Scholarship FAQs
What scholarships are offered by ACSF?
The Asheville City Schools Foundation offers approximately 20 unique scholarships each year. In addition to ACSF scholarships, our committee also awards the SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship. To view the full list of scholarship awards, please view our scholarship catalog available below.
What are the acsf scholarship criteria?
Student is enrolled at Asheville High or SILSA and is in their senior year
Student will be attending a 2 or 4 year college or university
Student has demonstrated financial need as indicated by a FAFSA EFC of $14,000 or less (some exceptions may apply).
Student has earned a weighted GPA of 2.75 (some exceptions may apply- several of our multi-year scholarships require a 3.0 or above)
Student has supported the community through service (childcare, jobs, extra curriculars, etc)
What are the SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship Criteria?
Please note that while ACSF scholarships require financial need as indicated above, the SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship does not require financial need. Students interested in applying for the SECU Foundation scholarship should complete the ACSF scholarship application, available December 1st.
Student is either an SECU member or is eligible for membership through a parent/guardian. Student or their parent/guardian must be a member at the time of application.
Student is a senior at a North Carolina public high school who has been accepted to one of the 16 constituent campuses of the University of North Carolina System, copy of acceptance letter must be provided.
Student is a US citizen and a resident of North Carolina under NCGS 116-143.1 and is eligible for in-state tuition.
Student exemplifies the “People Helping People” philosophy of SECU, and has demonstrated leadership, excellence of character, integrity, and community involvement.
Student demonstrates scholastic achievement with a maintained 2.5 or higher unweighted grade point average on a 4.0 scale and may be deserving of financial aid.
Student will use the scholarship to pay for full-time undergraduate student tuition and fees.
Student agrees to continue as a full-time student in good standing (maintained 2.5 or higher GPA) with the same university for up to eight (8) consecutive fall/spring semesters payable at $1,250 per semester.
Student is not a director, employee, or family member of a director or employee of SECU or the SECU Foundation, or a family member of a member of the scholarship selection committee.
What is the process for ACSF scholarships?
We have one online application for all scholarships. Applications open November 15th, 2023 and are due by February 15th, 2024.
In August, look for the catalog on our website with reminders of when scholarship applications open. The ACSF Scholarship Coordinator will connect with all senior English classes in the fall to virtually present on scholarships. A link to the application will be included in all advertising, as well as available on this page of our website.
How are scholarship awardees determined?
A committee comprised of 10-12 members is carefully selected each year. We select from a diverse pool of ACS staff and administration, active community members, college professors, and ACSF board members. The committee reviews all applicants, reads their essays, and interviews the final round of eligible students.
Our committee takes a number of factors into consideration when reviewing applicants, including: academic history, community involvement, extra-curricular involvement, work experience, leadership, communication skills, maturity, self-awareness, financial need and expected family contribution, outside scholarships and grants awarded, and length of time spent in ACS. Committee scores are used to determine which students are most closely aligned with each scholarship’s criteria. ACSF is committed to the equitable distribution of scholarship awards.
When will my family and I find out if I have received a scholarship?
There are two rounds of scholarship selection. In February, the committee reads all applications and essays. The top 35-50 students are selected for interviews. Students receive an email notifying them if they have been selected to interview for a scholarship. After interviews are held in late March, students are notified that they have received a scholarship by the beginning of April, but will not know which scholarship they have been awarded until late April.
Students are required to write a thank you letter to the family they are receiving their scholarship from before their funds are disbursed to their school.
For questions or more information, please contact:
Aryelle Jacobsen
Scholarships and TAPAAS Coordinator
aryelle@acsf.org
(828) 350-6174