FAQs
Why and how is The Sapelo Foundation transitioning its scholarship program for McIntosh County?
In 2020, we launched our new strategic plan. Under our new strategic plan, we will continue our longtime commitment to McIntosh County, but with a redefined goal: “advance social prosperity in McIntosh County across generations by improving outcomes for young people.” To pursue our redefined goal, we announced a two-part transition.
First, 2020 began the closure of our current Annemarie & Richard J. Reynolds. Jr. Scholarship Program.
- Eligible New Scholars: They received a one-time, one-year scholarship only and understood that they would be ineligible for any future years of the scholarship.
- Eligible Returning Scholars: They chose from two payment options: (1) one-time payment for all remaining years of eligibility in year 2020 only, or (2) annual payments in each remaining year of eligibility (default option).
Second, 2020 began a new special partnership between Communities in Schools (CIS), McIntosh County Schools, and our foundation. CIS advances a nationally recognized model for whole-child support (academic, emotional, and social). Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, CIS expanded its work from Glynn County into McIntosh County in three key ways:
- Placement of a Site Coordinator at McIntosh County Academy to support high school students, families, teachers, and administrators.
- Placement of a Program Manager to build community outcomes inside and outside of the high school and across both counties.
- Administration of a new version of the Annemarie & Richard J. Reynolds, Jr. Scholarship for some graduates of McIntosh County Academy.
Starting in 2021, who is eligible to receive a renewal scholarship and what is the process for eligibility, applications, and deadlines?
Eligibility: Starting in 2021, only eligible Returning Scholars can apply, and they must meet the following criteria:
- Applied in 2020 and met all deadlines and criteria (in 2020).
- Graduated from the McIntosh County Academy between 2017-2019. They are eligible for a total of 5 years, starting with the year of their graduation.
- Selected (in 2020) the option to receive annual payments for each remaining year of eligibility, under the terms of the former scholarship program. In 2020, this was presented as the default option, if an option was not selected.
Application: Starting in 2021, to reapply, eligible Returning Scholars must:
- Be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or technical college at the time of submitting an application.
- Maintain enrollment with a minimum of 9 credit hours each semester (fall and spring).
- Meet all deadlines for completing and submitting required documents (see below).
Deadline: Starting in 2021, to meet deadlines, eligible Returning Scholars must email the following three completed documents to info@sapelofoundation.org between June 1 and 11:59pm on July 1. Only emails with completed documents submitted during that window of time will be reviewed.
- Official academic transcript. It must be from an accredited college, university, or technical college. It must demonstrate proof of enrollment, include course enrollment for the upcoming fall semester, and list a cumulative GPA from completed courses. Unofficial transcripts or class schedules will not be accepted.
- Authorization and Release of Student Records Form. It will be available for eligible scholars to download from June 1 – July 1, annually.
- Scholarship Agreement Form. It will be available for eligible scholars to download from June 1 – July 1, annually.
When do I need to reapply for the scholarship?
The deadline to reapply for the scholarship is July 1.
When will the renewal forms be available on the website?
The renewal forms will be available on the website at least month before the deadline, by June 1.
What happens if I miss the July 1 deadline or have incomplete/incorrect documents?
If an eligible Returning Scholar misses the July 1 deadline or submits incomplete/incorrect documents, we will not be able to provide support for that academic year.
Starting in 2021, I am a graduate of McIntosh County Academy from an eligible graduating class (2017-2019), but I did not apply for the scholarship in 2020. Am I an eligible Returning Scholar?
No.
I am a graduate of McIntosh County Academy from an eligible graduating class (2016-2019). I applied in 2020, and I selected to receive a one-time payment. I changed my mind after the July 1 scholarship acceptance deadline. Now, I want to receive an annual payment. Am I an eligible Returning Scholar?
No. In 2020, if an eligible Returning Scholar selected a one-time payment option, that decision cannot be changed, and the one-time payment has been made.
I am a graduate of McIntosh County Academy from an eligible graduating class (2016-2019). I successfully applied in 2020 and received scholarship award information. However, I did not accept my scholarship, or I missed the scholarship acceptance deadline. Am I an eligible Returning Scholar?
Yes. If five or fewer years have passed since the date of your high school graduation and if you meet all criteria for the current year of application, you are an eligible Returning Scholar. In 2020, all eligible Returning Scholars who applied and were approved for a scholarship, but who did not accept their scholarships in 2020, were automatically enrolled in the default payment option of an annual payment for each remaining year of eligibility.