Scholarship FAQs

When is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply is March 15, 2012.

How many awards are given out?

• 1 (one) $1,500 American Express Jesse Blackman/AOHT Scholarship will be awarded annually and is not renewable.
• 5 (five) $1,500 Marriott International AOHT Scholarships will be awarded annually and are not renewable.
• 2 (two) $2,500 Kelly IT Resources® Scholarships will be awarded annually and are not renewable.
• 3 (three) $1,500 NAF Alumni Business Scholarships will be awarded annually and are not renewable.

Can an applicant receive more than one scholarship from NAF?

No.  A student may receive only one National Academy Foundation scholarship, though they may apply to more than one, if eligible.

What will the scholarships be applied to?

The scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for course load.

What kind of higher education institutions will be considered?

Institutions must be accredited, nonprofit two or four-year colleges/universities in the United States.

What if I transfer from my higher education institution?

A student may transfer from one institution to another and retain the award.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Marriott International, Inc. Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Scholarships

AND

• American Express Jesse Blackman Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Scholarships
  • Applicants for must meet all of the following criteria: Must be a high school senior, graduating from a NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism program Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Academy classes Must be intending to continue study in the Hospitality and Tourism Field
• Kelly IT Resources® Scholarship
  • Applicants for must meet all of the following criteria: Must be a high school senior, graduating from a NAF Academy of Information Technology program Must be a United States citizen or legal resident
• NAF Alumni Business Scholarship
  • Applicants for must meet all of the following criteria: Must be a graduating senior or a graduate of a NAF Academy (AOHT, AOF, AOIT or AOE), and be pursing further education in business and/or financial services. Must have earned a 3.0 GPA average or better in Academy classes during high school. Must have been active in the Academy If already graduated from the Academy, must be involved or plan to be involved in a local Academy, i.e. host a student for job shadowing, plan alumni activities, serve on an Advisory Board, be a guest speaker for the Academy during a college break, and/or serve as an e-mail mentor to a current Academy student.

What are the selection criteria?

An independent selection committee will evaluate the applications and select the winners. The committee will consider:

• Academic achievements and records
• Letters of recommendation
• Essay Content
• Activities listed on application

Note: Details including rules and judging criteria for the NAF Internship Stories Scholarship are below and are detailed on the NAF Internship Stories Scholarship application available here.

Decisions of the selection committees are final and are not subject to appeal. No application feedback will be given.

I have several potential school choices. Which one should I list on the application?
You should list your first choice on the application. If you are chosen to receive an award, it will be your responsibility to make certain ISTS is aware of your final school choice so that your check can be issued accordingly.

How and when will I receive notification?

• Notifications are sent approximately two months past a deadline.
• Winner and non-winner notifications will be sent by email.
• Add info@applyists.com to your email address book or “safe senders list” so these important emails are not sent to your junk mail folder.
• Do not ‘opt out’ of any email sent from info@applyists.com you may not receive vital information regarding your scholarship applications.

Note: Your email address will only be used to communicate with you about your scholarship applications or other opportunities administered by ISTS for which you may be eligible to apply. We will not provide your email address to any third-parties.

What are my responsibilities if I am chosen as a recipient?

• You must enroll as a full time student in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded.
• You must continue in school the entire academic year without interruption unless approved by scholarship sponsor.
• You must deliver your scholarship check(s) to the proper office at your institution.
• You must be available to NAF for interviews and agree to the terms of the media release.

How and when are checks issued?

• Checks will be mailed to each recipient’s mailing address as entered on the application.
• Checks will be made payable to the institution only.
• Checks will be issued in August.
• It is the recipient’s responsibility to notify ISTS should the check not arrive within 30 days of the issue date.
  
  

Where and when should I send my supporting documents?

• Upload your required documents online. If you do not follow the instructions exactly your application may not be considered.
• Your submission must be complete by March 15, 2012.
  
  

How do I know if my application is complete?

• Allow five to seven business days after uploading documents for your online status to update.
• You may monitor your status of each required form and attachment on your home page at aim.applyists.net.
  • Not Started - the form has not been requested or started
  • Started – the form has not been submitted
  • Submitted - the form has been submitted
  • Not received - the attachment has not been received
  • Not verified - the attachment has been received and is being processed and verified Verified - the attachment has been verified and accepted by ISTS
  • Requested - the form request has been created, but the form has not been started
  • Complete - all required forms and attachments (if applicable) have been received and your application will be considered for the scholarship

Are scholarships taxable?
Tax laws vary by country. In the United States, scholarship funds used exclusively for the payment of tuition or textbooks are normally not taxable. The scholarship recipient is responsible for taxes, if any, that may be assessed against your scholarship award. We recommend consulting your tax advisor for more guidance.

Program Administration
To assure complete impartiality in selection of winners and to maintain a high level of professionalism, the program is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc., a firm that specializes in managing sponsored scholarship programs.

Questions
For additional information regarding the scholarship program contact ISTS by email at info@applyists.com. When emailing please include the name of the scholarship program or sponsor and your username.

NAF Internship Stories Scholarship
Rules

1. Any student enrolled in a NAF Academy (Finance, Hospitality & Tourism, Engineering, or Information Technology) who participated in an internship during the 2010-11 school year or over the summer of 2011.
2. Only one entry per person will be accepted.
3. No submission, regardless of medium, may contain the following:
   • Copyrighted or third party material for which usage rights have not been obtained
   • Copyrighted material not in the public domain
   • Nudity, lewd or vulgar behavior, offensive language and/or gestures, positive references to sex, drugs or violence.
4. This scholarship contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Employees of the National Academy Foundation, contest judges and their immediate family members (and members of the same households, whether related or not) are not eligible to participate.
5. All entries must be appropriate for all audiences. Submissions which positively reference sex, drugs, or violence will not be accepted as entries. Any submission that includes content that is deemed inappropriate, indecent or obscene, as determined by the National Academy Foundation, will not be eligible.
6. Submissions must be made in English or subtitled in English. By entering the contest, participants grant the National Academy Foundation the right to contact entrants regarding their submission, publicize and/or broadcast their submission. By entering the contest, participants also agree to abide by the terms of the contest rules, and by the decisions of the judges.
7. All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the National Academy Foundation. In the event that an extraordinary number of submissions are received, the date by which the winners will be chosen by the judges may be extended. Should such an instance occur, the subsequent date for announcement of winners will also be extended.
8. The National Academy Foundation reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any participant that it determines to be ineligible to participate in the scholarship contest. Failure to comply with the above stated rules may result in an entrant's disqualification.

Judging Criteria

Written Essays Accompanied by Photographs

Technical Judging Criteria Written essays will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized.

Photographs will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for photographs that are clear, well composed and that depict a critical aspect of the written narrative. Essay only submissions will not be considered.

Video and Film Entries

Technical Judging Criteria Video and film entries will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for overall impact, effectiveness of conveying theme, artistic merit and technical ability.

All Entries

Content Judging Criteria The content of all submitted entries should focus on the impact (positive or negative) of the internship experience on the student. Specifically, judges will look for entries to depict at least one of the following themes:

• Made the student excited to learn more about the industry,
• Convinced the student to attend college or earn a certificate in chosen industry,
• Allowed the student to make a real impact at internship company or in the industry,
• Connected concepts the student learned in Academy classes with real-world experiences in internship,
• Developed a mentoring relationship that the student has continued after the internship ended,
• Made the student realize their internship industry may not be the best fit for them,
• OR Changed the way the student views themselves and their relationship to the world.