Presidential Scholarship Application

The Scholarship

The Erskine College Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship offered by Erskine College. The scholarship recognizes the fifteen individuals who have served as President of Erskine College, beginning in 1839 with Dr. E. E. Pressly, to current President, Dr. Randall T. Ruble. The Presidential Scholarship covers tuition, room, board and fees, minus any state, federal and outside scholarships or grants. There is also a $1,000 study abroad travel stipend awarded to the scholarship recipient. The value of the scholarship over four years is approximately $140,000. The Presidential Scholarship is renewable for a total of four years of study, requires an Erskine GPA of 3.0, and is dependent on the recipient upholding the ideals and standards of Erskine College.

The Selection Process

The Presidential Scholarship Selection Committee is looking for highly motivated and creative individuals whose activities reflect qualities of leadership and service in their respective schools, churches, and communities. The committee works with two applications: the application for admission to Erskine College and the Presidential Scholarship Application. As committee members review these two applications, they consider the following factors:

Outstanding academic performance in high school
Intellectual curiosity
School, church, and community involvement
Leadership skills
Creativity
Fit with Erskine’s commitment to connect students through Christ, learning and life

Application deadline:
November 1, 2009 (Early Action)
February 20, 2010 (Regular Decision)

Interviews are held on:
December 4-5, 2009 (Early Action)
March 12-13, 2010 (Regular Decision)

Tips For Completing This Application

Follow application directions.
All questions have word limits. Longer answers may disqualify a candidate.
Provide responses to all three essay questions.

Personal Information

Last Name*
First Name*
Preferred Name*
Address*
City, State, Zip*
Home Phone*
Cell Phone*
E-mail Address*
High School*

*required fields

Please mark in the indicated box whether you are applying for Early Action or Regular Decision:

Early Action (Application Deadline: Nov. 1, 2009)

Regular Decision (Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2010)

Scholarship Essays (Please provide responses to all three questions)

1. Please choose one of the following quotes and give us your thoughts related to your life: (Limit 300 words)

“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” Ronald Reagan
“In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite.” Barack Obama
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C.S. Lewis
“Music is what feelings sound like.” Author Unknown
“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence.“

(Maximum characters: 2000)
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2. Please choose one of the following questions. (Limit 300 words)

What role does faith play in your life?
What words would you use to describe Jesus Christ, and how would you say Christ influences your life?

(Maximum characters: 2000)
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3. The mission of Erskine College is to equip students to flourish by providing an excellent liberal arts education in a Christ-centered environment where learning and biblical truth are integrated to develop the whole person. You have chosen to apply for admission and for scholarship consideration. Based on the above mission, why are you a good fit for Erskine? (Limit 300 words)

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I pledge that all of the information provided in this application is true and accurate. All work contained in this application is my own. I understand that failure to provide accurate and true information or
submission of work that is not my own may invalidate my admission to Erskine College.

Signature Date