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Candlelighters Continuing Education Scholarship

 

For high school seniors or current college students in pursuit of a higher education who have previously been or are currently diagnosed with cancer.
Scholarships

Candlelighters Scholarship

About Candlelighters Scholarship

In 1996, Candlelighters For Children With Cancer established the Continuing Education Scholarship Program. We are proud to support high school seniors or current college students in pursuit of a higher education who have previously been or are currently diagnosed with cancer.

Amounts Awarded

  • One $2,500 scholarship.
  • One $1,000 scholarship.
  • One $500 scholarship.

Application Timeline For 2023-2024 Academic Year

February 15: Opening of the application period.

April 15:  Scholarship applications due.

May 12: All applicants notified of status. Finalists are contacted.

May 24 – 26: Scholarship finalist Interviews.

June 2: Scholarship recipients notified.

July 15 – 31: Scholarship Awards sent to colleges.

 

Who is Eligible?

Applicant Criteria

  • The applicant must be a resident of Oregon or Southwest Washington.
  • The applicant must have or have had cancer before age 21.
  • Applicant must be pursuing an undergraduate, technical, or vocational education.
  • The applicant must be a graduating high school senior or an enrolled post-secondary student at the time of application. 
  • Candlelighters scholarship recipients can only receive the scholarship once. Applicants who were previously declined may re-apply in subsequent years, as long as they are still attending school and meet applicant criteria.
  • If a student is awarded the scholarship but does not attend school, the scholarship award will be reviewed, which may result in its forfeiture.  In that case, the scholarship would be awarded to a runner-up applicant.
  • This scholarship process and the award, itself, are reviewed annually and are subject to the availability of funds from Candlelighters for Children with Cancer.

Application Requirements

Before you begin the online application form below:

  • Review the eligibility requirements (above) to make sure you qualify for the scholarship.
  • Prepare the required documentation  (letter of recommendation, and  responses to the written prompts)
  • Finalists Interviews: The scholarship committee will identify 3-5 finalists. Finalists will be contacted by May 12th to schedule an interview with the committee the 4th week of May (20th-26th)

 

Questions?

Contact scholarships@candlelightersoregon.org or call 503.719.4244.

Statement of Financial Need

  • How do you plan to finance your education? 
  • Have you received other financial aid or scholarships? If so, from what source?
  • Are there any other family members currently pursuing post-secondary education?
  • What would be the financial impact if you do not receive the scholarship?
  • Please provide any additional financial information you would like us to consider. 

Letter of Recommendation

The letter of recommendation must come from a professor or an academic advisor/counselor that answers the following questions:

    • How does the applicant show their commitment to pursuing their goals?
    • Please include anything you think would be helpful for us to know about the applicant when considering them for the scholarship award.

Letter must be typed and dated.

Short Answer Essay Questions

Please answer the following short prompts (one to two paragraphs per prompt, max). Prompts will be scored based on relevancy and depth. We encourage applicants to take time to reflect before submitting the answers to each question. 

  • How has your experience with cancer influenced your perspective on life?
  • What drives you to further your education?
  • Why is it important to you to pursue your goals?
  • Have you been involved with Candlelighters or other cancer organizations? If so, please describe your experience. (Optional).

Awardee Contingency

Awardee Contingency

Scholarship recipients will be asked to submit an image and write-up on their upcoming education goals to be shared with the candlelighters community on our website and social media.

 

Awardee Opportunities

The following may be requested, but not required from scholarship recipients. willingness to participate in the below will not be weighed as part of scholarship selection:

  • Awardees may be asked to attend or speak at a Candlelighters event in person or by video, to highlight our organization and the impact of our scholarship program. A short write-up on the impact of the scholarship and picture mid-year for marketing and communications 
  • An opportunity to be named a “Candlelighters Scholarship Ambassador” and engage with the community via a blog post, the Luminaries youth group and a video for social media. 

Apply

I. General Information

NOTE: Before you begin this application, gather the required documents noted above to complete the online application process. Once you begin the form, there is no save function.
Name(Required)
Are you still in treatment?(Required)
Address(Required)

I am currently enrolled in(Required)

My current grade level(Required)
(General Education is Ok)
Are you eligible for a Pell Grant?(Required)
Do you or your family qualify for Medicaid?(Required)
Do you have an IEP or have you used a disability resource?(Required)
Essay Permission(Required)
Candlelighters would like to use the short answer prompts as examples for future scholarship applicants or to share at various events or to funders. If you agree to Candlelighters sharing your essay, please check yes.

II. Required Documents

Please read the instructions carefully before each field below before uploading the required documents.
Upload a document that answers the following: How do you plan to finance your education? Have you received other financial aid or scholarships? If so, from what source? Are there any other family members currently pursuing post-secondary education? What would be the financial impact if you do not receive the scholarship? Please provide any additional financial information you would like us to consider.
Drop files here or
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 25 MB.
    The letter of recommendation must come from a professor or an academic advisor/counselor that answers the following questions: How does the applicant show their commitment to pursuing their goals? Please include anything you think would be helpful for us to know about the applicant when considering them for the scholarship award. Letter must be typed and dated.
    Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 25 MB.
      Please answer the following short prompts (one to two paragraphs per prompt, max). Prompts will be scored based on relevancy and depth. We encourage applicants to take time to reflect before submitting the answers to each question. How has your experience with cancer influenced your perspective on life? What drives you to further your education? Why is it important to you to pursue your goals? Have you been involved with Candlelighters or other cancer organizations? If so, please describe your experience. (Optional).
      Drop files here or
      Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 25 MB.

        III. Family Data (Optional)

        We are interested in learning more about our community and collecting information that will allow us to apply for grant funding in the future. We greatly appreciate you providing answers to the following questions. Please note that these questions are optional and all answers will be kept confidential and will have no impact on the approval process for this scholarship.
        Race & Ethnicity
        Please check all that apply
        Highest Level Education for Parent or Caregiver 1
        Level of Education for Parent or Caregiver 2
        Military Status

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