Higher Education Coordinating Board

Washington Scholars

2009 Washington Scholars Directory

Information and Forms for Scholars:

For NEW (2009) Washington Scholars

For 2009 WA Scholars-Alternates

For Returning Washington Scholars

NEWS: Washington Scholars honored at the annual Washington Scholars ceremony May 20 in Olympia

Washington Scholars recognizes the accomplishments of three high school students from each of the state's 49 legislative districts. Students can use the grants at any public or independent college or university in Washington.

High school principals nominate the top 1 percent of their graduating class on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, and community service. A committee, composed of high school principals and college admissions staff, makes the final selection.

Washington Scholars nomination materials are distributed annually, in late November, to in-state public and private high schools with a graduating senior class. Resulting candidate applications are due back to the HECB the following January, postmarked no later than the Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Day holiday. It is recommended that high schools mail their applications using Express Mail, FedEx, UPS, or certified with a return receipt to ensure a mechanism for tracking delivery to the HECB.

The selection committee meets in February to score the applications; award recipients are announced in mid-March.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

Be a Washington state resident
Be graduating from a Washington public or private
high school in the current award year
Be enrolled at an eligible college or university following high school graduation
Not be pursuing a postsecondary degree in theology

Award

While the intent of the award is to mirror the cost of resident, undergraduate tuition plus service and activity fees, charged by Washington public colleges and universities, the scholarship is subject to annual appropriations and may be prorated in some circumstances.

Scholarship values are re-evaluated annually. Adjustments to the scholarship amount may be made during an academic year as funding dictates. The maximum scholarship payable will not exceed the Scholar’s actual tuition charges, and “overload” credits are not included. Scholars attending private in-state colleges may receive the scholarship if the school matches the state scholarship on a dollar-for-dollar basis with institutional gift aid.

Due to the recent economic downturn experienced in state revenues, statewide budget cuts were necessary to remain within expected state revenue. One outcome is the recently adopted state biennial budget requires the Washington Scholars award be prorated to 90% of tuition and services and activities fees for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years, down from 100% of value.

The public university boards of regents will meet later this month to adopt tuition charges for the upcoming academic year. Estimated grant values for the 2009-10 Washington Scholars award will be announced to schools at the end of July 2009. Scholars will receive that information by way of a revised award letter from the school.