Presidential Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions for High School Guidance Counselors

What is the Presidential Scholarship?

The Presidential Scholarship recognizes outstanding graduating seniors from district high schools by granting them a full-tuition scholarship to Lake Land College for up to two years, saving them $4,000-$14,000 annually! Recipients will need to pay fees, which are approximately $500 per semester, depending on the number of credit hours and types of courses the recipient registers for.

What are the eligibility requirements for the scholarship?

All graduating seniors meeting the eligibility requirements will be guaranteed the scholarship if they choose to attend Lake Land College in the fall semester immediately following high school graduation. To be eligible, the graduate must be within the top 15% of their senior class or have an ACT composite score of 26 or higher/SAT total score of 1230 or higher. Seniors must also: 1) reside in the Lake Land College District, 2) graduate from a high school located in the Lake Land College District, or 3) graduate from a high school serving a portion of the Lake Land College District.

When can Verification & Acceptance forms be submitted?

Verification & Acceptance forms should be submitted once your high school’s 7th-semester grades are posted. If a student meets the ACT/SAT score criteria, please wait to submit their form until after the 7th semester so that the class rank information can be included.

When are Verification & Acceptance forms due?

While we encourage students to submit their forms as early as possible, we will continue to accept forms until the start of the fall semester. If students wish to be recognized at their high school awards banquet, they should submit their forms by April 1.

What are some best practices counselors have found for the verification and award process?

Based on feedback we have received from counselors, there are certain processes that seem to work well. One suggestion is to analyze the class ranking list once the 7th-semester grades are posted and to identify the students in the top 15% of the class. The chart below identifies the number of students who make up the top 15% of the class based on total class size. All of these students are eligible to receive the award. Then, look at the remainder of your students and identify anyone who has an ACT composite of 26 or SAT total of 1230 or higher; these students are also eligible. Once your eligible students are identified, please inform them of the scholarship opportunity. We also recommend repeating the process once the 8th-semester grades are posted to check whether any additional students meet the requirements based on their final grades and ranking.

We have had counselors collect the majority of the forms once their students sign them and return them to us as a group in order to ensure we receive them all. They then send any additions that may follow as they receive them. We appreciate this method, as it ensures that students’ certificates are completed in time for your high school awards ceremony.

As always, our office and the Admissions Representative who visits your high school can help answer any questions you may have regarding the process.

How do I determine the top 15% of my graduating class? How are ties in ranking handled?

We have found that ranking systems differ among high schools. For your convenience and our consistency, we created a chart to identify the number of students considered to be in the top 15% based on total class size. Regardless of a tie in ranking, the number of students in the top 15% would remain the same.

What if I have a student who did not qualify at the end of the 7th semester but changed rank to qualify at the end of the 8th semester? Are they still eligible for the scholarship? Will the student who qualified at 7th semester and no longer does be required to give up the scholarship?

One great aspect of the scholarship is that it offers multiple opportunities for a student to qualify. Students may qualify based on rank at the end of their 7th or 8th semester, as well as by taking the ACT or SAT as many times as they would like.

If a student does not qualify at the end of the 7th semester but does at the end of the 8th, they are still eligible to receive the scholarship. If a student qualifies following the 7th semester but not the 8th, they are still eligible to receive the scholarship and will not be required to relinquish it.

Can a student retake the ACT or SAT to try to score high enough to receive the scholarship?

Absolutely! Students can retake the ACT or SAT as many times as they would like in order to earn a score high enough to receive the scholarship. Scores must be obtained by the start of the fall semester following graduation so that the Verification & Acceptance forms can be submitted.

Does the Presidential Scholarship include summer courses?

Yes, with the exception of the summer term immediately following a student’s high school graduation. The scholarship begins with the fall semester and continues for two consecutive academic years. Therefore, the summer terms following a student’s first and second year of enrollment are included (i.e., Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer).

What if I have a student who is graduating mid-year and is eligible for the scholarship? Can they receive the scholarship for the spring semester?

Mid-year graduates who meet the criteria are certainly eligible to receive the scholarship. However, students should be advised that the scholarship will not begin until the fall semester following their high school graduation.

What if a student submitted the Verification & Acceptance form and decides not to attend Lake Land?

The scholarship will be available to the student beginning with the fall semester. If the student does not enroll in the fall semester, the scholarship will no longer be available.

What if a student is receiving a Lake Land College Athletic or Livestock Judging Scholarship? Are they still eligible for the Presidential Scholarship?

Yes, students can absolutely be eligible for both. As long as the student meets the eligibility requirements for each scholarship, we will recognize them accordingly. We believe it is wonderful to recognize students from both standpoints.

Are students required to complete the FAFSA in order to receive the scholarship?

No. We strongly recommend that students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov and the Lake Land College Foundation Scholarship each year to qualify for additional financial assistance to help cover the cost of fees and living expenses not covered by the Presidential Scholarship.

What if a student’s program of study is longer than two years? Will the scholarship continue?

The Presidential Scholarship is available for a maximum of two consecutive academic years. If a student continues enrollment beyond the two years, they will need to plan to cover the costs through other means.

Are there requirements students must meet to keep the scholarship after they enroll at Lake Land College?

Yes. Presidential Scholars must fulfill certain requirements to remain eligible to continue to receive the award, including: 1) successfully completing a minimum of 12 semester hours each semester and 2) obtaining either a 3.25 semester or cumulative GPA every semester or term.

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