What to Know When Applying:
Student Scholarship Program:
The 2024-2025 scholarship cycle will begin in early fall and last several months. Seniors will be given early access via a published Preparation and Study Guide containing all elements of the required application. After submitting a completed Eligibility Application, they will be matched to scholarships for which they are qualified. From there, seniors choose which they would like to apply for and complete any last steps before submitting.
Counselors will confirm each student’s academic data before applications go through a blind review and scoring, made possible by ISF volunteers who are over 21 years of age, not related to a current scholarship applicant, and adhere to strict non-disclosure and privacy policies. Donors and designated sponsors then review applications, scores, academic data, and essays before ranking recipients, who are confirmed by ISF and announced in early 2025. Recipients are required to attend a Student Training, where they will learn how to claim their scholarship funds, be confirmed as official recipients, and have a chance to meet and thank their donors. Seniors are awarded and celebrated with their donors, educators, and the community at Breakfast with the Stars, an Irving Schools Foundation signature event.
ISF scholarships are first-dollar scholarships, applied earlier than last-dollar coverage when schools are factoring other aid and calculating tuition costs. Funds are disbursed in full whenever possible, most being applied the first semester of college, and made payable directly to the school. It is the scholar’s responsibility to declare the scholarship, direct payment to the school’s business office, and maintain compliance with programs such as FAFSA, Dallas County Promise, etc.
Scholars may receive up to three Irving Schools Foundation scholarships and have 18 months to claim all of their scholarship funds, unless a deferral for special circumstances is requested and approved each semester. It is the scholar’s responsibility to request and maintain documentation of deferral and claim requests and disbursements. The only exceptions to this policy are scholarships contracted to award in semester or annual installments. Some ISF scholarships cover tuition only, while most allow for tuition and additional approved educational expenses such as textbooks, meals & housing, course supplies, etc. Funds are disbursed to the scholar’s school, regardless of expense type, and reimbursements are not made for personal payments. Unclaimed/expired funds are returned to the foundation.
Scholarships are created in honor or memory of individuals with strong ties to Irving ISD or via sponsorships from business and/or community organizations. The awards help fund educational pursuits at colleges, universities, trade and vocational schools, and other institutions of higher learning. Criteria for consideration usually center around career pursuits, academic or extracurricular achievement, community service, or aspirations to study in a particular field. Each scholarship is unique. There are no seniors in Irving ISD who do not qualify for ISF scholarships.
Scholarships can be funded/awarded annually or set up as endowments, awarded in perpetuity. Scholarships can be created as standard agreements and are allowed five years to reach endowment status. Phone or email ISF for more information on setting up or managing a current scholarship.
SchoolWorks $30,000 Scholarship for 8th Graders
This scholarship is funded by an anonymous donor and awarded annually to one or more 8th grade students. Each 8th grade counselor nominates two students to apply. A review committee may select one or more recipients, based on application review and scoring, to receive all or a portion of the scholarship funds.
Students who receive this scholarship must graduate high school in Irving ISD.
The announcement is made by surprise visit to each recipient’s school before the end of their 8th grade year. Then, four years later, SchoolWorks Scholarship recipients are awarded and walk the stage as seniors at Breakfast with the Stars.
Classroom Teacher, Staff, and Librarian Scholarships:
These scholarships are awarded to Irving ISD employees who plan to pursue continuing education to further skills in their respective professions. Applications open here on January 1-31, 2025. Recipients will be announced on social media and at Breakfast with the Stars on April 22, 2025.
To be eligible, the applicant must be currently employed full-time by the Irving Independent School District, having worked a minimum of three complete years at the time of application and be a permanent full-time employee for the District. The employee must also meet these requirements:
- Documented participation in School and Community Organizations and Activities
- Proven Leadership Abilities
- Participation in Department’s Activities
Application requirements include details of education and career pursuits and letters of reference from two people who represent different sources and are not related to applicant.5
Since 1987, Irving Schools Foundation has awarded more than $8,127,430 in college and continuing education scholarships to Irving ISD seniors and district employees! In fact, the ISF Scholarship Program is at the heart of our work to elevate Irving ISD students and teachers, along with signature ISF programs like Food for Thought and Spark Tank.
The immediate and long-term benefit of the ISF scholarship program is remarkable—many students who have won scholarships have gone on to impressive academic and professional careers; indeed, it’s safe to say that scores of future leaders in the areas of business, health care, technology, civics, and the arts are among our awardees each year. In many cases, the students selected for awards are the first in their families to attend college, and a high percentage of awardees come from significantly disadvantaged backgrounds.
To give you an idea of the annual impact of our scholarship program: In 2023 alone, we awarded more than 250 scholarships totaling approximately $467,000 to students at all five Irving ISD high schools and Irving ISD staff seeking to further their education and training.
2024 - 2025 Scholarship Cycle
Part 1: Eligibility Application Open to All Seniors
The Irving Schools Foundation Eligibility Application is available for all seniors on November 4th, 2024 at 8:00 A.M.
Part 2: Scholarship Application for Eligible Seniors Only
The Irving Schools Foundation Scholarship Application is available for all seniors who are matched with one or more of the scholarships in our system. The matching process takes a few minutes to complete and all scholarship applicants will be emailed once they have been matched to one or more of ISF’s scholarships. The Scholarship Application must be completed and submitted by December 20th, 2024.
EVERY senior in Irving ISD is qualified for ISF scholarships.
Eligibility applications must be completed to submit Scholarship Applications.
NO EXCEPTIONS to times, dates, or deadlines.
How to Apply for Scholarships
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Answer all questions and complete each of the steps for the applicaiton and submit your application by the deadline (December 20th, 2024)
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Wait for scholarship announcements! Check your email frequently for updates.
