BCI Scholarship Program
Questions and Answers
Q.
How many scholarships are available?
A.
Eighteen (18) awards will be given for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Q.
How large are the awards?
A.
Each scholarship award will be $3,000.00 for the award year.
Q.
What are the criteria for eligibility?
A.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Parent/Guardian of the student must be an active full-time associate as of April 30, 2024
Minimum GPA 2.5/4.0 (high school or undergraduate cumulative GPA as of Dec. 31, 2023)
Responsibility and Character (i.e. work experience, community service, leadership or other experience demonstrating these traits)
Financial need
Q.
How do I apply?
A.
Complete the online application on the BCI Scholarship website (www.ofic/smr/buckeyecorrugated). Use the password listed in the program announcement to access the website. Then click "Online Application" to begin. After you complete the first page of the application, you will receive an email and link to log back in, if needed, to finish the application or check your status.
The deadline for submission of the online application and receipt of an official transcript, a copy of your ACT/SAT Test scores and a copy of your financial aid award letter from your chosen college is April 30, 2024.
Q.
What is SMR?
A.
Scholarship Management Resources (SMR) is an independent scholarship services provider that is partnering with BCI to establish and manage this scholarship program, including selecting the recipients. This ensures the selection process is fair and objective.
Q.
Is applying online safe?
A.
Yes. Your personally identifiable information is kept secure. Only authorized employees, agents and contractors (who have agreed to keep information secure and confidential) have access to this information. To protect the information being gathered, the scholarship application site has security measures in place including firewalls, encryption, and authenticated access to internal databases where needed.
Q.
How do you decide who will receive the awards?
A.
Selection is based on academic achievement (weighted as 1/3 of overall score), school and/or community service, work experience and leadership (weighted as 1/3 of overall score), and financial need (weighted as 1/3 of overall score).
Q.
How and when will students be notified of decisions?
A.
Decisions will be made and selected scholars will be notified by May 30, 2024.
Q.
How and when will the awards be paid?
A.
Award funds will be distributed by SMR directly to the scholars’ institutions in the fall.
Q.
Can these scholarships be renewed?
A.
Yes, scholars must reapply in order to receive a renewal award. The maximum number of years a student can receive an award is four. Students are expected to complete an associate’s degree in two years or a bachelor’s degree in four years. Renewal applicants must continue to meet all eligibility requirements, including full-time employment of the parent or guardian by BCI.
Q.
What is a SAR?
A.
Students applying for financial assistance to earn an undergraduate degree are required by most colleges to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (www.fafsa.ed.gov). This application can be completed on paper or online. The results of this application are shown in the Submission Summary (formerly SAR), which includes your Student Aid Index (formerly EFC)—the amount that your family can be expected to pay toward your education expenses for the year.
Q.
What if I have additional questions?
A.
Please email your questions to scholarships@ofic.org and reference the BCI Scholarship Program.