Presidential Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions for High School Students and Parents

What does the Presidential Scholarship include?

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 and 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.

Which high schools are located within or serve a portion of the Lake Land College District?

The following high schools are located within or serve a portion of the Lake Land College District: Altamont, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond, Beecher City, Brownstown, Casey-Westfield, Charleston, Cowden-Herrick, Cumberland, Dieterich, Effingham, Kansas, Marshall, Martinsville, Mattoon, Neoga, Newton, North Clay, Oakland, Okaw Valley, Pana, Paris, Ramsey, Shelbyville, Shiloh, South Central, St. Anthony, St. Elmo, Stewardson-Strasburg, Sullivan, Teutopolis, and Windsor.

Are home-schooled students eligible to receive the scholarship?

Yes. Home-schooled students who reside in the Lake Land College District are eligible to receive the scholarship. Since class size is not a consideration for home-schooled students, these students must meet the ACT/SAT score criteria. Home-schooled students will also be required to submit proof of completion of their home-schooling program as well as ACT/SAT scores.

What do students need to do receive the scholarship?

Students should complete and submit a Presidential Scholarship Verification & Acceptance form. Forms can be obtained through students’ high school guidance counselors. Home-schooled students should contact Tera Arnold at tarnold@lakelandcollege.edu to obtain the form. Following submission of Verification & Acceptance forms, students should expect to receive a follow-up letter within 2-4 weeks.

When can Verification & Acceptance forms be submitted?

Verification & Acceptance forms should be submitted once the high school’s 7th-semester grades are available.

When are Verification & Acceptance forms due?

While students are encouraged to submit their forms as early as possible, they will be accepted 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.

How do students determine if they are in the top 15% of their graduating class?

Students should consult with their high school guidance counselors to determine if they are within the top 15% of their class.

What if a student does not qualify at the end of the 7th semester but changes rank to qualify at the end of the 8th semester? Are they still eligible for the scholarship?

One great aspect of the scholarship is that it provides 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/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.

What if a student qualifies at the end of the 7th semester but changes rank to not qualify at the end of the 8th semester? Are they required to give up 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 students retake the ACT/SAT to try to score high enough to receive the scholarship?

Absolutely! A student can retake the ACT or SAT as many times as they would like in order to acquire 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 calendar 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).

Are students who graduate early 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, 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.

Are students receiving a Lake Land College Athletic or Livestock Judging Scholarship still eligible for the Presidential Scholarship?

Yes, students can absolutely be eligible for both. As long as students meet the eligibility requirements for both scholarships, they will be recognized accordingly. It is wonderful to recognize students for both awards.

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

No. Students are strongly recommended to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov and the Lake Land College Foundation Scholarship application in order 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 calendar 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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