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Home My WebLink AboutD-3 Staff Report - Updated City of Azusa Scholarship ProgramSCHEDULED ITEM D-3 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: TALEEN NAZARIAN, MANAGEMENT ANALYST DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2024 SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF STREAMLINED PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR THE ‘CITY OF AZUSA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM’ AND APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL AD HOC SCHOLARSHIP AWARD SELECTION COMMITTEE BACKGROUND: At their regular meeting of September 16, 2024, the City Council requested that staff return with updates to the ‘City of Azusa Scholarship Program.’ The ‘City of Azusa Scholarship Program’ was approved by City Council in 2016 and was made possible through a financial contribution from the Vulcan Materials Company as a condition of their development agreement with the City. The program was established to offer scholarship opportunities for qualified high school students and adult learners residing within the City of Azusa. Qualified candidates must be residents of Azusa for at least one year and demonstrate academic achievement, commitment to extracurricular activities and/or community involvement, and financial need. Staff is seeking Council approval of the updated program guidelines for the ‘City of Azusa Scholarship Program.’ These updates aim to streamline the application process, increase accessibility, and improve overall program effectiveness. City staff seek to attract more applicants to the program to increase its impact and benefits for the Azusa community. Council is also being asked to designate two members to serve on the Ad-Hoc Scholarship Award Selection Committee. This Committee shall work with Staff to select award recipients on an annual basis. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommend that the City Council take the following actions: 1) Adopt the proposed guideline and requirement changes to the ‘City of Azusa Scholarship Program’; and Approved City Council November 4, 2024 City of Azusa Scholarship Program – updated guidelines November 4, 2024 Page 2 2) Appoint two (2) Council members to serve on the Ad-Hoc Scholarship Award Selection Committee for the 2024-2025 Scholarship Program Cycle ANALYSIS: To increase the program’s effectiveness and minimize barriers for applicants, City staff have made several enhancements to the Program’s application and program guidelines: • Increase in Scholarship Award Amounts: The scholarship award amounts will be raised to $2,000 and $1,000 for first- and second-place scholarship amounts, respectively. • Changes to Scholarship Availability and Requirements: The total number of scholarships offered will decrease from 6 to 4. Additionally, requirements will be minimized to include 1 Letter of Recommendation and 1 essay question, instead of two. • Revised Essay Section: The Essay Section will be renamed “Personal Statement” and will now feature 1 longer question instead of 2 short answer questions, with updated prompts. City staff will lead the effort to update criteria and qualifications, advertise the program to the community, review initial applications, and provide a list of qualified candidates to the Ad-Hoc Committee. Prior to each award, staff will bring a staff report for scholarship award approval to City Council. Additionally, recipients of the scholarship awards will be honored at a future City Council Meeting for their achievement. The program has been expanded to include adult learners who are currently enrolled at an accredited college, university, or trade school in pursuit of an accredited degree or program. This decision aims to support continuing education students who are mid-journey in their academic pursuits and may need assistance. Adult Advancement Applications will still be subject to the qualifications outlined in the application. Additionally, to enhance accessibility, City staff are increasing the program’s online presence through a dedicated scholarship webpage along with a virtual application system to receive applications and additional documentation. Both the ‘City of Azusa Scholarship Program’ and the ‘Special Assistance Program’ will now operate under the City Manager’s Office - Neighborhood Services Division. FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for the scholarship program is available through an initial $75,000 contribution made from Vulcan Materials Company as a condition of the development agreement, and the funds are tracked under trust account 50-08-000-146-2719. The current fund balance is $66,800, and there is no fiscal impact to the General Funds. Any scholarship awards granted as part of this program are drawn solely from the existing trust accounts. City of Azusa Scholarship Program – updated guidelines November 4, 2024 Page 3 Prepared by: Reviewed by: Taleen Nazarian Nico De Anda-Scaia Management Analyst Deputy City Manager Fiscal Review by: Reviewed and Approved: Talika Johnson Sergio Gonzalez Director of Administrative Services City Manager Attachments: 1) Updated ‘City of Azusa Scholarship Program’ Guidelines and Application. Page 1 City of Azusa Scholarship Program The City of Azusa has established a scholarship fund to provide financial assistance to qualified residents who wish to pursue post-secondary education. The City of Azusa Scholarship was created to assist high school seniors and first-time adults advancing in their career through up to four (4) scholarship opportunities. Applicants who reside in the City of Azusa meeting all the requirements will be eligible to receive an award of up to $2,000. The scholarships may be awarded as follows: Opportunity 1 High School Senior (1st Place ) - $2,000; (2nd Place ) - $1,000 Opportunity 2 Adult Advancement (1st Place ) - $2,000; (2nd Place ) - $1,000 Applicants are eligible to apply to one (1) of the two (2) scholarship opportunities. The City will send awards directly to the applicant’s school of choice upon receipt of registration verification to an accredited college, university or trade school to assist in tuition, fees, room & board and books. Mission The mission of the City of Azusa Scholarship is to support aspiring graduating high school students and young adults looking to achieve a higher education by providing financial assistance. Vision The vision of the City of Azusa Scholarship is to provide opportunities for Azusa youth to pursue a college education and in turn create future leaders committed to the betterment of the community through citizenship, integrity and community involvement. Guidelines Applications can be obtained online at www.azusaca.gov/scholarships. Applications must be filled out completely. Any incomplete applications will be disqualified from the application process. All applicants must submit the following: • Completed Application; • One (1) Letter of Recommendation (Professional Sources Only); • One (1) sealed official transcript for graduating high school seniors only; and a • Personal Statement. Qualifications for High School Senior Applicant • Must be a resident of Azusa for a minimum of one (1) year; • Must be a high school senior; • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75; • Demonstrate leadership experience, school or community involvement, etc.; • Provide evidence of acceptance to an accredited college, university or trade school; and • Proof of financial need. Page 2 Qualifications for Adult Advancement Applicant • Must be a resident of Azusa for a minimum of one (1) year; • Be at least nineteen (19) years of age; • Must be a first-time or continuing student at an accredited college, university or trade school, with proof of acceptance/enrollment. • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 if continuing student; • Provide copy of official transcript if continuing student; • Proof of financial need. Requirements All applicants awarded a scholarship must meet the following requirements: 1. Proof of Acceptance to Accredited College, University or Trade School All applicants awarded a scholarship will be required to provide proof of acceptance to an accredited college, university or trade school. A receipt of registration verification is required before any funds are disbursed directly to the applicant’s school of choice. If evidence is not provided, the scholarship is forfeited. 2. Proof of Adjusted Gross Income All applicants awarded a scholarship will be required to provide proof of the most recent tax return with adjusted gross income. Pay stubs alone are not an adequate form of information. If evidence is not provided, the scholarship is forfeited. 3. Proof of Residency Scholarship recipients must have been residents of the City of Azusa for at least one (1) year. Awardees will be required to provide proof of residency. Two (2) proofs must be provided dated one (1) year prior to the application due date. Proof must be under the applicants name or parent’s name if the applicant is a dependent student. Acceptable proofs of Azusa residency include, but are not limited to: • Tax returns giving Azusa as the home address • Pay check stub • Checking or saving account statements • Utility Bill • Driver’s License or Identification • Passport Basis for Selection Applicants will be selected based on the following items: • Academic Achievement; • Dedication to extracurricular activities and/or community involvement; • Personal Statement; • Financial need. • An interview may be conducted. Page 3 Each application will be evaluated and ranked based on the applicant’s academic achievement, community involvement or extracurricular activities, and financial need. Applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship Selection Committee consisting of members of the City Council and City Staff. All decisions of the committee will be final. Disbursement of Award The City will distribute funds directly to the applicant’s school of choice upon receipt of registration verification to an accredited college, university or trade school. GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CONDITIONS: a. The City reserves the right to withdraw or cancel the Scholarship Program at any time without prior notice. b. The City reserves the right to postpone the Scholarship Program at any time. c. The City reserves the right to seek clarification of information submitted in response to the Scholarship Program Application. d. The City reserves the right to modify the Scholarship Program as it deems necessary. e. Any material misrepresentations made by the applicant(s) will void the application and eliminate the applicant from further consideration. f. The City reserves the right to take all reasonable and appropriate steps to recover diverted funds. For More Information: Questions regarding this scholarship application should be submitted to: Taleen Nazarian, Management Analyst City of Azusa – City Manager’s Office 213 E Foothill Blvd. Azusa, CA 91702 Phone: 626.633.4314 Email: taleen.nazarian@azusaca.gov Page 4 City of Azusa Scholarship Application Application Procedure: Application must include one (1) Letter of Recommendation and one (1) sealed official transcript (Transcripts needed for graduating high school seniors only). Submit complete application packets online at www.azusaca.gov/scholarships. I am applying for: High School Senior Scholarship Adult Advancement Scholarship Applicant Information __________________________________________________________________________________________________ First Name Middle Name Last Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone Number Email Address Current School *If you are an Adult Advancement applicant and are not currently enrolled in school, provide your most recent school. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ School Name School Phone Number __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Grade Level Cumulative GPA Graduation Date Page 5 Honors and Awards List any honors or awards you have been presented. List the title of the award, date and institution that provided the award. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Extracurricular Activities List all activities and years in which you have participated. Include any leadership positions held. Examples of activities include and are not limited to: clubs, sports, school publications, plays, arts, hobbies and community involvement. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 Future Career Plans What are your career goals and how do you intend to achieve them? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ College, University or Trade School of which you intend to enroll: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ College, University or Trade School Name _______________________________________________________________________________________________ City State _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Semester Major Have you been accepted? If yes, include a copy of letter of acceptance. Yes No Page 7 Personal Statement Prompt: Select one (1) of the following questions and respond in 500-600 words. 1. Reflect upon and discuss a notable community service, volunteer, or extracurricular activity that had a significant impact on your life. What lessons did you learn from this experience, and how has it shaped your perspective on leadership, community engagement, and your career aspirations? 2. Describe how your personal and professional goals have been shaped by the community in which you were raised, focusing on the influences and experiences that have influenced your growth. 3. What are your career goals for the future, and how are your educational pursuits aligned with those goals? How will you utilize your education to impact your community positively? Page 8 Financial Eligibility The City of Azusa Scholarship is designed to help applicants in families with limited financial resources. Applicants must live in a household that fits the state income limits for 2024. • If you are a High School Senior applicant, provide your parent or legal guardian information. • If you are an Adult Advancement applicant and are dependent student, provide your parent or legal guardian information. If not, continue to the Family Members section. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Parent or Legal Guardian Name Last Name _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address _______________________________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone Number Family Members Please list all family members in your household below, including yourself. Full Name and Relationship 1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Members in Household Annual Income Less Than 1 $77,700 2 $88,800 3 $99,900 4 $110,950 5 $119,850 6 $128,750 7 $137,600 8 $146,500 2024 State Income Limits Page 9 Financial Information If an applicant is awarded, a most recent tax return with adjusted gross income for 2024 will be required. Pay stubs alone are not an adequate form of information. Applicants must live in a household that fits the state income limits for 2024. Check the income bracket that applies to your household to certify the annual income is less than what is listed. In 2025 or 2024, did anyone in your household receive: (Check all that apply.) Supplemental Security Income Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Free or Reduce Price School Lunch Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Not Applicable I, ________________________________, understand that misrepresentation of information subjects the applicant to being disqualified. I hereby certify that all of the above information is correct to the best of my knowledge. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature Date FOR MINORS I, _________________________________________, parent or legal guardian of _____________________________ understand that misrepresentation of information subjects the applicant to being disqualified. I hereby certify that all of the above information is correct to the best of my knowledge. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature Date 2024 State Income Limits Members in Household Annual Income Less Than 1 $77,700 2 $88,800 3 $99,900 4 $110,950 5 $119,850 6 $128,750 7 $137,600 8 $146,500 Page 10 Application Checklist Completed Application One (1) Letter of Recommendation One (1) sealed official transcript (For graduating high school seniors only) One-Page Essay I certify that to the best of my knowledge the information in this application is true and factual. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature Date We appreciate the time that you have taken to apply. Completed applications should be submitted to: City of Azusa City Manager’s Office – Neighborhood Services Division Attn: City of Azusa Scholarship 213 East Foothill Boulevard Azusa, CA 91702