Virginia Mu AVC & Family Scholarship Fund – Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation

The Virginia Mu AVC & Family Scholarship Fund was established to provide recognition, inspiration, financial assistant and encouragement to the members of the Alumni Corporation, as well as the spouses, children, and grandchildren of AVC members or deceased members. These awards are presented to outstanding members, and family members enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs, professional development courses, or vocational training.

What is available?

The total amount of the fund available for distribution in 2020 is up to $15,000, with a maximum level of an individual award at $2,500 and a minimum award of $250.

Who is evaluating the applications?

The Virginia Mu Educational Foundation has appointed AVC members to serve in a Selection Committee. The committee will evaluate applications for scholarships, determine the number and amount of available awards, and select recipients for those awards. The Selection Committee will then submit the committee’s decisions to the Foundation Trustees for final approval, notify recipients about their awards, and publicize the results to the members of the AVC and all applicants.

Who can apply?

The following are the criteria for which a individual applying for an award must meet to be considered for selection.

(1) The application must be from an active member of the Virginia Mu Alumni & Volunteer Corporation (AVC) or the spouse, child, or grandchild of an active AVC Member or Deceased Member.

(2) To be considered an active member of the AVC, a member must contribute a minimum of $19.01 per year to the Foundation and be a SigEp or volunteer in good standing with the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Headquarters.

(3) In all instances, the member’s effective date of AVC membership must be on or before November 1^st of the previous year in which the applicant is seeking aid unless the member is deceased.

(4) The applicant must be attending an accredited college or university, as an undergraduate or graduate, or participating in a professional development or vocational related training.

(5) The current members of the Selection Committee, their immediate families and grandchildren, are eligible for any scholarship awarded. The Selection Committee member is recused from voting on related candidates, including themselves and immediate families and grandchildren.

How to apply?

The Virginia Mu AVC Scholarship Fund has two award categories to apply for:

Category 1 — Member Scholarship Applications

These awards are open to all active Virginia MU AVC members. To apply, the member-applicant must provide the following information in a letter to be considered for selection.

(1) Applicant Name, address, phone number, and email address.

(2) Explanation of what undergraduate or graduate program, professional development course, or vocational training the applicant is enrolled in and how the award will be used (300-word maximum).

(3) Explanation of why you deserve the award (300-word maximum).

(4) Special family considerations or other circumstances that the applicant believes relevant.

(5) A photograph is required and will become the property of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation at George Mason University, to be used for publicity purposes. The photo should be a head and shoulders view in pdf, jpg, or tiff format.

(6) All of the above must be included in the applicant’s letter.

Category 2 – Family Member Scholarship Applications:

These awards are open to the spouse of an active AVC member or deceased member. The awards are also open to the child, or grandchild of an active AVC member or deceased member who is a high school senior, high school or college graduate, or current college student, full or part time. The child or grandchild must have a 2.5 GPA (4.0 scale or C+ average in high school or college) and include official transcripts with their application.

To apply, the applicant must provide the following information in a letter to be considered for selection.

(1) Name, address, phone number, and email address.

(2) Active AVC member name, address, telephone number, email, or deceased member name.

(3) Explanation of what undergraduate or graduate program, professional development course, or vocational training the applicant is enrolled in and how the award will be used (300-word maximum).

(4) Explanation of why you deserve the award (300-word maximum).

(5) Special family considerations that the applicant believes are relevant.

(6) Reference – to be completed by an individual who is aware of the applicant’s abilities and potential (teacher, employer, coach, etc.). Do not include relatives.

(7) Photograph – a photograph is required and will become the property of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation at George Mason University to be used for publicity purposes. The photo should be a head and shoulders view in pdf, jpeg, jpg, or tiff format.

(8) All of the above must be included in the applicant’s letter.

When to apply?

We will begin accepting scholarship applications as of November 1, 2019.

All applications must be received by February 1, 2020.

Where to apply?

The applicant would mail the completed application to the following address with a postmark on or before February 1st of the year.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation at George Mason University
Attn: Scholarship Committee
21580 Avens Court
Ashburn, Virginia 20148-5019

The applicant would include any additional supporting data that will help the Selection Committee in their review and evaluation of the application.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered, nor will applications be accepted from VA MU AVC members or their families that are not active.