Sam Walton Community Scholarship

Program Guidelines

Applicant Eligibility

Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Legal Resident of the United States and may not be a Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Associate, the dependent of a Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Associate, or the dependent of a Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Board of Directors member as of April 25, 2009.

Academic Requirements

Applicant must have a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4-point un-weighted scale, have taken either the ACT or SAT tests and be a high school/home school senior graduating between August 1, 2008 and July 31, 2009 or a student who has obtained a GED and would have graduated high school between August 1, 2008 and July 31, 2009

Description of Funds

Recipients will receive up to $3,000 in a one-time payment, applied to undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board for the 2009-10 academic year. Funds are provided by the Wal-Mart Foundation. Payments are issued by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS) and made payable to the student’s approved college or university and mailed to the recipient’s residence by August 1, 2009. Funds may be applied to studies overseas provided that the study is a condition of the recipient’s degree plan and that payment continues to be made to the accredited U.S. college or university.

Winner Selection and Announcements

ISTS provides a Selection Committee, independent of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Wal-Mart Foundation, to ensure the impartial and confidential evaluation of applications. Selection is based on financial need, academic record, ACT/SAT test scores, and school and Community activities and leadership. Non-winners are notified by e-mail by May 1, 2009, or by USPS for those with no e-mail address. Applicant receiving any other funds that pay entirely for tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board will not be eligible to receive this scholarship.

Conditions of Award

The applicant and selected college must meet all requirements in order to receive the scholarship funds. If the applicant or the applicant’s parent/legal guardian is employed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. at the time of award. The student is no longer eligible and will relinquish the funds. If any other funds pay entirely the tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board for the student’s 2009-10 academic year, the student is no longer eligible to receive this scholarship and will relinquish the funds.

College/University Approval

Applicant must be enrolled in a two- or four-year U.S. college or university undergraduate course of study, full time (At least 12 college credit hours) in the fall 2009 semester. The institution must be accredited and listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education (ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx). Applicant is ineligible if attending military academies. All school transfers are subject to accreditation approval.

Responsibilities of Recipients

Recipient must be actively enrolled in the fall of 2009 and for the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency, or military service. Recipients are responsible for delivering their scholarship checks to the proper office at their institution and notifying ISTS immediately changes in institutions or contact information. It is the recipient’s responsibility to notify ISTS should the award check not arrive on or about 30 days from the issue date.

The Wal-Mart Foundation reserves the right to alter or discontinue this program at any time without notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Legal Resident of the United States
must be a high school senior graduating between August 1, 2008 and July 31, 2009 (home school diplomas and GED equivalency certificates are eligible with the same completion date requirement)
can not be a Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. associate or the dependent of a Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. associate. (note: This eligibility applies through the date of award.)
must have a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4-point un-weighted scale, and have taken either the ACT or SAT tests
must have financial need and be able to demonstrate the need with required documents. (Note: Students with other funds that pay entirely for tuition, books, fees, and on-campus room and board are ineligible.)

Note: Additional guidelines apply. See Program Guidelines for complete details.

When can I apply?

Please check back with us November 1 for applications for the 2010 fall semester

What are the details of the award?

Nationally, over 2,500 non-renewable scholarships will be awarded.
Winners will be selected from the pool of applicants in their state.
The $3,000 award is paid at the beginning of the 2009-2010 academic year.
Funds will be applied to undergraduate studies at a U.S. Dept. of Education accredited institution (military academies are not approved institutions.)
Funds can be applied to tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room & board.

What are the selection criteria?

Students with complete applications and meeting all eligibility criteria will be considered for selection.
An independent selection committee will evaluate the applications and select the winners.
The committee will consider:
- Financial need
- Academic achievements and records
- School and community activities and leadership
All decisions of the selection committees are final and are not subject to appeal.

How do I check the status of my application?

Return to www.applyists.net.
Click the “Check Application Status” link.
Enter your AIN, First Name and Last Name.
Click Submit.

How do I make changes to my application before the deadline?

Return to www.applyists.net.
Click the "APPLY or update a new application" link.
Using Login Option 2, enter your ACCESS KEY: (SWCS).
Enter your AIN, First Name and Last Name.
Click on each tab and make changes to the necessary section(s), click “save and continue” to move forward.
Print a new Cover Page for your records.
Do not resubmit your paperwork. All changes are saved to your online application.

How do I make changes to my application after the deadline?

After the program deadline you will only be able to update your address.

Return to www.applyists.net.
Click “Edit Mailing Address” link.
Enter your AIN, First Name and Last Name.

What are my responsibilities as a recipient?

Recipient must enroll as an undergraduate in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded.
Recipient must continue in school the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency, or military service.
Recipient must deliver scholarship check to the proper office at your institution and notifying ISTS immediately changes in institutions or contact information.
Recipient must attend an approved accredited two- or four-year U.S. college or university listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education (ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx). Military academies are not approved institutions. School transfers are also subject to accreditation eligibility.
All school transfers are subject to accreditation approval.

How and when are checks issued?

Checks are issued by ISTS.
Checks will be made payable to the institution only and mailed to each recipient’s mailing address by August 1.
It is the recipient’s responsibility to notify ISTS should the check not arrive within 30 days of the issue date.

How and when will I receive notification?

Winner notifications will be mailed by May 1.
Non-winner notifications will be e-mailed by May 1 from ISTS.

Are scholarships taxable?

Tax laws vary by country. In the United States, scholarship funds used exclusively for the payment of tuition or textbooks are normally not taxable. The scholarship recipient is responsible for taxes, if any, that may be assessed against your scholarship award. We recommend consulting your tax advisor for more guidance.