Bella Scholarships Renewal
The Bella Scholarship is a renewable academic scholarship, awarded annually by the Bella Charitable Foundation (BCF) and is renewable for up to four years, to support attendance at a community college, a four-year college or university, or an accredited vocational school. The scholarship is to cover tuition, mandatory student fees, room & board.
The scholarship award is based on full-time status at a 4-year institution or community college. This means obtaining 30 credit hours per year (45 credit hours if on quarters). Any changes to your status will require an adjustment to your scholarship award. It is your responsibility to immediately inform the BCF so that we can adjust your scholarship. Otherwise you may lose your scholarship and/or be responsible to reimburse the foundation.
INSTRUCTIONS TO COMPLETE THE RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR BELLA SCHOLARSHIP
YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE WITH YOU YOUR TRANSCRIPT
❖ When you are ready to fill the online application make sure you ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS with an asterisk (*) or you won't be able to submit the application. If any question is not applicable, just write "N/A" or "not applicable". If there is any error you can go back and edit it later.
❖ Once it is all completed and submitted you will receive an email with your responses and a link to access it in case you need to make any changes. You will be able to edit your response up to the due date.
In order to receive the Bella Scholarship for the upcoming school year you will need to forward your transcript by email to: anita@bellacf.org
Any time a student changes school we may request the Financial Aid Letter from the new institution.
Failure to complete the application, or not providing documentation could result in your scholarship payment being late and the loss of your scholarship.
❖ If you have any questions, please contact us by email to: director@bellacf.org
IF YOUR INSTITUTION IS ON SEMESTER SYSTEM THE RENEWAL APPLICATION IS DUE JUNE 15th, 2019
IF YOUR INSTITUTION IS ON QUARTER SYSTEM THE RENEWAL APPLICATION IS DUE JULY 15th, 2019
Bella Charitable Foundation Goals
It is our wish to be a partner in your education and to make sure that we do everything in our power to see that you achieve your academic goals. We believe that all students can realize and achieve their dreams with the right support from their teachers, friends, family, counselors and community. Our Foundation is dedicated to the students it supports and will stand with you in your journey through college.
Scholarship Disbursements
The award will be disbursed in two payments directly to the institution prior to tuition due dates. The first disbursement will be made for the fall/winter term and the second disbursement for the spring/summer term. Any surplus in funds can be issued to the student (by the institution) for other school expenses, e.g., books.
If you are on quarters, the disbursements will be spread over the 3 quarters.
Student Expectations
Recipients of the Bella Scholarship must be enrolled full time at an accredited university, college or vocational school by the fall semester after receiving the scholarship:
- Semester System - 15 credit units per each semester (2 semesters, 30 units annually)
-
Quarter System 15 credit units per each quarter (3 quarters, 45 units annually)
If for any reason you defer school attendance for an academic semester, or change your schedule to part-time you must notify the BCF in writing in order to be eligible for future scholarship awards. Failure to do so may result in loss of future disbursements of the scholarship funds.
First year students must send proof of GPA and credits earned after each semester or quarter. In consequent years, the GPA and credits earned should be provided with the renewal forms. However, if your GPA is lower than 2.5 we may request a more frequent review of your academic standing. Screenshots, if clear and complete, are acceptable, however a complete transcript is required with your renewal application.
Academic Standing
Bella Scholars are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher. If your GPA falls below this minimum, you will lose your scholarship until your GPA meets the minimum 2.0. It is our opinion that meeting with a school counselor at least once, but ideally twice yearly, to review your academic goals and discuss any hardships or academic issues is very important to student success.
If a drop in GPA is due to hardship, e.g., poor health or extenuating circumstances, or if a student must drop a class, take an incomplete or even drop out of school for a semester, we will review individual circumstances to determine future scholarship eligibility. This is completely at the discretion of the BCF.
Bella Scholarship Renewal
You must renew your scholarship each academic year, within a few weeks after spring semester ends. For schools on semesters, the tuition is due in mid-July and we must receive your renewal and transcripts at least one week before tuition checks can be mailed.
The renewal form is available online. It is your responsibility to complete it as directed.
A copy of your complete transcripts should be emailed to anita@bellacf.org (as an attachment).
Contact Information
Any changes to your contact information must be provided as soon as possible to the BCF at anita@bellacf.org. This includes: phone number, address, or intention to transfer schools. Failure to update your contact information may result in late payments to your college or university.
Extension Request
We understand that, during the time you attend college, extenuating circumstances or hardships sometimes arise and may require extending the scholarship beyond 4 years. Students who have received award money from BCF all four years and are in good academic standing, but are not ready to graduate after four years, can apply for an extension. We will handle every student situation on a case-by-case basis.