GOCM Scholarship Program

Program Summary

GOCM plans to start issuing scholarships and/or educational grants under a to-be-created program within the next two to three years, as resources and funding allow. Under its scholarship program, GOCM will offer scholarships to disadvantaged youth in the areas in which the Organization or its partner churches operate.

The purpose of these scholarships and educational grants will be to allow the recipients to attend tertiary level education, an opportunity which they may not otherwise have due to their circumstances. The amount of each scholarship granted will be based primarily on the GOCM’s available funds, as well as the stated need of the scholarship recipient.

GOCM does not plan on awarding educational loans.

Program Awareness

The scholarship program will be publicized via word of mouth among the churches in its network, in newsletters that the Organization sends out, through Sunday School and Bible classes, and through any other means the Organization determines are calculated to reach the intended audience. The GOCM web site: http://www.oaks.cccto.org will also provide updated status on scholarships and educational grants.

Selection Criteria and Process

Due to the fact that the Organization has not yet implemented the scholarship program, it does not currently have any solicitation or announcement materials prepared.

Due to the fact that the Organization has not yet implemented the scholarship program, it does not currently have any application materials prepared.

When the Organization sets up its scholarship and educational grant program it will integrate into the process the policy of maintaining written case histories showing:

  • the name and address of scholarship recipients
  • the recipient’s submitted application, which shall show the stated
  • reason that the recipient applied for the scholarship
  • whether or not the recipient had any relationship to the Organization or its officers or directors, and
  • the purpose for which the scholarship was ultimately awarded.

The Organization’s scholarships or educational grants will be open to any disadvantaged youth that seeks to better their personal situation by pursuing a higher level certificate or degree. There will be no geographic limitation, other than that the student must intend to attend an accredited college or university within the United States.

GOCM will select scholarship or educational grant recipients based on:

  • financial need,
  • minimum GPA,
  • intended purpose of use of the scholarship funds
  • letters of recommendation,
  • interview, and
  • any other hardship criteria that the Organization deems relevant to its decision.

The Organization will only award scholarships if it has the unrestricted funds to allow it to do so, and thus the number of scholarships granted per year will likely fluctuate, and may be zero.

The amount of each scholarship or educational grant will be based primarily on:

  • the financial need of the potential recipient,
  • other sources of funding available to the potential recipient,
  • the intended purpose of the scholarship,
  • the Organization’s available funding, and
  • the need for the Organization to maintain funding reserves in order to continue operating its other
  • charitable or educational programs, or scholarship program, for the benefit of future recipients.

GOCM may require scholarship and educational grant applicants to demonstrate their financial or personal hardship in order to obtain scholarship funding. Alternatively, the Organization will accept recommendations or referrals from others that have first-hand knowledge of the potential recipient’s situation, and will evaluate the referred potential recipient for suitability. Additionally, the Organization will require applicants to have and maintain a minimum GPA in order to be eligible for any scholarship renewal.

Program Management

The Organization will establish a scholarship and educational grant committee to oversee and manage this program. The committee will be responsible for publicizing the availability of the scholarships the Organization currently offers, accepting applications or nominations, selecting the recipients, monitoring the use of the funds, and following up with recipients once the purpose of the scholarship has been achieved or completed. When relevant, the scholarship committee will be empowered to request GPA transcripts from the recipients in order to ensure that the recipients are maintaining the minimum GPA required for scholarship renewal, if any.

Additionally, the scholarship committee may, if the situation applies, request a written accountfrom the recipient as to how the funds were used, and what benefit the scholarship recipient received as a result of her participation in the scholarship program. Finally, the scholarship will be assigned a volunteer mentor, who will work with them throughout the year to ensure that the scholarship funds are being used wisely and efficiently.

The committee will consist of three individuals – at least one director, and two other individuals, both of whom may be non-directors.