Syracuse PHA 2008 Scholarship Rules Attention:  Juniors in their last year of showing.  There are scholarships available from the Syracuse PHA.  The Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc. Scholarship may be awarded annually to one or more members of the Chapter who meet the requirements outlined below, submit a timely and complete application and are subsequently selected by the Scholarship Committee and the Directors of the Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc. The minimum requirements are that the applicant: 1. Has been a member of the Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc for at least two years, which may include the year in which the application is made. Membership years need not be consecutive. 2. Has earned, or is on track to earn by July 1 of the application year, a degree from an accredited High School. 3. Has demonstrated sportsmanship and interest in horse showing by participating during at least the two membership years defined above, in horse shows that are members of the Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc High Score Award Series. 4. Has applied to and been accepted at an accredited degree granting institution of higher learning. 5. Has not received nor applied for any other aid through the Professional Horsemen’s Association. 6. Has completed a Financial Aid Application with the College Scholarship Service and/or an application for aid with the NYS Higher Education Service Corporation. The amount of the award(s) shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per person. The award is only available to students entering their first year of higher education and is not renewable. Junior members wishing to be considered for an award must submit a letter of application by May 15 of the year in which the award will be used. The remaining information must be received by June 30 of the same year. The applicant is responsible for insuring that the information is received on time and the Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc will not be responsible for failing to consider applications that are not complete by the aforementioned dates. A completed application must include: 1. A letter of application stating the member’s name and home address, the name and address of the high school from which the student will graduate, the name and address of the institution that the applicant is planning to attend, and an essay indicating why the applicant considers himself or herself worthy of the award. The letter should also identify the years during which the applicant held a membership in Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. 2. An official transcript of the applicant’s high school grades, through the last completed semester. A statement of the applicant’s class rank in the graduating class. The applicant’s SAT or ACT score. An explanation of any rating systems or weighting methods used should be included. 3. A copy of the letter of acceptance from the institution at which the applicant will matriculate. 4. A copy of the report that has been returned from the College Scholarship Service or the notice returned from the TAP office. 5. At least three letters of recommendation. One recommendation letter must be from the applicant’s trainer or riding instructor documenting the applicant’s equine interests and participation in Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc High Score Award Member Horse Shows. Additional letters must include at least one from the applicant’s guidance counselor or a high school teacher and at least one from another, non-related adult. The Scholarship Committee of the Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc will use the following criteria to determine the recipients of the award: 1. Academic achievements 2. Demonstrated financial need, if any 3. Interest and participation in equine activities Note: The Scholarship Committee is aware that frequent participation in PHA member horse shows may be inversely related to financial need. Therefore, this is not the only evidence of interest that will be considered. All applicants who complete the entire application process will be notified of the Board of Directors’ decision by August 1 of the year in which the award would be used. There shall be no commitment on the part of the Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc to award a scholarship during any given year, if none of the applicants are deemed worthy. The exact amount of each award shall be determined by the Board of Directors and the Scholarship Committee in accordance with the limitations described above. All Scholarship information should be mailed to: Nancy Bechtel PHA Scholarship Chairman 9405 Roll Road Clarence Center, NY 14032 The announcement of the availability of this scholarship should be mailed to each junior member with the membership receipt, and should be placed in a suitable, prominent location on the website of Syracuse Chapter P.H.A. Inc.