Applying for a Scholarship
Students attending high school in Summit County are eligible to apply for our scholarships if they meet the criteria of academic achievement, financial need, and leadership/community service activities. The selection process is quite competitive, but all applications are encouraged and welcome.
Additionally, the Summit Foundation promotes local philanthropy by hosting an online scholarship platform for all scholarship providers in the community. Within the application, be sure to apply specifically for the Summit Foundation’s scholarship in order to be considered by the Foundation.
A small number of scholarships are available for neighboring community students if the student or their parent lives or works in Summit County. Neighboring community students participate in the same online application process as the Summit High School students and apply only to the Summit Foundation.
Beyond Freshman Year
All students who receive a Summit Foundation General Scholarship their freshman year of college are eligible to apply for 1/2 that amount their sophomore year. Please contact fran@summitfoundation.org for more information.
In addition, The Summit Foundation awards a limited number of 4-year scholarships to graduating seniors each year, many of which are possible because of generous donors in our community.
Scholarship FAQs
Submitting a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required for consideration of Federal financial aid assistance for students who want a postsecondary education. The FAFSA for the 2024-2025 year will be available to students by December 31, 2023. The following resource has more information on financial aid, and the new FAFSA. The Better FAFSA: Student & Family Engagement Toolkit will answer a lot of questions for students and families as they navigate the financial aid process.
Yes, the Federal Student Aid Estimator is a helpful tool for estimating financial aid and calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI).
Yes. If you received a renewable scholarship, you are required to submit an online follow-up application each year to make certain you still qualify to receive the scholarship.
Yes. We prefer an official transcript but realize at some schools an unofficial one is more easily available.
The scholarship award is sent directly to the college or university along with a student’s name and identification number. If a recipient completes the required follow-up form on time, scholarship checks are mailed out in July.
Yes. If you don’t know which school you’re going to attend, you can still apply for Summit Foundation and other local scholarships. The application includes questions about what schools you are interested in.
No. Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements defined by the donor when the scholarship was established. Be sure to read the requirements of each scholarship carefully as some of them require additional information such as essays or proof of residency.
Yes! Scholarships are available for students planning to attend a technical school, trade school, or participate in an apprenticeship.
Mountain Scholars
Mountain Scholars is dedicated to empowering first-generation and academically driven students in their pursuit of a four-year college degree or postsecondary certificate. They offer scholarships and comprehensive support to students throughout their college journey, helping them achieve their educational aspirations. Services include personalized mentoring, career planning, scholarship assistance, and more. To learn more, visit our website. HERE
Scholarship Award Night
In 2024, the Summit Foundation achieved the goals of the Bright Futures Fund, providing local scholarships for low-income students and those pursuing careers in Career and Technical Education (CTE), and immediate support of the CTE curriculum at Summit High School and its onward journey through to Colorado Mountain College. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this milestone. Together, we are fostering a brighter future for Summit County.