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
Applications are closed.