Non-Traditional Scholarships
Kosciusko County Community Foundation
We have several scholarship funds that are designated specifically for students who have followed a more non-traditional educational path. From these funds, we award nearly $40,000 annually. Scholarships can be used for tuition, books and academic fees, but not for food and housing. Scholarship payments made for food and housing are taxable to the recipient according to the IRS.
Who is eligible to apply for a non-traditional scholarship?
The Community Foundation defines non-traditional students as those who:
- Do not immediately continue their education after completing high school or a high school equivalency program OR
- Have continued their education beyond the high school level but were interrupted for a personal or financial reason that resulted in a break from their education for more than one year.
Non-traditional students are generally over the age of 20. Applicants must also:
- Be enrolled or planning to enroll in a higher education program for the current or upcoming academic year. This includes vocational or technical training.
- Be a resident of Kosciusko County, IN.
- Be able to demonstrate financial need.
The Community Foundation may not be able to award a scholarship to a student attending a for-profit college, university or trade school.
How To Apply
To apply, visit our online scholarship portal and complete the Non-Traditional Scholarship Application. You will need to create an account the first time you apply. The application is open year round.
Completed applications are pulled on the second Monday of each month for review. You can expect the review process to take approximately 30 days.
Required Documents
- File your FAFSA and obtain a copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary that includes your name and Student Aid Index (SAI).
- Obtain a copy of your most recent transcript (from a college or high school) or a GED certificate.
- Have a head/shoulder photo that you can upload. This photo may be published if you win a scholarship. The photo should not have anyone else in it.
- Obtain a copy of your birth certificate or proof of citizenship/legal residency (required for some but not all scholarships)
Please note: All documents must be uploaded as a .pdf or .jpg, except the photo must be uploaded as a .jpg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful Links
A FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid—form is required for most scholarship applications. If you haven’t yet filled one out, you can do so below.
Additional scholarships are available through other foundations and organizations for which you may qualify. The Questa Foundation has provided a scholarship database that provides a list of those resources at the link below.
Applicant Tutorials
New to our application system? Watch these tutorials to learn about logging on, completing forms and more.
Application & Deadlines
Non-Traditional Scholarships: Open Deadline
Traditional Scholarships: Deadline: March 1 @ 4:30 p.m., Application to open December 15
Lilly Endowment Community Scholars: Deadline: September 15 @ 4:30 p.m., Application to open August 1
View More Scholarship Resources
Let Us Help You Accomplish Your Goals
Join Us in Strengthening Our Community
Get Involved and Make a Difference
Explore how you can get started today.
Your involvement can make a lasting impact. Whether you’re interested in donating, establishing a fund, or participating in our events, there are many ways to contribute to the betterment of Kosciusko County.