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Scholarships

SIS General Scholarship

For youth athletes in Benton, Linn, and Lincoln counties who put real hours into their community. Each scholarship is earned through service and helps pay for the sport you play.

Applications are closed for this cycle.

Questions

Process and timeline

  1. Submit a thorough application.
  2. Receive a decision within 2 weeks of the funding cycle deadline.
  3. If approved, complete the required service hours for your award amount.
  4. Submit your final hours and a reflection.
  5. Receive your funding.

Who can apply

We currently operate in the greater Benton, Linn, and Lincoln County area and support student athletes who participate in programs in our communities. There is no minimum age: the athlete must be able to take part directly in a service opportunity, chosen by the applicant and their family.

How the service hours work

Athletes identify, coordinate, and complete service hours with organizations of their choosing, for a number of hours in line with the amount awarded. Successful applicants then submit their completed hours and a reflection: what they did, what they learned, and how it affected the organizations or people involved.

We generally award scholarships at about $20 to $25 per hour of service. For example, a $500 request would involve about 20 to 25 hours of service.

What the application asks for

Along with contact details for the applicant and a parent or guardian, the application asks the questions below. We recommend answering them in a document first, then pasting your answers into the form once they are all complete.

  1. Any prior community service you have done, including the organization, approximate hours, and location.
  2. Any community service you do regularly now, including the organization, approximate hours, and location.
  3. What does service mean to you? (about 200 words)
  4. What is the importance of service to both the people participating and those receiving the service? (about 200 words)
  5. What do you hope to take away from your service experiences? (about 200 words)
  6. Which organizations or projects you would like to work with to complete your hours. If you are not sure yet, share ideas that appeal to you and fit your values.
  7. What you are requesting a scholarship for: your sport, the organization it is through, and the specific expenses with dollar amounts. Participation fees, tournament travel, camps and showcases, equipment, and private lessons all qualify.
  8. The dollar amount you are requesting. Amounts depend on our funding, the number of qualified applicants in a cycle, and the applicant's needs.
  9. Anything else we should know as we review your application.

Common questions

Where do I have to live to apply?

We currently operate in the greater Benton, Linn, and Lincoln County area and support student athletes who participate in programs in our communities. As funding allows, we may broaden our region. If you are unsure whether you qualify, please contact us.

Is there a minimum age?

No. That is up to the athlete's family. The athlete must be able to take part directly in an appropriate service opportunity, which the applicant and their family choose.

When is the scholarship paid?

The scholarship is paid when the service hours are complete. Contact us if you need to ask for an exception.

How much is awarded?

It depends on our funding, the number of qualified applicants in a cycle, and the applicant's needs. Our goal is an amount that makes a real difference.

What can the money be used for?

Eligible expenses include participation fees, tournament travel, camps and showcases, equipment, and private lessons. If you are not sure whether an expense qualifies, contact us before you apply.

Who chooses the service project?

You do, guided by your values. We are happy to help you find opportunities, but the applicant is responsible for coordinating and completing the hours.

What kind of service qualifies?

Almost anything that matches your values and the things you care about: animal shelters, park clean-ups, a church or other faith community, soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, food banks, after-school programs, youth sport clinics, tutoring, libraries, hospitals and nursing homes, Boys and Girls Club programs, help for elderly or disabled neighbors (groceries, yard work, dog walking), and YMCA programs. If you are unsure, ask us.