2025 Growing and Empowering Minds for Success (GEMS) Scholarship Application Logo
  • Growing and Empowering Minds for Success (GEMS) Scholarship Application

    Greater Denton County (TX) Chapter
  • DEADLINE – Completed application packages must be received electronically by Monday, March 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

    For additional questions, please contact Deanna Marsh at 214-641-5560 or Sharen Jackson at 817-980-1333 or GDCCGEMSscholarship@gmail.com.
  • OVERVIEW:

    As a longstanding organization founded on principles rooted in empowering our communities, Greater Denton County (TX) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated, is proud to continue its unwavering support to African American students dedicated to pursuing their vision for the future. Now in its seventh year, The Growing and Empowering Minds for Success Scholarship has afforded several young students resources to complement and expand their college education plans.
     
    The Greater Denton County (TX) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated, will award several scholarships, including but not limited to the following:
     

    • GEMS 2025 SCHOLAR: Our top award will go to one outstanding female whom we determine has gone above and beyond in academic pursuits, character development, and community service.
    • GEMS 2025 STEM SCHOLAR: A scholarship will be awarded to a female or male student pursuing a higher-level education in a STEM field.
    • GEMS 2025 ARTS SCHOLAR: A scholarship will be awarded to a female or male student seeking to pursue an education in the Arts.
    • GEMS 2025 HBCU SCHOLAR: A scholarship will be awarded to a female or male student who plans to attend a Historically Black College and/or University. The student must apply, be accepted to, and attend one of our nation’s designated Historically Black Colleges and/or Universities. The scholarship will not be funded if the student decides not to attend an HBCU.

    REQUIREMENTS:

    • 3.0 minimum GPA
    • Must be a graduating senior (Class of 2025) of African American heritage who is a resident of or attends a high school in Denton County, Texas
    • Must be able to provide documented acceptance to a four-year college or university and evidence of service and/or involvement in groups and activities that enhance people's lives in their community.
    • Children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and relatives of members of the Greater Denton County (TX) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated, or other chapters of The Links, Incorporated are not eligible for scholarships.
    • All applicants will be considered eligible for all applicable scholarships; however, only STEM majors will be considered for STEM scholarships, and only Arts majors will be considered for Art scholarships. Only applicants who have applied to an HBCU will be considered for the HBCU scholarship.

    APPLICATION GUIDELINES:

    1.     The complete scholarship application package consists of:
            a. Scholarship Application (see below)
            b. Recent photo
            c. College Entrance Exam Score (SAT or ACT), if not applicable, please provide               supporting documentation
            d. High School Transcript
            e. Two letters of recommendation. One letter MUST be from one of the applicant’s teachers.
            f.  1000-word essay (see section on essay guidelines)
            g. Confirm acceptance by the college if received. If a confirmation letter has not been received, it MUST be submitted before the scholarship check is issued. If the applicant is not able to provide documentation of college acceptance, the scholarship will not be awarded.
            h. The application must be completed in its entirety at the time of submission. Applicants will not be allowed to supplement the application, and incomplete applications will not be processed.


    2.     DEADLINE – Completed application packages must be submitted by Monday, March 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Applications should be emailed to GDCCGEMSscholarship@gmail.com


    3.      Applicants who complete the application and are selected as finalists may proceed to a personal interview if the Scholarship Committee deems it necessary. Written notification via e-mail will be sent to the applicants no later than Tuesday, April 15, 2025.


    4.     Only applicants entering college in either the Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 are eligible to receive this scholarship.

  • Applicant Information

  • Educational Information

  • Extracurricular Activities

  • Community Activities

  • Summary Statement

  • Essay Guidelines

  • ·      Maximum of 1000 words
    ·      Typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font.
    ·      Please answer one of the following essay questions:
     
    (1)  Social media continues to be a dominant and necessary form of virtual communication. How has social media impacted you, your community, and the world? Consider the impacts on the economy, politics, societal issues, and entertainment.
     
    (2)  Describe a time when you overcame an obstacle and how did you do it? What did you learn from the experience?
     
    (3)  If you could have a conversation with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

  • Signatures

    I commit that the information provided is truthful and correct.
  • Clear
  • Clear
  •  - -
  •  - -
  • Browse Files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof
  • Should be Empty: