The Jubilee to College (JTC) program was founded in August 2011 because of one phone call. Two young, accomplished students were admitted to great colleges and had worked hard to secure their freshman year costs with scholarships, grants, and loans, but still did not have enough funds. A call was placed for assistance, and the Jubilee to College scholarship program was created.
JTC is intended to provide the recipient with up to a $3,000 annual scholarship (1) designed to fund a student’s remaining balance after all other financial aid and other resources (e.g. grants, work- study, etc.) are applied. The recipient will be eligible for a scholarship for each year of their college (2) education if all renewal conditions outlined below are met. Our goal is to identify and grant scholarships to students who have the financial resources to not only start college but to successfully complete their degree.
In addition to gap funding, students become part of a cohort benefitting from mentorship through Jubilee’s Teen Center.
New Students
Seniors in high school may apply for a JTC scholarship. These seniors may be from the Jubilee Housing community or surrounding communities both subject to guidelines below.
Additionally, students from Jubilee Housing, Platform of Hope, or surrounding communities who have already started college but not previously applied for the JTC scholarship may apply, again, subject to guidelines below.
The application process includes:
- Timely completion of the JTC Scholarship Application.
- Submission of a copy of the student’s academic record in high school, diploma, college acceptance letter, and financial resources package demonstrating student’s ability to fund costs but for JTC scholarship amounts.
Candidates must:
- Expect to graduate from high school (or GDE equivalent) in good standing.
- Agree to submit a written update each semester that they are in college.
- Agree to speak at or participate in a Jubilee-sponsored event about their college experience once per year.
- Sign the JTC Letter of Understanding in Case of a Refund.
- Sign the JTC Scholarship Agreement.
- Student, along with a Parent/Guardian, extended relative or adult, responsible for the well- being of the student, must attend Family Services’ Education Empowerment financial aid workshops.
- Plan to attend an accredited 4-year college/university, community college, or specialized higher education/training program in the United States.
- Meet with Teen Services Manager and designated staff, along with the JTC Scholarship Coordinator, to review college enrollment documents and financial aid awards (FAFSA, Scholarships, Grants, etc.)
- Create a College-Student Support Plan with the Teen Services Manager
Preference will be given to candidates who:
- Are Jubilee Housing residents
- Have a meaningful attendance rate at the Teen Center College Readiness Workshops located at the Maycroft Apartments, 1474 Columbia Rd., NW, Washington, DC (on days expected to attend)
- Have meaningful participation in Teen Center-programmed community service events or documentation of equivalent service through their school, faith community, or other approved organization.
- Have 75% attendance with mentor meetings.
- Have 75% attendance in college preparation activities organized through Teen Center or other recognized college preparation programs.
Continuing Students
The scholarship will be renewable to students who remain enrolled in a college, university, or a specialized higher education or training program each year for up to 4 full years, provided the conditions listed below are met. The JTC scholarship committee will consider funding scholarships beyond 4 years but in no case more than 6 years and only with JTC Advisory Committee approval. Additional conditions for renewal will be specified in each awardee’s Scholarship Agreement. Each scholarship recipient will be required to submit documentation of these conditions at the end of each academic semester and prior to renewal.
Conditions for renewability:
- Maintain a minimum 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), or equivalent based on the school’s grading system. If the Student has academic difficulty and falls below 2.0 Cumulative GPA, the [indicated Staff member] may use their discretion in using the Semester GPA as an acceptable fulfillment of this requirement. This agreement will be added to the Student’s file and reviewed semester by semester until the Cumulative GPA rises to 2.0 or above.
- Continued enrollment with a minimum of 12 hours per semester, or equivalent per school’s system. If the need arises to reduce full-time, it is incumbent on the Student to communicate this to the [indicated Staff member] as soon as possible.
- Submission of Unofficial transcript after each first semester and Official transcript after the end of each academic year.
- Good standing at the enrolled school.
- Participation in Family Services events as described above.
- Continued demonstration of financial need.
- Submission of JTC Application for Scholarship Renewal.
- Retention services: Meet with Teen Services Manager/Staff twice per year (During Spring & Summer break semesters)
- Participate in (at least) one Alumni Service Event per year
The JTC Committee and Staff will review the applications annually to determine scholarship awards for the forthcoming academic year. The selection of scholarship recipients is based on academic performance, financial need, application responses, and support of Jubilee programs.
The JTC Committee and Staff will provide regular reports to the JTC Advisory Committee at least twice per year. These will include financial reports, student updates/stories, and any proposed program modifications.
The Teen Services Manager, Scholarship Coordinator, and designated staff shall make award recommendations to the JTC Advisory Committee. However, the ultimate decision of scholarship awards (number of recipients and dollar amount offered) shall be determined by the JTC Advisory Committee.
*Note: In special circumstances, the JTC Advisory Committee may elect to grant annual scholarship amounts to select recipients in amounts greater than $3,000 but in no case greater than $3,500 / year/recipient. These special cases will be the exceptions, and not the rule, and will be presented to the Advisory Committee by JTC Staff for approval on a case-by-case basis.
**Note: While the term college is used, the JTC Scholarship can be applied to other post-secondary school education and training programs (e.g. vocational training, IT training, EMT certification, etc.).
Application Form
Complete the Jubilee to College application form below.
If you prefer, you can also download and complete the pdf version of the form and email it to x.
