Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Arkansas Department of Higher Education

Description
**What the scholarship is and who it honors**
The Governor’s Scholars (Non‑Distinguished) Scholarship is a state-funded award for Arkansas high school seniors who qualify when a Governor’s Distinguished Scholar is not selected in their county. It also recognizes students who graduate with a Diploma of Distinction or who complete an Associate’s degree while still in high school. The award helps cover tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board up to a specified annual limit. Recipients must meet both initial and continuing eligibility requirements to retain the scholarship.

Key takeaways
- Award designed for high-achieving Arkansas high school seniors.
- Offered when a county has no Governor’s Distinguished Scholar selected.
- Also available to Diploma of Distinction graduates and dual‑credit/Associate’s degree earners.
- Pays toward tuition, fees, and room & board up to the annual cap.

Who may apply
**Target applicants and citizenship exceptions**
This scholarship is intended for high school seniors graduating in their academic year. Most applicants must complete the FAFSA as part of the application process. Non‑U.S. citizens who hold an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) — or who have a parent with an EAD — may be eligible to apply without submitting a FAFSA; such applicants should contact the Scholarship Office for guidance.

Key takeaways
- Open to current high school seniors in Arkansas.
- FAFSA is normally required.
- EAD holders (or children of EAD holders) have a FAFSA exception; contact 501‑371‑1064 for details.
- Confirm individual circumstances with the Scholarship Office.

Eligibility
**Initial and basic criteria to receive an award**
To be selected for the Non‑Distinguished Scholarship, a student must either be the top‑scoring senior in their Arkansas county (using ACT/SAT score, cumulative GPA, and class rank) when no Distinguished Scholar is chosen, or must graduate with a Diploma of Distinction, or have earned an Associate’s degree by the end of the summer semester after high school graduation. Applicants must be bona fide Arkansas residents for the 12 months prior to application and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (with EAD exceptions noted separately). Applicants must have completed the ACT or SAT before the state’s annual deadline.

Key takeaways
- Selection options: highest county scorer (when no Distinguished Scholar), Diploma of Distinction, or completed Associate’s degree.
- Must be Arkansas resident for at least 12 months.
- Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident (EAD rules apply).
- ACT/SAT must be completed before the annual deadline.

Enrollment & other basic requirements
**College enrollment expectations and initial terms**
Award recipients must enroll in an eligible Arkansas college or university and begin attendance at a minimum course load of 15 credit hours each semester (the first semester requirement may be reduced to 12 credit hours). The scholarship requires timely enrollment and adherence to the listed semester credit minimums to qualify for disbursement. Other administrative requirements (e.g., verification of enrollment) may be required by the scholarship administrator.

Key takeaways
- Minimum 15 credit hours per semester required after the first semester.
- First semester can be 12 credit hours.
- Enrollment at an eligible college/university is required for disbursement.
- Maintain compliance with any administrative/verification requests.

Continuing eligibility
**Retention standards once the award is received**
To maintain the scholarship after it is first awarded, students must keep a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale at the end of each academic year. Recipients must also meet annual credit‑hour requirements: earn at least 27 semester credit hours during the first academic year, and at least 30 semester credit hours each year thereafter. Falling below these GPA or credit thresholds can result in loss of scholarship eligibility.

Key takeaways
- Maintain 3.00 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale) at each academic year end.
- Earn 27 credit hours in the first academic year.
- Earn 30 credit hours each year after the first.
- Failure to meet these standards can forfeit further scholarship payments.

Award value
**What the scholarship pays and combined-award rules**
The Governor’s Scholars (Non‑Distinguished) Scholarship pays up to $5,000 per academic year toward tuition, mandatory fees, and room & board, and is renewable for up to four years (maximum $20,000 total). Students may accept both the Governor’s Scholars (Non‑Distinguished) Scholarship and the Academic Challenge Scholarship; when both are received, the amounts are paid together according to the state’s combined‑award schedule. The combined award amounts differ for students attending 4‑year institutions versus 2‑year institutions until transfer.

Key takeaways
- Up to $5,000 per year for tuition, fees, and room & board.
- Renewable for up to 4 years (maximum $20,000).
- Can be combined with the Academic Challenge Scholarship.
- Combined award amounts vary by year and by 2‑year vs. 4‑year enrollment.

Combined award breakdown (Academic Challenge + Governor’s Scholars)
**Year‑by‑year amounts when both scholarships are held**
4‑year institutions:
- Year 1: Academic Challenge $2,000 + Governor’s Scholars $5,000
- Year 2: Academic Challenge $4,000 + Governor’s Scholars $5,000
- Year 3: Academic Challenge $4,000 + Governor’s Scholars $5,000
- Year 4: Academic Challenge $5,000 + Governor’s Scholars $5,000

2‑year institutions (until transfer to a 4‑year):
- Year 1: Academic Challenge $2,000 + Governor’s Scholars $5,000
- Year 2: Academic Challenge $3,000 + Governor’s Scholars $5,000
- 5th Semester (if applicable): Academic Challenge $1,000 + Governor’s Scholars $2,500

Key takeaways
- Specific combined amounts depend on institution type and academic year.
- Governor’s Scholars portion remains $5,000 per year while combined Academic Challenge varies.
- 2‑year recipients have a special 5th semester combined payment if applicable.

Application timeline
**Typical sequence of steps (verify exact dates with the scholarship office)**
Exact deadlines are set annually by the scholarship administrator, so applicants should consult the state office for current dates. Generally, students should take the ACT or SAT well before the state application deadline, complete required residency and documentation steps, and be prepared to enroll in college in the fall following high school graduation. Scholarship disbursement follows verification of enrollment and credit‑hour load for the term.

Key takeaways
- Check the Scholarship Office for current annual deadlines.
- Take ACT/SAT early enough to meet the state deadline.
- Prepare residency documentation and enrollment plans in advance.
- Scholarship payments are contingent on verified enrollment and course load.

History of the award
**Origin and purpose of the Non‑Distinguished designation**
The Governor’s Scholars program recognizes top academic achievement among Arkansas students. The Non‑Distinguished Scholarship specifically exists to ensure counties that do not produce a Governor’s Distinguished Scholar in a given year still have a way to reward a highest‑scoring senior or otherwise exceptional graduates (Diploma of Distinction or Associate’s degree earners). The program operates alongside other state scholarships such as the Academic Challenge to broaden access to college funding for Arkansas students.

Key takeaways
- Part of the broader Governor’s Scholars state program.
- Non‑Distinguished award fills gaps when no Distinguished Scholar is named in a county.
- Designed to increase access to college funding for high‑achieving Arkansas students.
- Works in tandem with other state scholarships like the Academic Challenge.

Contact and next steps
**Who to call for questions or special circumstances**
For questions about eligibility exceptions (including EAD situations), deadlines, or application specifics, contact the Arkansas scholarship office at 501‑371‑1064. Always verify current deadlines and documentation requirements with the official office before taking action.

Key takeaways
- Call 501‑371‑1064 for questions or EAD exceptions.
- Verify current deadlines and documentation requirements directly with the Scholarship Office.
- Confirm combined-award rules and disbursement procedures for your institution before enrollment.