4-H scholarship application time

Monday, December 18, 2023

By MARK EVANS, County Extension Director

Scholarship application season is in full swing, with many due in January or immediately thereafter. There are two very important features to being successful at receiving scholarships.

The first is a “Duh,” but seriously, one has to apply with a quality application. Too often scholarships go unawarded due to no applicants or no applicants who followed instructions.

Secondly, power statements will be discussed to enhance applications. In other instances, one could pay attention to detail with cover letters and power statements to out-compete a limited number of other applicants.

There are many Indiana 4-H Foundation scholarships awarded each year. For information about these scholarships and the application process, go to https://extension.purdue.edu/4-H/get-involved/scholarships.html to find requirements and eligibility along with other various scholarships.

Indiana 4-H Foundation scholarships are due Jan. 25 and 4-H’ers will use their 4honline account https://v2.4honline.com/ to submit applications. There are statewide competitive awards for youth in grade 10 through the year following high school.

Mark Evans

The Putnam County-focused scholarships through the 4-H Foundation include the Louis and Mary Luzar 4-H Scholarship Endowment (senior scholarship) of $1,000 for a current Putnam 4-H high school senior. Also, the Beverly Torr Memorial Scholarship (senior scholarship) is set up for a 4-H’er who excelled in the fashion revue or sewing project activity. The Putnam 4-H Junior Leader scholarship will also continue in 2023 as a senior scholarship. In other words, all 4-H seniors should apply for the senior scholarships to determine if any of the numerous awards would be awarded to them. The 4-H Club scholarship is only available to those who will be attending Purdue University.

The Putnam County 4-H scholarships administered locally by the Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) can be applied for using the online application at its website at www.pcfoundation.org. The PCCF application process is available online and includes the Brookshire 4-H Scholarship, Darrel Thomas 4-H Scholarship, Putnam County 4-H Livestock Scholarship, 4-H Dog Club Scholarship and Putnam County General 4-H Scholarship.

These are due Feb. 2, but check with PCCF for other scholarships to assure you know deadlines, since a few scholarships are outside of the general online application. These 4-H awards are typically between $750 to $1,500, though the Putnam 4-H Council will be meeting in January to determine scholarship values based on earnings for their scholarships. These 4-H awards are overseen via agreements between Putnam County 4-H affiliates/clubs and the Putnam County Community Foundation and are not affiliated with the Purdue Extension-Putnam County office.

If you have scholarship questions or want help with a review, feel free to contact Mark Evans via email at mevans@purdue.edu.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension Office at 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs.

Upcoming Events

Dec. 22-Jan. 1 – Extension office closed for winter recess

Jan. 2 – Extension office reopens, 8 a.m.

Jan. 9 – Running for Office, 6-8 p.m., Putnam County Fairgrounds, register by Jan. 4 at https://tinyurl.com/PutGov24