Walton Family Foundation Scholarship

Program Guidelines

Applicant Eligibility

The applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Legal Resident of the United States; the dependent of an actively employed full-time Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Associate who has been employed for at least twelve consecutive months as of April 8, 2009. Dependents of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Board of Directors and Dependents of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Officers [Vice President and above] are not eligible to apply.

Academic Requirements

The applicant must provide proof of achieving at least a 22 Composite ACT or 1030 SAT (Critical Reading or Verbal + Math) scores 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 $13,000 in increments of $1,625, per semester (spring and fall semesters), applied to undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board. Funds are provided by the Walton Family Foundation. Checks are issued by the Wal-Mart Foundation, made payable and mailed directly to the accredited college or university last designated by the student. First checks will be mailed August 1, 2009. Subsequent checks are subject to the student submitting fall and spring transcripts and meeting minimum requirements. Funds are applied to cover tuition, books, fees and on-campus room and board and 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

The Walton Family Foundation, Inc. selects a Review Committee, independent of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Wal-Mart Foundation, to ensure the impartial and confidential evaluation of applications. 175 winners are selected based on the Composite ACT (minimum 22) SAT Critical Reading + Math scores (minimum 1030), school and Community service and leadership, and proof of financial need. Selection announcements will be mailed by April 27, 2009. Non-winners will be notified by e-mail by May 1, 2009, or by USPS for those with no e-mail address.

Conditions of Award

The applicant and selected college must meet all requirements in order to receive the scholarship funds. The applicant whose parent/legal guardian is not a full time Associate at the time of award will be disqualified. If any other funds pay entirely the tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board for the student’s fall 2009 and spring 2010 terms, 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). and all subsequent semesters during the payments cycle.
Recipient planning to attend two-year institutions must agree in writing to transfer to a four-year institution by the beginning of the third academic year. Applicants attending military academies are ineligible for this scholarship. All school transfers are subject to accreditation approval.

Recipient Responsibilities

Recipient must be actively enrolled in the fall of 2009 and each spring and fall semester during his or her entire tenure as a Walton Scholar without interruption, barring illness, or emergency. Recipients are required to maintain a 3.0 term grade point average [GPA] in at least 12 earned college credit hours per semester, send term grade transcripts immediately upon completion of each term, and notify the Wal-Mart Foundation of term progress, changes in institutions or contact information.
It is the recipient’s responsibility to notify the Wal-Mart Foundation should the award check not arrive on or about 30 days from the issue date.

The Walton Family Foundation and 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.
high school seniors graduating between August 1, 2008 and July 31, 2009. (home school diplomas and GED equivalency certificates are eligible with the same completion date requirement)
must be an actively employed OR the dependent of an actively employed associate with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for at least six consecutive months as of April 25, 2009
must have at least a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA.
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 not eligible to receive this award.)

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?

175 scholarships will be awarded.
Awards are $13,000, payable over four years.
Funds are issued in increments of $1,625 for each fall and spring semester, dependent on renewal conditions.
Funds can be applied to undergraduate studies at a U.S. Dept. of Education accredited institution (military academies are not approved institutions)
Funds will be applied to tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room & board beginning fall 2009.

What are the selection criteria?

Students with complete applications and meeting all eligibility criteria will be considered for selection.
Associate parent must be a full time associate at the time of award.
The Walton Family Foundation, Inc. selects a Review Committee, independent of The Wal-Mart Foundation, to ensure the impartial and confidential evaluation of applications.
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 program deadline?

Return to www.applyists.net.
Click the "APPLY or update a new application" link.
Using Login Option 2, enter your ACCESS KEY: (WFFS).
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 program 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 for at least 12 credit hours as an undergraduate in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded.
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.
Recipients attending two-year institutions must agree in writing to transfer to a four-year institution by the beginning of the third academic year.
Recipient must continue in school the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency, or military service.
Recipients must maintain a 3.0 term grade point average [GPA] in at least 12 earned college credit hours per semester.
Recipients must send fall and spring term grade transcripts and any contact information or school changes which affect the payment process immediately upon completion of each term or change to The Wal-Mart Foundation.

How and when are checks issued?

Checks are issued by the Wal-Mart Foundation.
Initial checks will be mailed by August 1 directly to the accredited college or university last designated by the student.
Subsequent payments are issued upon receipt of and subject to transcript submission and minimum requirements.
It is the recipient’s responsibility to verify that required transcripts and corresponding payments are received at the appropriate office and to notify The Wal-Mart Foundation when payments do not arrive within 30 days of the check issue date.

How and when will I receive notification?

Winner notifications will be mailed by May 1 from the Wal-Mart Foundation.
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.