Charley Wootan Grant >

TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program

Application for Texas Residents Attending 4-Year Institutions

For the 2013-14 academic year, the Charley Wootan Grant Program will award grants totaling $2.5 million to Texas residents pursuing a degree at a 4-year school. Students must demonstrate financial need to qualify for a grant. To learn details about the program and begin applying, follow the links below.

Eligibility

You may apply to the Charley Wootan Grant Program if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident at the time of application;
  • Are a legal resident of the State of Texas;
  • Are a high school senior or graduate or GED-recipient;
  • Plan to enroll or are already enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate course of study, or a non-degree program for teacher certification, for the fall 2013 term at an approved 4-year college (NOTE: students who are seeking a graduate degree or any other graduate certification in their course of study are not eligible to apply to the Charley Wootan Grant Program);
  • Can demonstrate financial need;
  • Are eligible to receive federal financial aid (Title IV) funding; and
  • Are not a TG employee or a dependent of a TG employee.

Awards

For the 2013-14 academic year, TG will award $2.5 million in Charley Wootan Grants to Texas residents attending 4-year schools. Individual awards will range from $1,000 to $4,000. Grants will be distributed to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis (those arriving earlier will be processed first) according to the Education Service Center in which the applicant resides. (See "How to Apply" for more details on Education Service Centers.)

Awards are considered grants for one year only. However, students are encouraged to reapply for subsequent years.

How to Apply

To apply for a Charley Wootan Grant, address and mail an application packet containing the items listed below. Note that multiple applications for multiple students cannot be bundled and mailed in one envelope. Each applying student must submit his or her information in an individual application packet.

An application packet must contain the following materials in one envelope:

  • a complete and signed application form

    The application period has ended for the 2013-2014 academic year. During July, provisional recipients only will be mailed a notification letter. For more information about our selection and notification process, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

  • a copy of one of the following:
    • your most recent cumulative college transcript, if currently enrolled; or
    • your college acceptance letter, if you have not completed one full quarter or semester of postsecondary education
  • a copy of your 2013-14 Student Aid Report (SAR) or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). To satisfy this requirement, submit one of the following:
    • Complete SAR Print Summary from the FAFSA on the Web website
    • Student copy of the complete SAR
    • School's complete ISIR

Please note that the SAR or ISIR must be for the 2013-14 academic year and include the family's adjusted gross income and the expected family contribution (EFC). Documents that are missing these items will not be accepted.

  • 2013-14 Financial Aid Award Letter from your chosen institution. (Optional — This is not a requirement to be awarded a grant.)

How to address the application packet

To make sure your application packet is routed correctly and processed, locate the Education Service Center (ESC) in which you reside. You should indicate the ESC number from your permanent home mailing address. Click here to find your ESC number. Once you've located your ESC number, place it on the envelope as shown in the graphic below. Without this number, your application will not be processed.

Follow the example graphic below to address the envelope for the application packet.

Example:

Wootan Envelope Example - 2-year Texas Schools

Deadline

To be considered, an application packet must be complete and postmarked by May 1, 2013. Applications may be submitted only by mail or other courier delivery method (U.S.P.S., FedEx, UPS, etc.). TG will not accept hand-delivered applications.

Selection

Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis (those arriving earlier will be processed first) according to the Education Service Center in which the applicant resides. Selection will be based on the applicant's:

  • Ability to meet eligibility criteria
  • Permanent residence
  • Receipt of application
  • Financial circumstances

Keep in mind —

  • If the application packet is incomplete, or any application question is unanswered, it will not be considered.
  • Multiple or batched applications sent in one envelope or package will not be accepted.
  • The Education Service Center number, or ESC #, must be marked on the outer envelope in the "ESC#________" area shown in the example above.
  • Application packets with insufficient postage will not be accepted.

Applicants are responsible for submitting all necessary information. Because TG's third-party program manager, Scholarship Management Services®, evaluates applications on the information supplied, it is important to answer all questions as completely as possible. Scholarship Management Services and TG keep all submitted information confidential. Have questions? See contact information in "Need Help" section below.

Award Notification

On or about July 17, notification will be mailed to all grantees that have been selected as provisional recipients. Provisional recipients will be required to mail an acceptance of the grant and verification of enrollment eligibility to Scholarship Management Services. Non-recipients will not be notified.

Grant Distribution

TG's third-party program manager, Scholarship Management Services, will issue two award checks per recipient — one on August 28 for the fall semester or equivalent, and one on December 15 for the spring semester or equivalent. Checks will be payable to the institution for the student's account and mailed to the institution's financial aid office.

Applicant Obligations

All applicants are obligated to comply with the following stipulations in order to receive their award.

  • Awardees will be required to mail an acceptance of the grant and verification of enrollment eligibility to Scholarship Management Services.
  • Grants must be used for tuition, room and board, and/or other education-related expenses.
  • Awardees must provide TG with permission to use their names and testimonials for publicity purposes. Awardees may also be asked to provide a photo, but a photo is not required at the time of application.
  • Awardees must provide TG with permission to use their email address and other contact information for future messages regarding the Wootan program, other grant and financial aid offerings, or other topics of interest to students.
  • Grant recipients must authorize the release of academic records to Scholarship Management Services and TG. Recipients must supply Scholarship Management Services with additional documentation as requested, and notify Scholarship Management Services of any change of address, school enrollment, or other relevant information.

Need help?

For more information about TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program, refer to Frequently Asked Questions.

For other questions contact Scholarship Management Services by e-mail or phone.

E-mail: Wootan@scholarshipamerica.org

Phone: (800) 537-4180. Please ask for the TG Charley Wootan Grant Program Manager.

About the Charley Wootan Grant Program

In 2000, TG established a program to provide help to students pursuing a higher education who have financial need. In 2001, the TG Board of Directors voted to expand and rename the program to honor the memory of former Chairperson of the TG Board of Directors, Dr. Charley V. Wootan, in recognition of his generous contributions and service to the state of Texas and the nation.

Dr. Wootan served on TG's Board of Directors for the six years prior to his death in March 2001. His accomplishments, lifetime contributions, and his outstanding character have had a profound impact on education and on the lives of many students and their families. As a fitting tribute to Dr. Wootan, TG is proud to affirm his legacy in a way that continues to help students nationwide.

In the past, the Charley Wootan Grant Program has been awarded in the form of block grants to public and private schools throughout Texas, with schools determining grant recipients. In the 2008-2009 academic year, TG transitioned the program from an indirect to direct grant program, awarding directly to individual students. The Charley Wootan Grant Program has since its inception awarded more than $21 million to students nationwide, helping thousands of Wootan Grant recipients accomplish their postsecondary education goals.

TG reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this grant program and to make changes, including termination of the program, at any time.

TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program is managed by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America.

For additional information about TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program, first read our frequently asked questions. If you still have questions, send an email to Wootan@scholarshipamerica.org or call Scholarship Management Services, toll-free, (800) 537-4180. Please ask for the TG Charley Wootan Grant Program Manager.

Use the number above for questions regarding the Wootan Grant program. The paragraph below pertains only to ethical issues and is not for questions regarding the grant.

TG represents that there is no correlation or connection between its selection of recipients for grant awards and an institution's or individual's business relationship or potential business relationship with TG. Participation in TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program does not require or impose any quid pro quo condition. If any participant believes that a quid pro quo condition exists or may exist, he or she shall call TG's ethics hotline at (877) 842-6675 to report the condition. Do NOT call this number for answers to grant program questions. It is for ethics concerns only. For questions regarding the Wootan Grant program, call Scholarship Management Services, toll-free, at (800) 537-4180.

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