VAMOS Traditional Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships

Here’s a clear, teacher-friendly version of the requirements — arranged as a checklist so you can prepare your application without missing anything. Read everything carefully and check each item off as you gather it.

Who may apply
- High school seniors living in Hidalgo, Starr, or Cameron County
- Pell Grant eligible
- Planning to enroll full-time at an accredited public or private four-year college or university in the Fall 2026 semester

Academic minimums (any one of the following)
- GPA of at least 80 on a 100-point scale, or
- GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or
- Ranked in the top 30% of your graduating class

Required documents (submit official copies where requested)
- Scholarship application form (completed)
- Official high school transcript showing GPA, class rank, and class size
- Student resume
- ACT or SAT scores
- Parent’s income tax return used for your FAFSA (please redact Social Security numbers)
- Financial Aid Summary Report and Student Aid Index (SAI)
- Financial aid award letter from the college
- College admission offer letter
- Two letters of recommendation from school professionals (teachers, counselors, principals, or similar)

Essay (one 600-word essay)
Include the following components in your essay:
- Personal statement — who you are
- Your academic and career goals
- Why obtaining a college degree matters to you
- Any obstacles or exceptional/difficult circumstances that motivated you to pursue post-secondary education
- A clear closing statement

Award details
- Scholarship is renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study, or until graduation (whichever comes first)
- Selected students may receive up to $20,000

Teacher tips for a stronger application
- Make a checklist and a single folder (electronic or paper) to keep everything together.
- Redact SSNs on tax documents before submitting.
- Request recommendation letters early — give your recommender at least 2–3 weeks and a brief summary of your achievements and goals.
- Proofread your essay and have a teacher or counselor review it.

If you want, I can help you turn this checklist into a printable page, draft your 600-word essay, or review your materials before you submit them.