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TRIO Talent Search
Scholarship Application

Scholarship information

Applications due March 11, 2024

Applicants must be TRIO Talent Search participants from Cortez, Mancos, Durango, Ignacio, or Pagosa Springs High Schools.
All scholarship recipients must attend college for the entire 2024-2025 year, beginning in Fall of 2024.
All scholarship recipients must apply for TRIO at the collegiate level, when available.
All scholarship recipients must fill out scholarship agreements, agreeing to any specific terms and expecta-tions of the scholarship they are awarded.
All scholarship recipients must write a thank you note to the donor or organization that sponsored the scholarship they were awarded.
Successful scholarship applicants will be awarded a scholarship that best matches with their academic plans, personal background, and the school/location of the school they are planning to attend.

Apply for the TRIO Talent Search scholarship

Call or text TRIO at 970-903-7753 with any questions.
Step 1: Personal essay

Write an essay of 500-750 words and answer prompt A or B

A. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. (Your example can be big or small.) How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? On the same note, convince us that you are determined to persevere in college until you graduate and that you need this scholarship to do so.

-OR-

B. Write about your future career plans, what steps you have taken toward that goal, and how you have giv-en back to your community. On the same note, convince us that you are determined to persevere in college until you graduate and that you need this scholarship to do so.

All essay responses must be typed in an easily readable font, and double spaced. Please include your name and high school on each page.
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Step 2: Attach your high school transcript

Unofficial or official transcript accepted.
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Step 3: Complete application questions
Name

First Name
Last Name
High school name
Phone
Area CodePhone Number
Email
College you plan on attending in Fall 2024
List details of activities and years participated (or upload high school resume below)
Please list extracurricular activities, community service, and work experience.
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Step 4: Financial information

We invite you to complete this part with your advisor. Please list the cost of attendance and all aid for the college listed above FOR THE YEAR. You can find this on each school’s website or at College Navigator.

Please list your SAI (Student Aid Index) from your FAFSA. You can find this by logging into your submitted FAFSA.
Costs

Enter dollar amount in fields below
Tuition and fees (full year)
Room and board (on or off campus)
Books
Transportation and personal expenses
A. Total Cost (Add all costs above to calculate your total college cost)
Contributions
Total grant money offered to you by your college listed above
List any other money that you anticipate receiving for college including help from family, friends, college funds, etc. (Have a conversation with your parents/guardians or list “independent” if applicable)
List or describe other support you anticipate receiving
Scholarships awarded (List scholarships and amounts)
List scholarships and amounts
B. Total resources not including loans (Add grants, other support, and scholarships to calculate your total college contributions)
Total Need
Total Need (Subtract total resources B from total cost A to find your total need)
Please use this space to tell us any additional information not included above that would help us best understand your financial need for college.

Final notes before submission

After hitting submit, be sure to call or text the Talent Search office at 970-903-7753 to confirm that your application has been received by the deadline.

If awarded, you will need to attend a scholarship award dinner in early May to be presented with your scholarship and meet/thank the scholarship donors. Final date will be confirmed with scholarship recipients.