2027 WSSRA High School Scholarship Application

(PEMCO)Robert J. Handy/WSSR Foundation/Gene Forrester Memorial Scholarships

2027 Scholarship Application
Due March 1, 2027

The Washington State School Retirees' Association (WSSRA) invites high school seniors to apply for the Robert J. Handy and WSSR Foundation scholarships. These awards are given to students who plan to pursue a career in public education.

Statewide eight (8) WSSR – Foundation Scholarships and sixteen (16) Robert J. Handy Scholarships will be awarded to students whose degree would be in one of these areas: teacher, counselor, speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, social worker, or school psychologist.

For the WSSR-Foundation Scholarship, one $2,500 award will be granted in each of the eight WSSRA regions.

For the Robert J. Handy Scholarship, two $900 scholarships that are renewable for up to three additional years (four years total) will be awarded in each of the eight WSSRA regions and funded by PEMCO.

In addition, two (2) Gene Forrester Memorial Scholarships at $2,000 each will be awarded to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and who will major in Agricultural Education at Washington State University.

Also, in each of WSSRA's eight regions, local WSSRA units may award additional scholarships.

WSSRA collects and distributes applications to readers in our eight regions who will select the recipients. Applicants will be notified by May 14, 2027, if they have been chosen.

Here are some important things you need to do before completing this form:

1) Consider printing a blank copy of this application form for reference as you prepare your responses.

2) Have three current letters of recommendation available to submit. Two recommendation letters must come from teachers, counselors, administrators, or school-based personnel. In addition, a third letter can come from a coach/mentor, religious leader, friend or family acquaintance. Note: The letters must address your potential to become an educator (work ethic, attitude, persistence and/or communication skills).

3) Have your transcripts available to submit.

4) Have a picture of yourself (JPEG preferred) available to submit.
Note: The Gene Forrester Memorial Scholarship is for high school seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and who will major in Agricultural Education at Washington State University.
I am applying for (check one or more boxes):

I. Applicant's Information

Please fill out the information requested below.
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Mailing Address
Mailing City
Mailing State
Mailing Zip
County
Email

Confirmation Emailexample@example.com
Primary Phone Number
Area Code+Phone Number
Alternate Phone Number
Area Code+Phone Number
High School
High School not in the above list
Graduation date (must be graduating high school this academic year)
Sample: 02152023
What college or university do you plan to attend?
Have you already been formally admitted?
What educational field (such as teacher, counselor, school psychologist, social worker or physical/occupational/or speech therapist in an educational setting) are you planning to pursue?
Parent / Guardian Information
First Name*   Last Name*        Area Code+Phone Number*

Street Address*

City*   State*   Zip*
Parent / Guardian information

First Name Last Name Area Code + Phone Number

Street Address

City State Zip

II. Statements

Please respond to each of the following questions or statements in a manner that allows us to see your potential as an educator you might become. Your responses in this section are vital to our determining who will receive our scholarships. Non-teacher applicants: When responding to these prompts, please substitute your chosen field of interest (for example, counselor, social worker, speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, school psychologist) for "teacher".
We value your lived experiences and voice over borrowed AI content. We want to hear your authentic voice, motivation, and passion for pursuing a career in education.
1. List and briefly describe your school and community activities, volunteer work, leadership roles, sports, honors/awards, and/or work experiences during your high school years. Please identify acronyms.
2. Who or what has inspired or motivated you to become an educator? Please answer with a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 200 words.

0/200
3. Describe an event, experience or challenge not mentioned in the previous response that you've encountered that led you to considering a career in education. Please answer with a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 200 words.

0/200
4. Share something about yourself that is not covered elsewhere in the application that you believe is important for the selection committee to know. Please answer with a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 200 words.

0/200
5. Describe what your financial need for attending college will be. If your needs are not financial, what kind(s) are they? Please answer with a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 200 words.

0/200

III. Letters of Recommendation

Please follow the instructions outlined below.
Please upload three letters of recommendaton (two must be from a teacher, counselor, administrator or other school-based worker AND one must be from a person outside of education). Family members or relatives should not be recommenders. Each recommendation must address your potential for success in the field of education (work ethic, attitude, persistence, and/or communication skills). All letters must be current.
1. Letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, administrator, or other school-based worker.

Preferably PDF or DOC (DOCX)
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1.
First Name   Last Name


Email    Area Code   Phone Number
2. Letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, administrator, or other school-based worker.

Preferably PDF or DOC (DOCX)
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2.
First Name   Last Name

Email    Area Code   Phone Number
3. Letter of recommendation from a person outside of the education field.

Preferably PDF or DOC (DOCX)
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3.
First Name   Last Name

Email    Area Code   Phone Number

IV. Transcript

Please upload current transcript(s) here.
1.

Preferably PDF or DOC (DOCX)
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2. Upload here if you have a second set of transcripts from a different school.

Preferably PDF or DOC (DOCX)
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V. Recent Picture Plus Waiver and Release Form:

In the event you are awarded a scholarship, this is legally required in order for WSSRA to publish your name and photograph in our local newsletters and/or the WSSRA Journal.
Please submit a recent picture (photo must be from the shoulders up)

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Signature of applicant 18 and older OR a parent/guardian of applicant 17 and under:

Please choose whose signature we will be obtaining.
Applicant 18 and older
Parent/Guardian for applicant 17 and younger*



I hereby give my permission to the Washington State School Retirees’ Association/WSSR Foundation to use the applicant's name and/or likeness in media releases or news stories.

First Name   Last Name

Signature   Date

By signing/typing your legal name in the space below, you are certifying that all information is correct and that you are the person completing this application. When you press the submit button, you will receive an email confirmation that your application was received. Please print for your records and retain as verification of your application.
WSSR Foundation would like to share your application with the WSSRA unit in your area so that if you do not receive a PEMCO/Robert J. Handy/WSSR Foundation/Gene Forrester Memorial Scholarship, you may still be selected as a recipient of a local unit scholarship. Please check the box below to give the WSSR Foundation permission to share your application with the local unit.
If you are selected as a recipient of a (PEMCO) Robert J. Handy/WSSR Foundation/Gene Forrester Memorial scholarship you will be notified by mail from WSSRA in May with instructions on how to accept your scholarship. You will need to accept the scholarship by July 15 or the scholarship will be offered to the alternate. If you are not selected as a recipient, you will still be notified in May.
Below is an example of the rubric that will be used to score applications.
Should be Empty:

(PEMCO)Robert J. Handy/WSSR Foundation/Gene Forrester Memorial Scholarships

I. Applicant's Information

II. Statements

III. Letters of Recommendation

IV. Transcript

V. Recent Picture Plus Waiver and Release Form: