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Corazones Unidos Siempre, Chi Upsilon Sigma, National Latin Sorority, Inc.

Leadership Scholarship Programs

SAP#01-16

Jasmin Larach, MBA

Board of Directors, President

Cynthia Guzmán de Molina, PhD

Board of Trustees, Chair

Cynthia Marino

Director of Undergraduate Relations

Cristal Regalado

Director of Alumna Relations

February 2016

Application Due Date: March 4, 2016

280 Madison Avenue

Ste 912-255

New York, NY 10016

http://www.justbecus.org

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION PAGE

1.1 Description of the Scholarship Program 3

1.2 Eligibility to Apply 3-4

1.3 Available Scholarship Amount 4-5

1.4 Notification of this Scholarship 5

1.5 Application Submission Information 5

1.6 Scholarship Data Collection 5

1.7 Distribution Process 5-6

SECTION 2: SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES

2.1 Scholarship Requirements 7

2.2 Budget Requirements 7

SECTION 3: COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

3.1 General Instructions for Applying 8

3.2 Review of Application 8-9

3.3 Application Component Checklist 9-10

APPENDICES:

Appendix 1 – Internal/External Leadership Scholarship Application

Appendix 2 – Statement of Accuracy

Appendix 3 – Community Assistance Scholarship Program Application

Appendix 4 – Leadership Development Scholarship Application

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SECTION 1: SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION

1.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Aware of the prejudices and obstacles facing the minority women of our communities,

Corazones Unidos Siempre, Chi Upsilon Sigma, National Latin Sorority, Inc.® (CUS) intends to

support minority women in achieving a college education through the development of various

leadership scholarship programs. We commit ourselves to Educating, Elevating, and

Empowering® all women through our core values of Leadership, Sisterhood, Service and

Character.

Chi Upsilon Sigma will support the following four (4) distinct programs: 1) the Community

Assistance Scholarship Program (CASP); 2) the Leadership Development Scholarship (LDS) 3)

the Internal Leadership Scholarship (ILS) program and 4) the External Leadership Scholarship

(ELS) program. These programs are intended to assist us in achieving our mission to improving

adverse conditions that impact minority women and their pursuit of higher education.

As identified in the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence on Hispanics; “Fulfilling

America's Future: Latinas in the U.S., 2015”, “…when women succeed, America succeeds…”

Through our collective delivery of political, educational, cultural and social awareness

programming to women on collegiate campuses across our 70 chapters, we devote ourselves to

exemplify our motto, ‘Wisdom Through Education’.

1.2 ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY

1.2.1 Eligibility for CASP

In our efforts to support member involvement in local communities throughout our regions, CUS

will establish the Community Assistance Scholarship Program (CASP). The intent of CASP is to

impact local communities through our CUS members. This program will increase support for

existing local high school scholarship programs and thus develop possible linkages to increase

CUS membership and fulfill our mission to support women in obtaining a college education.

Eligibility is based on the existing high school scholarship program’s established capacity. The

sponsoring CUS member request funds on behalf of the high school scholarship program. The

existing high school scholarship program must meet the following eligibility: 1) been

operational for the past 3 years; 2) have an established review process and a system of

distribution; and 3) can provide requested funds to high school senior girls who plan to attend a

two or four-year college/university. Members of CUS, regardless of membership status, are

eligible to apply for these funds on behalf of their local high school scholarship program.

1.2.2 Eligibility for LDS

To ensure we continue to develop leadership within our organization, CUS has developed the

Leadership Development Scholarship (LDS) to support our strategic goals to improve our

leadership pipeline. The intent of this scholarship is to cover the registration costs for active

CUS members to attend a statewide or national leadership conference. If awarded, the recipient

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would agree to turnkey knowledge received from the conference at a local chapter, region or

national CUS event within a 12 month period. We believe that attendance at leadership

conferences provides opportunities for engagement in thought provoking discussions with

dynamic speakers and sets a unique platform for attendees to listen, to learn and to interact. This

program is a limited, competitive scholarship program open to all undergraduate or graduate

CUS women. The examples of leadership conferences that would be eligible are: Massachusetts

Conference for Women, Pennsylvania Conference for Women, Texas Conference for Women,

Latina Researchers Network, Latina Style Business Series, National Latina Symposium, Latinas

Think Big Innovation Summit, National Organization of Women, National Association of

Women Business Owners, etc. This list is not meant to be exhaustive. CUS members may

submit applications to attend other conferences not listed. Current Board of Directors, Board of

Trustees, Regional Board Members are ineligible to apply for this scholarship. The conference

must occur before June 30, 2016.

1.2.3 Eligibility for ILS/ELS

Through our dedication to servicing and educating others, as well as ourselves, and in an effort to

successfully elevate women as contributing members on campuses around the country, CUS has

established the Internal and External Leadership Scholarship (ILS/ELS) program. This program

is a limited, competitive scholarship program open to all first generation undergraduate or

graduate women: 1) whom have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; 2) demonstrate a genuine

need for these funds as evidence by their application; and 3) are currently attending a two/four-

year college or university as a full-time student in one of the following regions:

Region 1 – Northeast (ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ - north of Rutgers University)

Region 2 – Mid-Atlantic (NJ - Rutgers University and southern NJ, PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, OH)

Region 3 – Mid-West (MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, IN, KY, MI)

Region 4 – Southeast (AR, LA, MS, TN, AL, NC, SC, GA, FL)

Region 5 – Great Plains (MT, WY, CO, NM, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX,)

Region 6 – West (AK, WA, OR, CA, NV, AZ, HI, ID, UT)

Applicants for the ILS and ELS programs must submit the Statement of Accuracy for Students

listed in Appendix 2 with their application. ELS applicants must come from schools targeted by

CUS expansion efforts.

1.3 AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT

Scholarship awards will be issued on an annual basis based on the availability of funds. There

are four (4) distinct programs.

Community Assistance Scholarship Program (CASP)

The CASP is open only to CUS members requesting support for an established high school

scholarship programs that meet the eligibility requirement described in Section 1.2. CUS will

award two (2) $1,000 scholarships under this program. The total funding amount available for

this program is $2,000 annually.

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Leadership Development Scholarship (LDS)

The LDS program is open only to current active undergraduate/graduate members of Chi

Upsilon Sigma who meet the eligibility described in Section 1.2. CUS will award 2 scholarships

to members based on the number of requests. The total funding amount available for this

program is $3,000 annually. Each scholarship may not exceed a maximum of $1500 and will be

directly paid to the conference.

Internal Leadership Scholarship (ILS)

The ILS program is open only to current active undergraduate/graduate members of Chi Upsilon

Sigma who meet the eligibility described in Section 1.2. Children of CUS members are eligible

to apply. The total funding amount available for this scholarship is $7,500. CUS will award

three (3) $2,500 scholarships to current active undergraduate/graduate members or children of

active members who are attending a two/four year college within the six (6) regions identified

above. If less than three applications are received, the scholarship may be equally distributed.

External Leadership Scholarship (ELS)

The ELS program is open only to women who meet the eligibility described in Section 1.2. The

total funding amount available for this scholarship is $7,500. CUS will award three (3) $2,500

scholarships to minority women attending a four year college within the six (6) regions identified

above. If less than three applications are received, the scholarship may be equally distributed.

1.4 SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

Annually, in January, CUS will distribute this scholarship notification through the established

listservs, Student Affairs Office, Financial Aid Office or the Office of Fraternity Sorority Affairs

at existing and pending chapters.

1.5 APPLICATION SUBMISSION

All scholarship applications are due via email to the Leadership Scholarship Committee at

scholarship@justbecus.org by 4:00 p.m. on March 4, 2016. The PDF version of the application

is listed in Appendices. The applications will have a blind-review by volunteer committee

members of Chi Upsilon Sigma. All scholarship recipients will be notified by April 4, 2016.

1.6 SCHOLARSHIP DATA COLLECTION

Recipients of the Community Assistance Scholarship Program (CASP) are required to submit the

name and contact information for the recipient student in addition to their college/university of

choice.

1.7 DISTRIBUTION PROCESS

ILS, ELS and LDS funds will be paid no later than June 30, 2016 directly to the

college/university or approved conference indicated on the application. For the ILS and

ELS program, it will be the student’s responsibility to submit an invoice to the scholarship

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committee which itemizes semester tuition and fees, student ID number and college contact

information. Under no circumstances will funds be distributed directly to a recipient. CASP

funds will be paid by April 30, 2016 directly to the existing high school scholarship program.

Distribution forms are listed in the Appendices.

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SECTION 2: SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES

2.1 SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

All eligible applicants for the ILS and ELS program must submit Appendix 1 and 2 in order to be

considered for these programs. If awarded, recipients of the ILS or the ELS should consider

attending an upcoming national or regional event to receive the award. CUS will inform the

recipient of the date, time and location of the event selected.

Recipients of the CASP are required to submit the date and time of the local high school

scholarship program recognition ceremony. CUS may designate a Board of Directors member to

attend; however this is not required.

Recipients of the LDS are required to turnkey knowledge received from the leadership

conference to undergraduate or graduate members of CUS at a local chapter, regional or national

CUS event within a 12 month period.

2.2 BUDGET REQUIREMENTS

Once selected, the recipients of all scholarship programs must submit the designated distribution

form located in Appendices. ILS and ELS recipients must also submit an invoice, which

itemizes the semester tuition and fees, along with the student ID number and college contact

information. This information should be submitted to the scholarship committee via email at

scholarship@justbecus.org.

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SECTION 3: COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

3.1 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING

To apply for this scholarship, applicants must prepare and submit a complete electronic

application. Mailed paper copies of the application will not be accepted.

3.2 REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS

Each scholarship application will have a blind review completed by a panel of three readers,

internal to Chi Upsilon Sigma, and may include, but are not limited to experts in: research and

evaluation, higher education, leadership development, academic instruction, youth development,

and organizational development.

The committee will review the ILS/ELS applications for completeness, academic performance,

financial need, school leadership activities and well thought out responses to the essay portion.

The committee will review the LDS application for completeness, individual impact,

organizational capacity and CUS impact.

The committee will review the CASP applications for completeness, organizational capacity,

community need, identified community impact and response to questions.

Any application that is deemed incomplete by the committee will be ineligible to receive any

funds. Once an application is submitted, additional documents or edits will not be accepted.

Questions should be directed to the Leadership Scholarship Committee at

scholarship@justbecus.org.

The following point value applies to the evaluation of the CASP applications received in

response.

Application Component Point

Value

APPLICATION 20

COMMUNITY NEED 30

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY 20

COMMUNITY IMPACT 30

TOTAL 100 **All applications must score 65 points or above to be considered eligible for this program.

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The following point value applies to the evaluation of the LDS applications received in response.

Application Component Point

Value

APPLICATION 20

INDIVIDUAL IMPACT 30

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY 20

CUS IMPACT 30

TOTAL 100 **All applications must score 65 points or above to be considered eligible for this program.

The following point value applies to the evaluation of the ILS and ELS applications received in

response.

Application Component Point

Value

APPLICATION 15

ESSAY 30

RESUME/ACTIVITY LIST 15

SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT 15

REFERENCE LETTERS 25

TOTAL 100 **All applications must score 65 points or above to be considered eligible for this program.

3.3 APPLICATION COMPONENT CHECKLIST

The following components are required (see Required Column) to be included as part of your

scholarship application. Failure to include a required component may result in your application

being removed from consideration.

Use the checklist (see Included Column) to ensure that all required components have been

completed for the CASP application.

Required

()

CASP APPLICATION COMPONENT CHECKLIST Included

()

Application [found in attached appendix]

Most recent Annual Program Report

Recommendation Letter(s)

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Use the checklist (see Included Column) to ensure that all required components have been

completed for the LDS application.

Required

()

LDS APPLICATION COMPONENT CHECKLIST Included

()

Application [found in attached appendix]

Conference Materials

Use the checklist (see Included Column) to ensure that all required components have been

completed for the ILS and ELS application.

Required

()

ILS/ELS APPLICATION COMPONENT CHECKLIST Included

()

Application [found in attached appendix]

Resume/Activity List

School Transcript

Reference Letter(s)

Appendix 1

A1.1

2016 INTERNAL/EXTERNAL LEADERHSIP SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

SPONSORING CUS MEMBER

1. Last Name: First Name:

2.

Mailing Address

Street:

City: State: Zip:

3. Daytime Telephone Number:

4. Email Address:

5. Name of Undergraduate Institution attending:

6. Location of Undergraduate Institution attending:

7. Are you the first person in your family to go to college (Yes/No):

8.

Note: Applicants may attach a resume to answer the following questions

A. List any academic honors, awards and membership activities while in high school:

B. List your hobbies, outside interests, extracurricular activities and school related volunteer

activities:

C. List your non-school sponsored volunteer activities in the community:

9. A. If you have decided on a major field of study, please list that here:

Appendix 1

A1.2

B. If not, list your top 3 choices:

10.

List Family Gross Annual Income from your 2015 Income Tax Form 1040 Line #22: (If selected, recipients may be asked to verify annual household income by supplying pg. 1 of their most recent IRS

Income Tax Form) $

11.

Is your parent or legal guardian a member of Chi Upsilon Sigma (Yes/No)? (If your answer is ‘yes’ please answer blocks A, B, C below. If your answer is ‘no’ go to item 11.)

A. Her full name:

B. Name of Undergraduate School:

C. Chapter Name:

In the area designated below: Select one of the following questions and write an essay (500 - 700

words) answering your selected question below:

12.

a. Describe one specific example of your leadership experience.

b. Describe how educational, social, political or cultural awareness has shaped who you are today and

what these experiences have taught you.

c. Discuss any challenges or obstacles you have dealt with and overcome in life and how this will

help you succeed in college and beyond.

Appendix 1

A1.3

13.

Submit at MOST three (3) reference letters no longer than 2 pages each, single-spaced, 12 point

type (may be less, such as double-spaced, etc.) from leaders in programs you’ve been involved in at

the collegiate level. These letters should confirm your involvement in the activities you’ve listed

above and that, to the extent possible, attest to your unique contributions in these areas.

NOTE: These letters ought not to be mere “character reference” letters. They should attest to specific

contributions you have made, specific activities you have engaged in, specific achievements that have

benefited or that show some promise in the future of benefiting your overall leadership capacity. In

other words, these letters are primarily for the sake of acquiring outside confirmation that you have

really done or achieved what you claim to have done or achieved in your scholarship application. The

best letter will describe specific contributions you have made and/or specific observations that your

reference has seen that demonstrate the contributions to which s/he is referring.

E-MAIL COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE TO:

Leadership Scholarship Committee

c/o Chi Upsilon Sigma, National Latin Sorority, Inc.

email address: scholarship@justbecus.org

REMINDER:

The deadline for this application to be received is:

March 4, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Appendix 1

A1.4

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LEADERSHIP SCHOLASHIP

DISTRIBUTION FORM

This form will be completed and returned only upon selection as a scholarship recipient. This

form should be completely filled out and submitted to the scholarship committee via email at

scholarship@justbecus.org within 15 days of award notification.

1. Last Name: First Name:

2.

Mailing Address

Street:

City: State: Zip:

3. Daytime Telephone Number:

4. Email Address:

5. Name of Undergraduate Institution:

6. Location of Undergraduate Institution:

7.

University Financial Aid Office Contact person:

Office number:

Contact Email Address:

8. Student ID number: Tuition Due Date:

Appendix 2

A2.1

STATEMENT OF ACCURACY FOR STUDENTS

I ____________________________________________________ (applicant name) hereby

affirm:

1. That all the above stated information provided by me is true and correct to the best of my

knowledge. I also consent that if chosen as a scholarship awardee my picture may be taken

and used to promote Corazones Unidos Siempre, Chi Upsilon Sigma, National Latin

Sorority’s scholarship program. (Scholarship awardee may waive photo due to unusual or

compelling circumstances.)

2. That I hereby understand that if chosen as a scholarship awardee, according to Chi Upsilon

Sigma’s Scholarship policy, I must be present at any potential awards ceremony or reception

to receive my scholarship award.

3. That I hereby understand that if chosen as a scholarship awardee, according to Chi Upsilon

Sigma’s Scholarship policy, it is my responsibility to remit to the Sorority the appropriate

information for my scholarship to be paid directly to my educational institution for the

following semester of the receiving year. I understand that I forfeit any rights to the

scholarship if the information is not received within three months of award notification.

4. That I hereby understand I will not submit this application without all required attachments

and supporting information. Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet

eligibility criteria will not be considered for this scholarship.

Print Name of scholarship applicant: _________________________________

Signature of scholarship applicant: _________________________________

Date: __________

Appendix 3

A3.1

2016 COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION

SPONSORING CUS MEMBER

1. Last Name: First Name:

2.

Mailing Address

Street:

City: State: Zip:

3. Daytime Telephone Number:

4. Email Address:

LOCAL COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

5. Name of local high school scholarship program:

6. Location of local high school scholarship program:

7. Scholarship contact person:

8. Daytime Telephone Number:

9. Email Address:

10. What year was this high school scholarship program established:

In the space provided below please respond to the following questions:

11.

Please provide the names of all CUS members and non-CUS members involved in the development

of this high school scholarship program.

12.

Community need: Outline the purpose and need for the program

Appendix 3

A3.2

13.

Organizational Capacity: Detail the process for applicants to request funds through the local high

school scholarship program. Include the total number of awards the agency anticipates to make,

please include the dollar amount for each.

14.

Community Impact: Describe the impact the local high school scholarship program has made on

your community. Please include any data the program has collected that demonstrates impact.

15.

Submit at MOST (2) recommendation letters no longer than 1 page each, single-spaced, 12 point

type (may be less, such as double-spaced, etc.) from administrators of the local high school program

or a student recipient. These letters should confirm the high school’s history in awarding

scholarships and how receiving additional funds would enhance their capacity.

E-MAIL COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE TO:

Leadership Scholarship Committee

c/o Chi Upsilon Sigma, National Latin Sorority, Inc.

email address: scholarship@justbecus.org

REMINDER:

The deadline for this application to be received is:

March 4, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Appendix 3

A3.3

COMMUNITY APPLICATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

DISTRIBUTION FORM

This form will be completed and returned only upon selection as a scholarship recipient. This

form should be completely filled out and submitted to the scholarship committee via email at

scholarship@justbecus.org within 15 days of award notification.

SPONSORING CUS MEMBER

1. Last Name: First Name:

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

2. Name of local high school scholarship program:

3. Address of local high school scholarship program:

4.

Scholarship contact person:

Daytime Telephone Number:

Email Address:

5. High School Scholarship Due Date:

Appendix 4

A4.1

2016 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

1. Last Name: First Name:

2.

Mailing Address

Street:

City: State: Zip:

3. Daytime Telephone Number:

4. Email Address:

5. Name of statewide or national leadership conference:

6. Location of statewide or national leadership conference:

Please respond to each question below:

7.

Individual Impact: Please provide a 500 word max description of the impact attending this

conference will make for you. Attach conference materials.

8.

Organizational Capacity: Please describe the overall history of the conference and purpose.

Include any supportive data distributed by the conference organizers.

Appendix 4

A4.2

9.

CUS Impact: In 500 words, please describe how you will utilize the information received at the

leadership conference to turnkey knowledge received from the conference at a local chapter, region

or national CUS event within a 12 month period.

10. Conference registration cost: Conference registration date:

E-MAIL COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE TO:

Leadership Scholarship Committee

c/o Chi Upsilon Sigma, National Latin Sorority, Inc.

email address: scholarship@justbecus.org

REMINDER:

The deadline for this application to be received is:

March 4, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Appendix 4

A4.3

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP

DISTRIBUTION FORM

This form will be completed and returned only upon selection as a scholarship recipient. This

form should be completely filled out and submitted to the scholarship committee via email at

scholarship@justbecus.org within 15 days of award notification.

ATTENDING CUS MEMBER

1. Last Name: First Name:

2. Phone Number: Email:

3. Alumnae / Undergrad: Current Region:

4. Chapter/School Name:

LEADERSHIP CONFERNCE INFORMATION

5. Name of conference:

6. Location of Conference:

7.

Conference contact person:

Daytime Telephone Number:

Email Address:

8. Registration Deadline: