Eligible applicants include:
1) Graduating high school seniors;
2) Reside in Connecticut, Maine, or in Sacramento County, California;
3) Have earned a high school cumulative GPA greater or equivalent to 3.5 on a 4.0 scale;
4) Have significant financial need or are first-generation college students.
Do I have to be accepted to college to apply?
No, students do not have to be admitted to a college to apply. However, students must matriculate to an accredited Bachelor’s degree-granting institution to receive their award.
What if I live in an eligible locale, but attend school out of state or region?
Students who reside in an eligible locale, but attend school elsewhere, are eligible for this scholarship program.
What if I attend school in an eligible locale, but reside out of state or region?
Students who attend school in an eligible locale, but reside elsewhere, are not eligible for this scholarship program.
How is residence determined?
Eligibility will be determined on the basis of zip code. Applicants will be asked to provide and confirm their physical home address, including zip code. Post office box addresses and zip codes will not be accepted.
What is the minimum GPA requirement?
Applicants must have earned a high school cumulative GPA greater or equivalent to 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or 87.5 on a 100 point scale. If your school computes GPA in another way, and you are unsure if you qualify, please contact scholarship@jax.org to discuss your academic record and eligibility.
What is my school does not calculate GPA on a 4.0 scale; or, what if my school does not calculate GPA at all?
If your school computes GPA in another way, and you are unsure if you qualify, please contact scholarship@jax.org to discuss your academic record and eligibility.
Are there academic requirements other than GPA?
No. This program does not require specific coursework or experiences. GPA is used as a measurement of overall academic performance.
How will you determine if I have “significant financial need”?
Financial need will be self-reported by the applicant, including their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the applicant’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and confirmed by their guidance counselor. The significance of the financial need will be evaluated within the context of the overall scholarship application pool.
Define ‘first-generation’ college student.
First-generation college students include students whose parents did not complete a Bachelor’s degree. Neither parent can have completed their Bachelor’s degree. If one parent completed a Bachelor’s but the other did not, the student is not eligible. Students whose parents started but did not complete a Bachelor’s program are eligible. Students whose parents completed an Associates degree, but no higher degree, are eligible. Students from single-parent households should only consider the academic achievement of their legal parent or guardian. Students in foster or adoptive care should only consider the academic achievement of their biological parents. If the academic achievement of the biological parents is unknown, the student is considered first-generation and is eligible. Students unsure of their first-generation status should contact scholarship@jax.org to discuss their eligibility.
How many scholarships will be awarded?
Three scholarships will be typically awarded, including one award in each geographic locale — Connecticut, Maine, and in Sacramento County, California. If the applicants from a given region do not meet the selection criteria, that scholarship may not be awarded in a given year.
Will this program be offered next year?
The Jackson Laboratory intends to offer this scholarship on an annual basis.
How will the scholarship be paid?
Scholarship payments will be made to the student’s account at their college of record. $5,000 will be awarded during the student’s first year; the second $5,000 will be awarded during the student’s sophomore year.
How do I apply?
Students must be nominated by a teacher. Nominated students will receive detailed application information from the Laboratory.
May I ask my teacher to nominate me for this scholarship?
Yes. If you are interested in this scholarship, you are encouraged to seek a teacher nomination.
I am a home-schooled student; how do I apply?
Home-schooled students must request a nomination from their home-schooled teacher, which may include a parent.
Can someone other than a teacher nominate me for this scholarship?
JAX will accept a teacher OR administrator's nomination.
When can I apply?
Pending receipt of a teacher nomination, scholarship applications will be accepted starting January 10. Teacher nominations will be accepted until February 15. Final student applications must be submitted on or before March 15.
What is required in the application?
A complete application will include, but will not be limited to: a transcript, personal statement, and a self-reported measurement of financial need certified by a guidance counselor.
How many students may be nominated from one school?
This scholarship program does not limit the number of students who may be nominated from any given school.
How many students may one teacher nominate?
This scholarship program does not limit the number of students who may be nominated by a single teacher.
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