DEBRA W. HAMM SCHOLARSHIP

The Richland Two Education Foundation Debra W. Hamm Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of former Richland School District Two Superintendent Dr. Debra Hamm. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to qualifying students to pursue their dreams of earning a college or associate’s degree.  The $3,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a student in the district. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2024. Deadline extensions will not be granted, and incomplete applications will not be considered or reviewed.

Application Requirements
In addition to submitting the application and academic, leadership and service information, applicants are required to complete the following: 

Essay
As a requirement for the Debra W. Hamm  Scholarship, applicants must complete a 500 word essay addressing the statement below.

Leadership, service, integrity and community involvement were key areas of focus during the tenure of Dr. Hamm as Superintendent, and of Mr. Chip Jackson throughout his life. In your essay, describe how your leadership style exemplifies these characteristics and how you have influenced others to make a positive difference in your school and community as well as in your family and job (if applicable).  Also, include how your actions will continue to make a difference after you graduate from high school.

Recommendation
Applicants must secure and upload two letters of recommendation. One letter should be from a community leader with significant authority and responsibility who has personal knowledge of the student’s leadership and service. The second letter should come from a school counselor, teacher, activities director or administrator who has worked with the student during their high school years. Recommenders will be asked to address the applicant’s leadership in the context of his or her extracurricular activities, volunteer service, sports participation, work experience, and/or family involvement.

Academic Verification
The applicant must upload an unofficial transcript with the application packet.
 
APPLICATION CRITERIA
The scholarship is open to high school seniors who will be attending technical colleges, two-year and/or four-year colleges.
All applicants must complete an application form.
Applicants will be judged on scholastic achievement, overall leadership, service, integrity and community involvement.
Applications must be accompanied by a 500-word essay written by the applicant.
The applicant must have achieved at least a 2.5 grade point average based on a 4-point scale.
The applicant must submit two letters of recommendation.
The top 4 applicants will be interviewed by the scholarship committee. 

The Scholarship Selection Committee will review the applications and uploaded attachments and make the award selection based on the above criteria.  All awards will be made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender or disability. No members of the committee, nor family members of the committee, will be eligible to receive benefits from this fund.

APPLICATION PROCESS
All applicants must complete the Debra W. Hamm Scholarship application Google Form and submit it along with the required attachments.

The preferred method of application is by uploading the form digitally. However, if you need to submit by the US Postal Service, please send to the following address:

Richland School District Two Education Foundation
Debra W. Hamm Scholarship
Attn: Strategic Partnerships
124 Risdon Way
Columbia, SC  29223

If you need to submit the packet in person, it may be delivered to Maria Owens at the District Office at R2i2. However, it should be noted that the preferred method of submission is digitally through the Google Form.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM

All applications must be SUBMITTED BY March 31, 2024.

All questions should be directed to Maria Owens, Director of Strategic Partnerships, at maowens@richland2.org.