Ross Trust Graduate Student Scholarship Competition

The American Counseling Association, in collaboration with the ACA Foundation, sponsors the annual Ross Trust Graduate Student Scholarship competition every year, beginning in the Fall. Through the generosity of Roland and Dorothy Ross, the Ross Trust was set up to provide scholarships to students preparing for counseling roles in the nation's elementary, middle and secondary schools. Roland Ross was an active member of ACA for many years.

Through the Ross Trust, ACA awards 15 scholarships each year -- ten to master's level students and five to doctoral level students.

Counselor educators at institutions offering masters and doctoral programs may nominate students who represent, in their estimation, the highest standards of academic achievement, volunteerism in the community and, for doctoral students, evidence of scholarly research, writing and presentations.

The Scholarships

The Ross Trust Graduate Student Scholarships have a monetary value of approximately $1,375 (Recipients are awarded $1,000 cash along with a complimentary registration to the upcoming ACA annual convention and a complimentary one-year student membership in the association.)

Criteria for the Ross Trust Graduate Student Scholarship

ACA members who are Counselor Educators are asked to nominate candidates based on the following:

• Masters level students who are outstanding in their academic performance (based on a minimum of 15 graduate hours completed) and exemplary volunteer activities
• Doctoral level students who are outstanding in their academic performance (based on minimum of 15 graduate hours completed); exemplary volunteer activities in schools and/or community; and scholarly research, writing and presentations

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Each student applicant must be currently enrolled in either a master's level or doctoral level program of studies in preparation to work as a professional counselor at the elementary, middle or secondary education level.

Both the scholarship candidate and the nominating counselor educator must hold active membership in ACA.  Each counselor educator in a program may nominate one individual for the master's scholarship and one for the doctoral scholarship.

Ross Trust Graduate Student Scholarship Nomination/Application Process

The nomination/application procedure is designed to be as simple as possible, and is done by an electronic process on line. The counselor educator simply provides the name and contact information for the nominee; the candidate provides a brief statement of career goals, a brief description of volunteer experience, and supporting documentation.

Application Requirements:

For all scholarships:

• A statement of the career goals by the applicant. This statement should address how he/she intends to apply their counseling knowledge and skills in an educational environment (one page or less)
• A description of volunteer experiences in schools and/or community. This statement should identify the audience(s) served and an overview of the contribution made by the volunteer. (one page or less)

For Doctoral level scholarships (additional requirement):

• A statement reflecting the research, writing and presentation activities of the applicant. (one page or less).

Supporting Documents: The final part of the nomination and application process will be the submission of an official transcript of counselor education studies. This transcript will validate official enrollment and record of achievement in academic performance.

Supporting documents should be directed to: ACA Ross Trust Graduate Student Scholarship Program, 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304.

Deadline

The deadline for submissions is Monday, November 24, 2008.

Ross Trust Graduate Student Scholarship Advisory Committee

An Advisory Committee made up of ACA professional members review the nominations and applications and assist the Association in selecting the 15 recipients each year.

Additional Information

Individuals interested in obtaining additional information about the Ross Trust Graduate Student Scholarships can direct their questions via email to hclubb@counseling.org. Please include name, address, phone, fax and email contact information with the inquiry.