Who is eligible to apply?

Faulconer Scholarships are awarded to African-American or Hispanic high school students who are graduating seniors living within the Tyler Junior College District.  The Tyler Junior College District includes the Independent School Districts in Chapel Hill, Grand Saline, Lindale, Tyler, Van and Winona, Texas. Applicants must have maintained at least a 2.5 GPA while in high school.

I am a student at a private school. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, if your school is located within the Tyler Junior College Tax District or within the Independent School Districts of Tyler, Chapel Hill, Lindale, Van, Winona or Grand Saline, Texas.

Is there a fee to apply?

No fees are required to apply.

When can I apply?

Anytime during your senior year but your application must be postmarked on or before March 1st.

How do I apply?

Download the application form and the reference forms from our website at www.faulconerscholars.org . When the application and reference forms are completed, return them to the Faulconer Scholarship office with the other materials requested. Your application must be mailed and postmarked on or before March 1st.  Applications that are emailed, faxed or hand delivered will not be accepted. If you are unable to download the application form or the reference forms, either call or write the Faulconer Scholarship Program office and request that they be sent to you by mail.

I missed the deadline. Can I still apply?

No.  All applications must be postmarked or received by March 1st of the applicant’s senior year.

How much money will I get if I am selected for a scholarship?

Faulconer Scholarship recipients receive $3,500 per year while at Tyler Junior College and $7,000 per year while they attend a four year college or university in Texas.  Faulconer Scholarship recipients who maintain their eligibility will receive the scholarship for five years.  The total amount can be as much as $28,000 for those starting at Tyler Junior College.  Faulconer Scholarship recipients who complete a bachelor’s degree in four years will still receive the 5th year scholarship of $7,000.  (It must be used to retire educational debt or for additional schooling.)

Where can I go to college?

For the first two years, most Faulconer Scholarship recipients must attend Tyler Junior College.  After that, they may transfer to any accredited college or university in Texas to complete their undergraduate degree.

At the discretion of the Faulconer Scholarship Program, a selected number of scholarship recipients may be allowed to enroll in a four-year college or university within Texas as freshmen students.  To be eligible, a student must have graduated in the top 10% of their high school class and must include a separate essay with their initial application for the scholarship.  In the second essay, the student must indicate a compelling reason for beginning their college education at a four year college and include detailed information showing how they expect to fund the balance, if any, of their college costs over and above the Faulconer Scholarship.

Faulconer Scholarship recipients who are selected to begin at a four-year college or university will receive freshman and sophomore scholarship payments in the same amounts as Faulconer upper level students attending four-year colleges and universities. For students who are given this opportunity, the maximum value of the Faulconer Scholarship would increase to $35,000.

What can the scholarship be used for?

Your scholarship funds should be used to pay any regular educational fees at college, such as books, tuition, fees, supplies or meal tickets, room and board if needed.  If, at the end of the year, you have not spent all of your scholarship funds, you may receive a refund from your college account.  Unless you spend the refunded money toward your college expense, you may be subject to income tax on the balance refunded to you.

If I am awarded other scholarships or financial aid, does it affect my eligibility for a Faulconer Scholarship?

Because the Gates Millennium Scholarship pays all college expenses, students receiving that scholarship are not eligible to receive the Faulconer Scholarship.  However, other scholarships or financial aid will not affect your eligibility for a Faulconer Scholarship.  In fact, Faulconer applicants are encouraged to seek additional scholarships and financial aid to help pay college costs beyond those covered by their Faulconer Scholarship, should they receive one.

Will the money come to me?

No.  A check from the Faulconer Scholarship Program will go directly to your college’s financial aid office to be applied to your account.

Do I have to pay the scholarship money back?

No.  The Faulconer Scholarship is a grant, not a loan, so no repayment is required.  We encourage Faulconer Scholarship recipients to seek other grants and financial aid so that they do not have to borrow – or only borrow as little as possible – to pay for college costs.