The Scholarship Ceremony and Reception will be held in the
Performing Arts Center Main Theater (PAC), Building 100
from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012.
Please click on the Scholarship Awards Ceremony link on the left for ceremony information.
STARS Online Scholarship Application is Now Closed
Thank you and good luck to all of the students who applied!
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
All communication will be done via email, so it’s very important that scholarship applicants keep their email current at all times.
An eligibility notification letter will be sent the first week of March. This letter will explain if the application is complete and therefore eligible to go through the scholarship selection process.
An award letter will be sent the first week of May. This letter informs students what scholarships were awarded to him/her, what the student needs to do to receive the scholarships and information about our Scholarship Ceremony.
FACULTY RECOMMENDATION FORM 
Click Here Hint: SAVE document first, then OPEN
Please select one Napa Valley College Faculty member who can speak knowledgeably about you. Ask the NVC faculty member to complete the recommendation form before you type his/her name in the form. Click the link above, fill out the Student section, and save the document to your desktop. Please save the filled out copy of the form and use your (lastname)(firstname)(studentID) as the saved file name. For example, smithsuzy1234567.
OVERVIEW - THE NAPA VALLEY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Napa Valley College provides a variety of scholarships to current students. These scholarships are made possible by the generous donations from the Napa Valley College Foundation and various individuals, organizations, and businesses. We are grateful for the support they offer NVC students.
STARS Online offers a user-friendly application process for students. Please review the application materials and instructions below before you begin. A link to the STARS Online application is at the bottom of this page.
WHEN ARE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE?
The application period closed on February 7, 2012, and will re-open in December 2012. Recipients are selected by the scholarship committee, which is comprised of faculty and staff. Selections are made on a competitive basis with consideration given to:
- Academic Achievement
- Financial Need
- Volunteer Service to School and Community
- Other Selected Criteria
There are more than 332 scholarships available, ranging in value from $100 to $5,000, with total awards over $200,000.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- MUST have completed 12 units at NVC by the end of the Fall 2012 semester (do not include Spring 2012 units);
- SHOULD have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at NVC by the end of the Fall 2012 semester with the exception of The Osher Scholarship which requires 2.0 cumulative GPA;
- MUST maintain enrollment in 6 units at NVC during the Spring 2012 semester;
- MUST be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or qualify under AB 540 criteria (contact Admissions and Records to verify your status if you are not sure, international students are not eligible).
In addition:
All students are encouraged to complete the financial aid application (FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov to be considered for the widest range of scholarships. For more information about available financial assistance, please click the Financial Aid link at the left of the page. Contact the Financial Aid/EOPS Office, Room 1132, during normal business hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays until 7:00 p.m, and Fridays until 12:00 p.m. Telephone: (707) 256-7300.
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TIPS FOR WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT AND ANSWERING THE NVC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONAIRE
Adapted from an article by Susan Hiraki, EOPS Director, Las Positas College
1. Before beginning the essay, think of your life in a global way. What have been the accomplishments, crises, obstacles related to your education? Take some notes and don’t worry about the organization of these random thoughts. Make sure you begin this process early enough to gather useful information. Talk to your family and friends about how they view you because they may see your achievements more clearly than you do.
2. It is appropriate to talk about personal crises, but your essay should tie these in to how you overcame them and what this has to do with education. For example, you may cite an accident that left you disabled. You may want to elaborate on the recovery process and how it contributed to who you are now and why education has become more important to you because of this traumatic experience. The reader should get a sense of your stamina, resilience, creativity, and other personal resources that would lead him/her to believe you could draw on these reserves to be successful in achieving your goals.
3. Your essay should have an introduction, middle, and a conclusion. Begin by introducing yourself and what you intend to say, the middle should, in a more comprehensive form, reflect what your introduction said you would discuss; and the conclusion should sum up all the information in a logical progression. You could decide to write your introduction last so that it can be truly specific in its purpose.
4. It is not necessary to use long and complicated words. If you do, make sure you are using them appropriately and with the correct spelling. It is more effective to use ordinary words in clear statements.
5. When you begin writing your essay, do not worry about using all the correct words and phrases because this may block your thinking and writing. Take a deep breath and let yourself feel the freedom of your own ability to express yourself. Keep writing without stopping to search for “just the right word” and skip over anything that doesn’t come to you readily. Don’t worry about spelling, content, or correct English usage as it will keep you from saying some important things about yourself.
6. After you have written a first draft, go back over it to be sure that you have responded to the prompt or the instructions. Make a good case for why you are unique and how your experiences will help you with your college education. Four-year schools expect you to be mature enough to extrapolate lessons from experiences. What unique contributions will you make as a student and as an alumnus? It would be a good idea to answer this question in your entire short answer questionnaire regardless of where you apply because it indicates vision and self esteem.
7. When you are ready to write your final draft, go back to numbers 2 through 7. Check for spelling, grammar, and logical, linear thought progression. Does everything in the conclusion relate to your educational goals?
8. Again, do this exercise early enough so that you will have time to write the essay, as well as time for other people to proof it and offer you some feedback.
9. If this feels overwhelming, go back to number 5 and take a deep breath. Remember, the subject matter is you, and you are the greatest authority on this topic. Write from your heart, and worry about all the intellectual concerns when you are working on the finished product.