. 

Professional Development Application

Please sign the following agreement to note that you have read and understand your responsibility in this scholarship agreement.

After you have been approved for a scholarship grant, you will be asked to re-sign this agreement as a contract for our files.

I understand and agree to the following:

* I will maintain employment in the field of Early Childhood Education for at least 1 year following completion of training/coursework. If I do not adhere to this, the grant will be subtracted from my last paycheck or reimbursed to Routt County.

*  I will pay for 10% of the costs for the college coursework.

*  I must receive a passing grade which is either an A, B, C, or "pass" grade in my college coursework. If I do not receive a passing grade, I will be required to reimburse First Impressions for the amount of the scholarship.

* I will be required to reimburse First Impressions for the amount of the scholarship if I withdraw from the course after the refund date. Please check the refund dates for your class(es

* I agree to share information with other professionals with a one page written summary.

* I agree to be observed and assessed or coached if recommended by First Impressions and have information shared with employer.

* I agree to apply for or maintain the Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential following this grant activity.