Scholarship Program

Application Due Date: Friday May 23, 2025
Announcement Date: Week of June 30th 2025

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

1. W-9 Requirement
   All applicants must submit a completed and signed IRS W-9 form with their application.
2. Citizenship and Immigration Status
   Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
   • Be a U.S. Citizen,
   • Be a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), or
   • Be an immigrant with a valid long-term immigration status, including:
   • • • • DACA recipients eligible under FAFSA guidelines,
         • Individuals with approved asylum or refugee status,
         • TPS (Temporary Protected Status) holders with valid work authorization.
3. Residency Requirement
   Applicants must reside in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area.
4. Degree and Institution Requirements
   • Applicants must be currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited high school, community college, college, or university in Texas.
   • Scholarship eligibility is limited to students pursuing an associate or undergraduate degree.
     Graduate students are not eligible.
5. Academic Requirements
   • A minimum cumulative GPA of:
     • 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or
     • 3.3 on a 5.0 scale
   • High school students must submit an official transcript.
   • College students may submit an unofficial transcript; however, an official transcript will be required if selected.
   • If a GPA is not included on the transcript, a school official must provide a letter on school letterhead verifying:
     • GPA,
     • Grading scale,
     • Class rank (if available)
6. Enrollment and Credit Hour Requirement
   College students must enroll in at least 9 credit hours per semester during the 2025–2026 academic year.
7. Major Declaration Requirement
   College students must have declared a major or minor by their sophomore year.
8. Volunteer and Extracurricular Requirements
   • Only extracurricular activities involving service, leadership, or community engagement will be considered. Recreational or personal enrichment activities (e.g., summer camps, non-service-based clubs) will not count toward extracurricular evaluation.
   • Applicants must submit documentation verifying community service or leadership roles, such as a letter from a supervisor detailing:
     • Type of activity
     • Total number of hours
     • Impact or responsibility
9. Previous Recipients
   Previous IHCH scholarship recipients may reapply if they meet all current eligibility criteria and submit a complete application.
10. Interviews
    The IHCH Scholarship Committee may request an interview with selected applicants.
11. Evaluation Criteria
    Applicants will be evaluated based on:
    • Academic performance
    • Community and extracurricular involvement
    • Personal story and demonstrated financial need
    • Hispanic/Latino background and engagement with the community
12. Language Requirement
    All application materials, including responses to questions and attachments, must be submitted in English. Applications submitted in any other language will not be reviewed.

VOLUNTEER WORK:

Scholarship recipients are encouraged to volunteer with IHCH during the academic year in which the scholarship is awarded. Specific volunteer opportunities will be coordinated with the IHCH Scholarship Committee.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION:

1. Applications may be submitted by mail, postmarked no later than June 27, 2025.
2. For the application to be accepted it must be fully completed and it should include:
   • Form W-9.
   • Transcript(s) Official transcript will be required if selected.
   • Copy of college acceptance letter or proof of enrollment for the 2025-2026 calendar year.
3. Scholarship awards must be used for the 2025-2026 academic year.

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION:

1. Attendance at Awards Reception
   • Scholarship recipients are encouraged to attend the IHCH Awards Reception on Wednesday July 16, 2025.
   • If a student cannot attend due to unforeseen circumstances, a representative can attend on their behalf to receive the award.

2. Use of Scholarship Funds
   • Scholarship funds must be used during the 2025–2026 academic year.
   • Funds will be sent directly to the Financial Aid Office of the recipient’s Texas college or university.

3. Program Completion Requirement
   • If a student withdraws from their program or does not complete the academic term, any unused funds may be returned to IHCH.

4. Legal and Ethical Compliance
   • Failure to comply with the scholarship terms, including providing false information or misusing funds, may result in revocation of the award and possible legal action.

5. Evaluation Factors
   • Final scholarship decisions will be based on a holistic review of:
     • Academic performance
     • Community involvement
     • Quality and thoughtfulness of application responses
     • Demonstrated financial need
     • Alignment with IHCH’s mission and values