Scholarship FAQ

Marion Community Foundation offers an annual scholarship program for high school seniors and graduates in Marion , Ohio, and surrounding communities. The annual scholarship program includes more than 160 scholarship funds. In recent years, these funds have collectively awarded approximately $580,000 to 225 students. 

While a majority of our scholarships available are for Marion County (Ohio) past or present residents or those who attended a school in Marion County (Elgin, Harding, Pleasant, Ridgedale, River Valley), students residing in Crawford, Delaware, Hardin, Morrow, Union, or Wyandot Counties may also qualify for certain scholarships.

Additionally, there a handful of scholarships specifically for past and present students of Bellevue Senior High School, Buckeye Central High School, Bucyrus High School, Colonel Crawford High School, Ridgemont High School, and Wynford High School.

Current high school seniors set to graduate in May 2025 or anyone with a high school degree enrolled or planning to enroll in a higher education institution for fall of 2026 can apply. This includes trade schools, two-year institutions, four-year institutions, graduate schools, law schools, and medical schools.

The 2026 deadline is February 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. EST. The deadline is absolute. All portions of the application – including the two letters of recommendation and, for high school seniors, a guidance counselor transcript submission – must be completed and the online application in the SUBMITTED status by this deadline date and time for an application to be considered for awards.

It is the student’s responsibility to make sure their application is fully complete and submitted by the 10 a.m. deadline on February 10, 2026. This includes two recommendations (one teacher and one community member) and for high school seniors, the Guidance Counselor portion of the application.

To be eligible for consideration by the Scholarship Selection Committee, a person must submit a completed online application with all necessary attachments and recommendations/references by the deadline of February 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. EST. This deadline is absolute.

Applicants should create an account on the SmarterSelect application site — which is NOT the Marion Community Foundation website. Applicants should register an email address that they regularly monitor and that they have access to outside of school and/or the academic year. Keep a record of your login credentials, as you will need this information throughout the entire scholarship application and award process.

With more than 160 scholarships available to area students, each with their own set of criteria and requirements, Marion Community Foundation utilizes one Common Application for students to submit. Based on their responses, students will be matched to specific scholarships based on criteria and awarded based on merit.

With more than 160 scholarships available, each with their own set of criteria and requirements, questions specific to those requirements are included so students can use a Common Application. Based on responses, students will be matched to specific scholarships based on criteria and awarded based on merit.

All applications require two letters of recommendation, three essays, basic demographic and background information, plans for higher education, and financial information, including:

–Address and County of Residence
–High School Information: name of school, number of years attended, number in graduating class, GPA, class rank, percentile achieved on ACT or SAT tests, high school involvement in athletics, music, FFA, church, Scouts, among other details; current high school seniors are also required to have their Guidance Counselor submit their transcript.
–College or Post-Secondary Plans: College or university attending, intended major or field of study, college GPA, college transcript
–Activities, Service, Honors, Work Experience: list involvement in each of these areas
–Personal Statement: an essay telling about your background, special circumstances, ambitions, and future career plans
–Financial Information: estimated yearly expenses (tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board), resources available for college expenses (savings, earnings, parent/family contributions); a FAFSA Student Financial Aid Report (SAR) if applying for income-based awards
–Two Personal Recommendations: Two letters of recommendation are required, one from a teacher or academic advisor and one from a community member. For current high school students, a guidance counselor recommendation is also required. These are online recommendation requests. Instructions are provided in the application for email submission.

Of the scholarships available, some require an additional essay submission. Should students meet the criteria listed in the option essay description, they can complete the essay to also be considered for that particular scholarship.

A blank sample application can be viewed at:
Scholarship Application sample

The Marion Community Foundation scholarship application does not require applicants to submit a FAFSA; however, we use the FAFSA information to help determine your eligibility for our scholarships which have income-based criteria. You may choose to NOT submit a FAFSA as part of this scholarship application. If you do not submit a FAFSA, you will not be eligible for any income-based scholarships. 

FAFSA can be completed without completing your annual income tax return. More info can be found at www.studentaid.gov.

The Marion Community Foundation scholarship application is available on the SmarterSelect application site — which is NOT the Marion Community Foundation website.

Be sure to use an email account and password not associated with your school, so you have access to your SmarterSelect account regardless of your school status. You will need your username and password to log back in to continue your application and, should you be awarded a scholarship, you will need your username and password in July to submit your proof of enrollment so your school can receive your payment.

The application process takes place on the SmarterSelect website. Username and password recovery is accessed on that site. It is VERY important that you remember and keep a record of the sign-in credentials you create when you start your application. You do not need to complete the application all at one time. Should you be awarded a scholarship, you will be asked to submit proof of enrollment in July through the same application.

Marion Community Foundation awards $550,000+ in scholarships annually. Approximately 225 students receive scholarships. Scholarship award amounts vary for each scholarship fund. Below are links to past year’s awards:
–2025 scholarship awards
–2024 scholarship awards

We encourage each individual to review the list of 2026 scholarships available. Match your personal qualifications and involvement (i.e. county of residence, number of years in a Marion County high school, GPA, ACT percentile, high school athletic or music involvement, college major, etc.) to the scholarships offered. This process will give individual applicants the best assessment of how many Marion Community Foundation scholarships for which they are eligible.

Scholarship awards are announced in late May. Award recipients will be notified via an email or letter. It is important that the email used for your application be one you regularly monitor and can access outside of school and/or the academic year.

Scholarship payments are sent directly to your college/university in late summer.

Recipients of Marion Community Foundation scholarships will receive instructions in July to provide proof of enrollment using the same username and password created at the time of the application. This documentation is required before scholarships are paid. If proof of enrollment is not submitted, your scholarship will be considered declined.

Please encourage students to begin the Marion Community Foundation scholarship now and submit their application by the February 10, 2026, deadline.

Please communicate this scholarship opportunity and deadline with parents/guardians any way you can (e.g. school website, Facebook, newsletter, events).

Please post the promotional flyer on student bulletin boards and staff lounges.

Please reiterate to students that it is the student’s responsibility to make sure their application is fully complete and submitted by the 10 a.m. deadline on February 10, 2026. This includes two recommendations (one teacher and one community member) and for high school seniors, and the Guidance Counselor portion of the application.

Recommenders are encouraged to provide narrative:
—Indicating how they know or have interacted with the student
—an evaluation of the student’s skills, strengths, characteristics, and/or qualifications; and
–share unique characteristics or circumstances that they believe will help the student to be successful or challenge them as they pursue higher education.