Young Christian Leaders Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Daniel P. Buttafuoco & Associates

Overview Young Christian Leaders (YCL) Scholarships are monthly awards of $1,000 that recognize high school seniors and full‑time undergraduate students who demonstrate strong character, a commitment to service, and financial need. Recipients are endorsed by peers, family, and spiritual leaders. Award details - Amount: $1,000, paid as a one‑time LUMP SUM directly to the recipient’s college or university. - Use of funds: Must be applied to undergraduate expenses (tuition, fees, room and board, books, etc.). - Banquet: At the end of each scholarship year (September 1 – August 30) we hold a banquet to honor awardees. Important dates and deadlines - Contest period: September 1 through August 30 (annual cycle). - Application timing: You may submit an application once per calendar year. Applications must be mailed by the 15th of the month before the month you want to be considered (for example, apply by April 15 to be eligible for the May award). - Late submissions: Applications received after the 15th will be considered for the following month’s cycle (for example, an application received April 16 will be considered for June). - Nominee enrollment: Once qualified, applicants remain in the monthly nominee selection process for one year. Who is eligible To be eligible, applicants must: 1. Be a high school senior or an active college student enrolled full time (or have plans to enroll full time in an undergraduate degree program). 2. Be active members of their local church. College students who attend school away from home will be evaluated case‑by‑case; the Scholarship Committee may verify membership with the applicant’s home church. 3. Have a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from the previous semester/marking period. 4. Provide an official transcript from your high school guidance office or college registrar that shows your GPA. (No report cards, progress reports, photocopies, faxes, or hand‑delivered documents will be accepted.) 5. Be a permanent resident of New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut (you may attend school outside these states). How to apply — mailing instructions (read carefully) - All required documents must be mailed together in ONE PACKAGE. The committee will not accept materials that are mailed separately, hand delivered, dropped off, or sent in multiple packages. Items sent separately will not be accepted or returned. - Recommended: send by certified mail so you have a receipt. - Mail to: Buttafuoco & Associates Attn: Young Christian Leaders Scholarship 9 Broadman Parkway Jersey City, NJ 07305 Scholarship and contest rules - Pastors may recommend an unlimited number of students. - Selection caps per church: Only two students from the same church may be selected as a top‑10 nominee in any given month, and no more than 24 students from a single church may be selected over a 12‑month period. - Voting is done only online at www.YCLScholarship.org. - Each individual voter may cast one vote per day (repeat voting must occur on different days). - Nominees accumulate points during the calendar month in which they are nominated (the period runs from the 1st through the last day of that month). Selection process and scoring - After an application is submitted and accepted, the Selection Committee reviews submissions and names ten nominees for that month’s voting and scoring. - Nominees are evaluated in four equally weighted categories; each category is worth up to 25 points for a maximum of 100 points: a) Online votes — up to 25 points b) Character — up to 25 points c) Accomplishments / Service — up to 25 points d) Financial need — up to 25 points - At the end of the month, points are tallied. The two nominees with the highest totals (provided they have met the required standards in each category) receive the $1,000 scholarships and will be notified. Example If a nominee receives: - 25 points for online votes, - 20 points for character, - 22 points for accomplishments/service, and - 21 points for need, their total = 88 points. If that total is one of the top two scores for the month, they receive the scholarship. Final notes - Make sure your entire application packet is complete and mailed on time. Incomplete or separately mailed materials will be disqualified. - If you have questions about eligibility, transcripts, or the verification process for church membership, contact the Scholarship Committee before sending your packet. If you’d like, I can rewrite this as a one‑page checklist you can hand out to students or parents.