Scholarships Aren't Just for Seniors: How Burlington K-12 Families Can Secure Postsecondary Financial Support

Many Burlington high school seniors this year will have more to celebrate than the completion of their K-12 education. For those who have participated in the Dollars for Scholars program run by the Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation (BCSF), funds for the next step could be coming their way. "Scholarship Season," as BCSF President Jack Ferren calls it, is already underway, and the Foundation expects to distribute hundreds of thousands to local students.

Established in 1988 by the Town of Burlington in partnership with community members Brian Curtin and Joan & Steve Miles, the BCSF was initially funded by check-off donations on town property tax, water, and excise tax bills. In partnership with Scholarship America, the foundation successfully raised money to provide scholarships to Burlington students for 25 years.

Then, in 2013, the group broke away from the town's check-off program and formed its own 501(c)(3) while maintaining that Scholarship America relationship. (The Town of Burlington Scholarship Fund, which distributes scholarships to seniors each year via the tax check-off system, still exists and was reinvigorated in 2018. Students may apply to both funds, which operate independently.)

A number of components combine to make the BCSF a thriving organization that just surpassed $13 million in lifetime scholarships awarded to students, said Ferren.

A portion of funds disbursed each year, said Ferren, comes from corporate donors such as Millipore Sigma and other businesses with offices in Burlington. Local organizations like Pop Warner football, band programs, and National Honor Society provide scholarships with their own specific criteria, as do a number of private donors whose contributions build the organization’s endowment. Ferren and Curtin, for example, make awards through the nonprofit in memory of departed family members.

Perhaps the most widely-known BCSF funding source is Adopt-A-Class, a program that allows each graduating class to accumulate scholarship money starting in kindergarten and continuing all the way through 12th grade. Through Adopt-A-Class, parents, students, and a corporate sponsor work together toward each class’s goal of $35,000 by graduation. A business commits to sponsor a single class for the entirety of their K-12 experience, providing a place to plan and hold annual fundraisers.

Through innovative and fun events such as character breakfasts, trivia nights, pie and cookie sales, and more, parents and students from each class, along with their corporate sponsor, accumulate funds. But how are those funds distributed? High school seniors with a plan to enter a postsecondary education (vocational certificate, two-year degree, or four-year degree) program living in Burlington are eligible, regardless of what school they attend. Adults who are returning to school to start or finish a degree can also participate.

And the recipients don't have to be BHS grade. Scholarships are awarded through BCSF each year for students at technical schools, traditional and charter public schools, and private schools. Funding is also provided for tools and to support graduates who join the military before returning to school.

Students must complete two volunteer hours each year of high school (a total of eight) at Adopt-A-Class events to be entered into the scholarship pool; parent participation can accumulate toward these hours. Scholarship money earned through a class's 13 years of participation in the program is then distributed in proportion to the number of volunteer hours accumulated by each participating student. Students could get anywhere from $500 to upwards of $2000, said Ferren, with the Adopt-A-Class committee overseeing the distribution process. Financial need, athletics, and academic achievement don't factor into these awards; volunteer hours are the sole deciding factor.

The final source of scholarship distribution, and perhaps the least well-known, is powered by BCSF's partnership with Scholarship America. Once students create their online profile, they can apply via the integrated platform to one of many scholarships available to students across the country.

For seniors, the scholarship season is kicking off now. Scholarship applications are open, and Ferren urges all eligible students to complete their Scholarship America profile if they haven't already done so.

The selection process maintains student anonymity to keep the process as unbiased as possible. A confidential committee reviews applications.

When all is said and done, said Ferren, "We average up to $425,000 a year in total combined scholarships disbursed."

The BCSF has faced fundraising challenges in recent years, said Ferren. Telethons, which were previously a strong source of community participation, had been declining before the pandemic and stopped altogether after 2019. In addition, corporate America has shifted toward competitive national grant programs rather than direct local donations. The foundation's endowment fund, which once exceeded $1.3 million, has decreased to under $500,000, making fundraising efforts increasingly critical.

But these challenges haven't fazed Ferren, merely caused him to think more creatively about how to source local support. New strategies include working with insurance companies to help residents plan their giving after they pass, helping dormant foundations distribute their dollars, and planning a telethon featuring local small businesses later this year that Ferren hopes will reinvigorate this fundraising avenue.

The foundation continues to work toward their goal of providing "a dollar for every scholar," striving to ensure every graduate receives some form of scholarship support while maintaining their commitment to Burlington residents pursuing diverse educational and career paths.