College Student Scholarships | Horace Smith Fund

The Walter S. Barr Scholarship

Our Walter S. Barr Scholarship opportunities for college students are available to students with at least two years left of undergraduate study. The Horace Smith Fund offers scholarships to current college students who are also permanent residents in Hampden County, MA and who have graduated from eligible Hampden County secondary schools.

These awards are determined using all available information, including academic records, college entrance examination scores, general attainments, recommendations, and financial need. The scholarships will continue for the remainder of the four-year course if justified by the student’s record and need.

Scholarships are granted in the amount of $3,000 per academic year, paid directly to the college or university in $1,500 installments each semester, and carry a maximum value of up to $12,000. Scholarships may be automatically renewed each year provided a minimum GPA of 3.0 is maintained.

Instructions

Listed below are instructions to apply for Walter S. Barr Scholarships for current college students. These awards are determined using all available information, including academic records, college entrance examination scores, general attainments, recommendations, and financial need. The awards continue until the student’s undergraduate degree is completed, if justified by the student’s academic record and financial need.

Scholarships are granted in the amount of $3,000 per academic year and paid directly to the college or university in $1,500 installments each semester. They carry a maximum value of up to $12,000, depending on the number of years remaining in the student’s degree. Completed application and required documents must be received in the Horace Smith Fund office no later than March 15th. DO NOT staple or permanently bind any of your application materials in any way.

Step 1: High School And College Transcripts

You are responsible for having an official college and high school transcript mailed to the address below. Alternatively, you may request your high school’s guidance department and college Registrar’s office to email or send your transcript via electronical delivery to info@horacesmithfund.org. If you are a freshman in college and applying before your first semester has ended, please have your transcript sent after grades have been finalized.

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

Step 2: College Entrance Exams

Applicants are encouraged to have taken the SAT or the ACT and submit scores to enhance their application. The College Board measures general verbal and quantitative reasoning with the SAT, and the ACT measures achievement related to high school curricula. When requesting your scores through College Board, indicate you would like them sent to us electronically by using our organization code of 0017. If you have taken the ACT, please have your score report mailed to:

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

Step 3: Reference Forms

Three people, not relatives, should complete reference forms for you. If you are in your first semester of college when applying, at least two references should be from high school counselors and teachers who are familiar with your ability and potential. A third reference can be from a college instructor with similar knowledge. For applicants in their second or third year of college, all references can submitted by college advisors and professors. Seek appropriate references from those who are willing to write about your accomplishments. You are responsible for sending your recommenders a link to the reference form. Alternatively, you can download blank forms and provide them with a paper copy. If mailing, please have them sent to the address below:

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

Step 4: Personal Statement/Essay and Application

The personal statement, which is part of your application, is very important. This essay will help to distinguish you from other outstanding applicants. Your essay should present who you are and who you hope to become as you pursue your education and career goals. Avoid a mere relisting of activities that are presented elsewhere in the application. List any extenuating financial circumstances that you think may impede your ability to attend college without financial assistance. Your academic records, activities, and recommendations will define your merit; your statement in the essay will provide the impact of this scholarship on your financial need.

Complete and submit the scholarship application online below or download blank forms. Completed application forms can also be mailed to:

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

Step 1 of 6

Instructions for Walter S. Barr Scholarship Applicants IN COLLEGE

1. Complete and submit the scholarship application online or download blank forms. DO NOT staple or permanently bind any of your application materials in any way. If Mailing, PLEASE SEND ALL INFORMATION TO THE HORACE SMITH FUND AT THIS ADDRESS:

THE HORACE SMITH FUND 16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2-K Westfield, MA 01085

2. Completed applications, letters of reference, and transcripts must be received in The Horace Smith Fund office no later than March 15th.

3. The applicant is responsible for having both an official college and high school transcript mailed to The Horace Smith Fund.

4. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board or the ACT and submit the scores to enhance their application. The College Board measures general verbal and quantitative reasoning with the SAT and measures achievement related to high school curricula with ACT. When registering for the examination or when completing a College Board transcript request form, please ask the College Board to send the scores to us indicating 0017 as the code number and “The Horace Smith Fund, 16 Union Avenue, Suite 2K, Westfield, MA 01085” as one of the institutions to which a score report should be sent.

5. Three persons, not relatives, should complete reference forms for you. At least one reference should be from a high school counselor or teacher, who is familiar with your ability and potential. A second and third reference may be from college instructors or advisors, who have similar knowledge of your work. Seek appropriate references from those who are willing to write about your accomplishments. Reference forms should be completed online or mailed by the person writing the reference to The Horace Smith Fund.

6. The “Personal Statement/Essay,” which is part of your application, is very important. The essay will help to distinguish you from other outstanding applicants. Your essay should present who you are and who you hope to become as you pursue your education and career goals. List any extenuating financial circumstances that you think may impede your ability to finish college. Your academic records, activities, and recommendations will define your merit; your statement in the essay will provide the impact of this scholarship on your financial need.

8. Awards will be made based on all available information, including school records, recommendations, and examination scores. Consideration will be given to both the merit and financial need of the applicant.

PERSONAL DATA

Name(Required)

First Middle Name or Initial Last

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Email(Required)

Telephone(Required)

Cell Phone

High School(Required)

Graduation Year(Required)

College(Required)

Expected Year of Graduation(Required)

Major academic concentration

REFERENCES

List below the three persons, not relatives, whom you have asked to be your references.

At least one reference should be from a high school counselor or teacher, who is familiar with your ability and potential.

Name

First Last

Title

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Name

First Last

Title

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Name

First Last

Title

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Click Here to download the Reference Form. You are responsible for providing each recommender a paper copy of the form or the link to complete the Reference Form online. Reference forms must be completed online or mailed to The Horace Smith Fund.

Check this box to confirm you understand this step in the process.

PERSONAL APTITUDES AND INTERESTS

If you are in your fall semester of your first year, you may include information from your high school career.

List offices or leadership roles you have held in school, student organizations or in the community.

List your school activities (e.g., sports, music, theater, journalism, community service, etc.)

List your activities outside of school (e.g., community service, volunteer activities, Scouts, church organizations, clubs, etc.)

Describe awards or prizes that you have received for achievement at school or in the community.

List any special training you have received (e.g., music, art, martial arts, dance, sports, etc.)

PERSONAL STATEMENT/ESSAY

Personal Essay(Required)

This is an important essay that will distinguish you from other highly competent applicants. Please provide your thoughtful response on this sheet if sufficient space is provided or on an additional sheet if more space is required. Explain why you consider yourself a good applicant for the Walter S. Barr Scholarship. Include your most significant achievements, academic interests, subjects that you like best and the reasons that have led to your education and career goals.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE?

Please be as specific as possible in explaining what your intentions are following your graduation.

STUDENT FINANCES

List your work experience, including summers(Required)

Employer

Dates of Employment

Type of Work

Earnings

No work experience

If you have no work experience, explain why:

Your total savings from all sources(Required)

Using the official cost estimates for your first college choice (see below), complete the following projections for the first year.

College name(Required)

College location(Required)

Your Expenses(Required)

Tuition

Fees

Room & Board

Total Expenses(Required)

Your Resources(Required)

From your savings

From parents and-or others

Summer earnings

College aid: Grants

College aid: Work-study

College aid: Loans

Total Resources(Required)

List scholarships and grants, with approximate dollar value, that you currently receive.

Title

Approximate dollar value

Signature of applicant(Required)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Date(Required)

For Current College Students

The Walter S. Barr Scholarship

Instructions

Step 1: High School And College Transcripts

Step 2: College Entrance Exams

Step 3: Reference Forms

Step 4: Personal Statement/Essay and Application

PERSONAL DATA

REFERENCES

PERSONAL APTITUDES AND INTERESTS

PERSONAL STATEMENT/ESSAY

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE?

STUDENT FINANCES

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