Higher Education Coordinating Board

2009 Washington Scholars Directory

Information and Forms for Scholars:

For NEW (2009) Washington Scholars

For 2009 WA Scholars-Alternates

For Returning Washington Scholars

Washington Scholars

Washington Scholars recognizes the accomplishments of three high school students from each of the state's 49 legislative districts. Students can use the grants at any public or private college or university in Washington.

Selection Process

Washington Scholars nomination materials are distributed in late November to in-state public and private high schools with graduating senior classes. The high school principals nominate the top 1 percent of their graduating class on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, and community service.

Resulting candidate applications are due back to the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) the following January - postmarked no later than the Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Day holiday. It is recommended that high schools mail their applications using Express Mail, FedEx, UPS, or certified with a return receipt to ensure a mechanism for tracking delivery to the HECB.

A selection committee, which includes high school principals and college admissions officers, makes the final selections. The committee meets in February to score the applications and award recipients are announced in mid-March.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

Be a Washington state resident.
Be graduating from a Washington public or private
high school in the current award year.
Be enrolled at an eligible college or university following high school graduation.
Not be pursuing a postsecondary degree in theology.

Award

While the intent of the award is to mirror the cost of resident, undergraduate tuition plus service and activity fees, charged by Washington public colleges and universities, the scholarship is subject to annual appropriations and may be prorated in some circumstances.

Scholarship values are re-evaluated annually. Adjustments to the scholarship amount may be made during an academic year as funding dictates. The maximum scholarship payable will not exceed the Scholar’s actual tuition charges, and “overload” credits are not included. Scholars attending private in-state colleges may receive the scholarship if the school matches the state scholarship on a dollar-for-dollar basis with institutional gift aid.

Due to the recent economic downturn experienced in state revenues, statewide budget cuts were necessary to remain within expected state revenue. One outcome is the recently adopted state biennial budget requires the Washington Scholars award be prorated to 90% of tuition and services and activities fees for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years, down from 100% of value.

2009-10 Maximum Awards vary by type of institution
Washington State University	$6840
Independent Colleges/Universities	$6840
University of Washington	$6718
Central Washington University	$4963
Eastern Washington University	$4806
The Evergreen State College	$4872
Western Washington University	$4857
Community Colleges (15 credit avg, may vary by school)	up to $2633
Technical Colleges (15 credit avg, varies by school)	up to $2633 - $2959