Scholarship Program

Info & Guidelines  |  Application Forms  |  Applicable Dates  |  Previous Winners

About the Scholarship

The City of Whiting Scholarship was instituted in 2009 as the result of a partnership among elected Whiting officials, the BP Foundation, the Whiting Community Improvement Fund and the Whiting-Robertsdale Community Improvement Corporation. The Scholarship is funded through private donations and the City of Whiting's share of Lake County Gaming Funds. Lake-Park Development, the development firm constructing the new homes on Center Street, is also now making a contribution to the scholarship fund for each new home that is built. The Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who are the legal dependents of residents who own and occupy a home in Whiting.

The City of Whiting Scholarship is an $8,000 award, with $2,000 being disbursed to the recipient each August for four consecutive years. A 1099 tax form may be issued by the college or university if the combined total of all financial assistance received by the student exceeds the IRS threshold.

Scholarship Conditions

To maintain eligibility, students must demonstrate that they are classified by the institution they attend as full-time and must maintain a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) GPA. Students are required to submit their grades to the City of Whiting Clerk-Treasurer's Office at the end of each academic year and are to openly communicate any changes in their scholastic involvement. If a student fails to meet any of the outlined conditions, the Scholarship may be terminated at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may also consider exemptions to these conditions if extraordinary circumstances warrant it.

Qualifications

To be considered for the City of Whiting Scholarship, applicants must:

• Be in the top 25% of their graduation class
• Sign a publicity release form
• Be the dependent of a Whiting homeowner who occupies that home
• Attend a regionally accredited institution of higher learning

Selection Criteria

Each Spring, the Mayor of the City of Whiting will convene an ad hoc committee consisting of the Mayor or his/her designee, a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Improvement Corporation, a representative of BP and two members of the academic community. No member of this committee may have a family member applying for the scholarship at the time. This committee, who may request to interview applicants, will determine scholarship winners based on the following criteria:

• 1/3 Scholastic Achievement (GPA, SAT/ACT score, class rank, awards, etc.)
• 1/3 Involvement & Leadership activities within the school
• 1/3 Involvement & Leadership within the community