Miss Arkansas Delta Scholarship Foundation Policy

Purpose

The purpose of the Miss Arkansas Delta Scholarship Foundation scholarship program is to provide educational scholarships to qualified individuals to support their pursuit of higher education, career training, or continuing education. The Foundation awards scholarships based on merit, leadership, community involvement, and personal achievement.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  1. Be accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited college, university, vocational school, or training program.

  2. Meet the eligibility requirements of the scholarship program or competition associated with the Foundation.

  3. Complete the official scholarship application and provide all requested documentation.

  4. Participate in the selection process established by the Foundation.

The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, disability, or other protected status.

Selection Process

Scholarship recipients are selected through an objective and nondiscriminatory process.

Selection criteria may include:

  • Academic achievement

  • Leadership ability

  • Community service

  • Personal interview

  • Participation in the Miss Arkansas Delta program

  • Personal essay or application responses

Selections are made by an independent panel of judges or scholarship committee members who are not related to applicants.

Judges use a standardized scoring system to ensure fairness and consistency.

Scholarship Awards

Scholarship awards may be granted in various divisions of the program, including but not limited to:

  • Teen Miss Division

  • Junior Miss Division

  • Miss Division

Award amounts are determined annually by the Foundation board based on available scholarship funds.

Scholarship Distribution

To maintain compliance with IRS guidelines for charitable scholarship programs:

  1. Scholarship funds are paid directly to the educational institution whenever possible.

  2. Funds may be used for:

    • Tuition

    • Books

    • Educational fees

    • Required academic supplies

  3. Recipients must submit a Scholarship Request Form before funds are distributed.

  4. Proof of enrollment may be required prior to payment.

Scholarship funds are not intended for personal expenses unrelated to education.

Scholarship Deadline and Expiration

Scholarship awards must be claimed within:

12 months of the award date unless otherwise approved by the Foundation board.

Unclaimed scholarships will be returned to the Foundation scholarship fund.

Documentation & Recordkeeping

The Foundation maintains records for each scholarship award including:

  • Scholarship application

  • Selection criteria and scoring sheets

  • Names of judges or committee members

  • Scholarship award amount

  • Scholarship payment documentation

These records are maintained in accordance with nonprofit compliance and IRS guidelines.

Conflict of Interest

Individuals involved in the scholarship selection process must disclose any conflicts of interest.

Judges or committee members with a personal relationship to an applicant must recuse themselves from the evaluation of that applicant.

Amendments

The Board of Directors of the Miss Arkansas Delta Scholarship Foundation reserves the right to amend this scholarship policy at any time to ensure compliance with federal nonprofit regulations and to improve the scholarship program.