Who is eligible for a scholarship ?

Any student who is a resident of Wakefield, who will be attending school full time, and who demonstrates financial need is eligible for a scholarship .

A Financial Aid Questionnaire (FAQ) is required with each application. The information on the FAQ is processed by the national Dollars for Scholars staff in St. Peter, Minnesota. They analyze the information and report their determination of how much of the student's expected college expenses the parents will be expected to contribute.

Who determines the scholarship recipients?

The members of CSF's Scholarship Needs Committee determine all scholarship recipients. This committee is made up of members of the Board of Directors. Directors who have relatives applying for CSF awards are prohibited from serving on this committee as stipulated by our Bylaws.

How are scholarship recipients selected?

Scholarships are awarded to those applicants with the greatest need. CSF determines need using a formula which contains several factors, such as the family income expected to be available to the student, the cost of tuition at the school selected, and the number of students in the family who are in college.

We process all applications using assigned ID numbers rather than names, ensuring anonymity.

Are scholarships ever given for reasons other than financial need?

Yes. Each year seven Bill Spaulding Merit Awards of $600 each are awarded to exceptional high school seniors. In order to be eligible to apply, students must be college-bound high school seniors in the top 10% of their class and a Wakefield resident.

The Boston College academic Achievement Award, funded anonymously in 1987, provides a scholarship annually to a WHS graduating senior who will attend Boston College.

The Rhudine Johnson Unsung Hero Award is given to two graduating Wakefield High School students (one male and one female) who are deemed "unsung heroes" of their graduating class as chosen by their classmates.

The Dan Blanchard Award is made to a graduating senior at Wakefield High School who has excelled in Social Studies (History) and has shown an interest in athletics. 

These merit-based awards are determined without regard to financial need.

Where do I get a CSF scholarship application?

Applications and Financial Aid Questionnaires (FAQ) are available online. 

2008 -2009 Application

2008 - 2009 Financial Aid Questionnaire (FAQ)

Starting in early January of each year, they are also available at these locations:

• Guidance Office at Wakefield High School
• Career Room at Lucius Beebe Memorial Library
• Americal Civic Center Lobby just outside the CSF door

We also mail multiple copies to area vocational and private high schools.

It is essential that families follow the directions carefully to complete and submit both the financial assistance questionnaire (FAQ) and the application itself. CSF cannot process an application if the FAQ is not first received by the national Dollars for Scholars office. Likewise, the FAQ report is useless without a completed CSF of Wakefield application.

Do you accept late scholarship application?

Applications received after the due date will be held aside and considered in a first come/first served manner using any money left over once we consider applications received on time.  Applications received after August 1 will not be considered.

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