Founders Scholarship

• 3.0 Cumulative GPA
• Completion of the CCS College Preparatory Curriculum
• Continuous enrollment in CCS district in 9th – 12th grades
• Will graduate from a CCS high school in 2025
• Demonstrated financial need for college

• The Founders Scholarship is worth up to $10,000 per year for four years, with the exception of certain special Founders Scholarships; please see page 6 of the application for more details.

• No – Students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA at time of application. Please note that we use the weighted cumulative GPA .

• No. Pell eligibility is not a requirement for the Founders’ Scholarship.
• However, students must demonstrate financial need. We use the college’s cost of attendance and the student’s financial aid award letter to determine financial need.

• No. Students must attend Columbus City Schools all four years of high school.

• No. Students are only eligible to apply for the Founders Scholarship during their senior year of high school.

• The Founders Scholarship application will be available on January 6, 2025.

• A student’s application will be considered complete when it contains:
  • Complete and signed application
  • Copy of high school transcript
  • Copy of senior grades/schedule
  • FAFSA Submission Summary (typically 3-8 pages long)
  • Two personal essays responding to the application prompts
  • Two letters of recommendation
• Please see this document for more instructions.

• All applications and supporting documents will be submitted through the Founders Scholarship Application on the I Know I Can Student Portal.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (Click here)

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS INSTRUCTIONS (Click here)

• No. I Know I Can will receive your attendance scores from Columbus City Schools.

• Funding applications are not considered complete unless the FAFSA Submission Summary is uploaded. IKIC will return incomplete applications to students so that the FAFSA Submission Summary can be uploaded once the student has it. You can log into your application by going to the Application Center here: https://portal.iknowican.org/.

  *Please note that that the FAFSA Submission Summary only applies to those students who are US Citizens or those eligible to apply for the FAFSA.

• The FAFSA Submission Summary is an electronic document that lists your answers to the questions on your FAFSA as well as basic information about your eligibility for federal student aid.
• You can access your FAFSA Submission Summary at fafsa.ed.gov after your FAFSA has been processed (approximately 4 business days after you complete and submit the FAFSA online).
• The FAFSA Submission Summary is typically 7-8 pages and can be downloaded as a PDF
• **SPECIAL NOTE: Make sure to complete and submit your FAFSA at least one week before the Founders Scholarship application deadline**

• One recommendation letter must be from a teacher, school counselor, or principal.
• Your second recommendation letter can be from any non-family member adult who knows you well.
  • Examples: teacher, coach, employer, supervisor, clergy, community service coordinator, internship advisor, mentor, etc.

• I Know I Can will offer several special Founders Scholarships, in partnership with select Ohio colleges and universities. These scholarships are institution-specific, so a student (if selected) must remain at the awarding university/college for the duration of their undergraduate education.
• Students can indicate on the Founders Scholarship Application if they are interested in a Special Founders’ Scholarship.
• If a student is selected for a Special Founders’ Scholarship and chooses to attend a different university/college, the student will forfeit the Special Founders’ Scholarship.

• Yes. Students should submit completed, on-time applications for both the Founders Scholarship and I Know I Can grant.
• Students can only receive one, so if you are selected for the Founders Scholarship, you will not receive the I Know I Can grant.

• If you are approved for both, you will only receive the Founders Scholarship. We encourage eligible students to apply for both when submitting a Founders Scholarship application so you will not miss the deadline to apply for the I Know I Can grant in the event that you are not selected for the Founders Scholarship.

• The Founders Scholarship can be renewed up to four years (two years at Columbus State Community College), provided you submit the renewal form and documents and meet the GPA criteria.

• In order to renew the Founders Scholarship, a student must:
  • Maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA
  • Submit unofficial grades and a financial aid award letter for upcoming academic year.
  • Submit updates each semester
  • Attend at least two Founders’ Luncheons per year.

• Each year, I Know I Can hosts luncheons for recipients of the Founders Scholarship. These are typically scheduled around a school break.  Students will have an opportunity to hear from a special speaker or take part in a professional development opportunity. Students are required to attend in order to remain eligible for the Founders Scholarship. You will receive an invitation in advance.

• In order to remain eligible for the Founders Scholarships, students need to submit updates to I Know I Can each semester. You will receive a notification email reminding you to submit your update.
• Include the following in your update:
  • How your classes and grades are going
  • Any changes or updates to your major/career goals
  • Any interesting projects or internships that you have
  • Any extracurricular activities, study abroad, etc.
  • Any changes to your contact information

• Students planning to drop below full-time status must contact the IKIC College Funding Department immediately as their Founders Scholarship may be in jeopardy.

• The Founders Scholarship can be used at any four-year baccalaureate program at an accredited university or college in the United States. **PLEASE NOTE: Special Founders Scholarships can only be used at the awarding institution.**

• The Founders Scholarship can be transferred to your new college, provided it is an accredited four-year baccalaureate program in the U.S.
• **PLEASE NOTE: Special Founders Scholarships can only be used at the awarding institution. If you are selected for a Special Founders’ Scholarship and transfer to a different institution, you will forfeit the remainder of your scholarship.**