2026 RELAC Scholarship Application

1. Purpose 

The RELAC Scholarship Program awards five (5) $1,000 scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors or undergraduate students who demonstrate academic achievement and have been accepted to or are attending a college, university, or trade school accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). This program reflects RELAC’s ongoing commitment to advancing education and fostering community engagement. 

2. Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must: 

2.1. Be a close relative of a RELAC member—defined as a child, grandchild, great-grandchild (including step-relations and adopted family members).  
2.2. Be a high school senior graduating in the current academic year or an undergraduate student currently enrolled at a college, university, or trade school.  
2.3 Submit a complete application with all required documents by the published deadline.
2.4 At the time of the award, be accepted to and plan to attend an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  
2.5 Individuals who have previously received a RELAC Scholarship are not eligible to apply again.

3. Application Packet Requirements 

A complete application must include: 

3.1. The RELAC Scholarship Application Form, signed and dated by the RELAC sponsor.  
3.2. An official high school or college transcript (sealed or sent directly from the school).  
3.3. A personal statement or essay (maximum 500 words) describing educational goals, community service, and how the scholarship will help achieve those goals.  
3.4. Two letters of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, and a community leader. 

4. Application Process and Timeline 

4.1. Announcement  
• Scholarship availability shall be announced in RELAC’s newsletter, website, and other official communications by January 15 of each year.   
4.2. Submission Deadline  
• All applications must be received or postmarked by the date established by the committee.  
• Late applications will not be considered.  
4.3. Initial Screening  
• Administrative staff will review all applications for eligibility and completeness.  
4.4. Evaluation Committee  
• The Scholarship Review Subcommittee, appointed by the Membership Outreach Committee, shall evaluate all eligible applications using a standardized scoring rubric.  
• Evaluation criteria:  
 – Academic performance – 40%  
 – Essay content and clarity – 30%  
 – Community involvement and leadership – 20%  
 – Strength of recommendation – 10%  
4.5. Selection and Approval  
• The top five scoring applicants shall be recommended to the Membership Outreach Committee for final approval. The Membership Outreach Committee Chair will notify the RELAC Board of the winning candidates.  
4.6. Notification  
• Award recipients and sponsors shall be notified by a letter drafted by the Membership Outreach Committee by April 30.  
• Recipients and their sponsors shall be invited to the Awards Ceremony, normally held in June.  
• A photo of each recipient (alone or with their sponsor) will be requested for the program and newsletter.  
• Applicants not selected shall be notified via email or letter. 

5. Award Disbursement 

5.1. Scholarship funds shall be issued directly to the recipient’s college, university, or trade school upon verification of enrollment.  
5.2. Recipients must submit proof of enrollment, such as a class schedule or registrar’s verification.  
5.3. Staff shall coordinate with financial aid offices to determine where and how to send scholarship funds to serve each recipient best.  

In the fields below, please enter the information for the sponsored family member applying for the scholarship. Please ensure that the applicant's email address is current and correct, as the application will be sent to this address to be completed.

At the bottom of the page, please enter the information for the RELAC member sponsoring the application.

I, {sponsoringRelac}, do hereby certify that this information is true, complete, and accurate. I authorize release of information to confirm and verify this application. I further authorize release of my name and photograph in connection with award announcements in the event I am selected. I understand that this information provided to the Scholarship Committee will be held in confidence and will be used solely for the purpose of scholarship selection. I also understand that this award can be applied toward tuition, fees, books, supplies, or equipment required for the courses necessary in my degree program. I understand that the decision of the RELAC Board is final and there is no appeal process.