Grant Aid Scholarship

Each fall semester current ESS TRIO participants, who meet established criteria, will be notified if they are eligible to apply for a Grant Aid Scholarship provided by the Department of Education and Kansas State University. Scholarships are typically awarded at the beginning of the following spring semester. Scholarship amounts vary each year according to student need and program resources, with a minimum amount of $692.

ESS students must meet the following qualifications to be eligible to apply:

• Be an active ESS participant
• Be receiving a Federal Pell Grant for the current year
• Be in their first 2 years of post-secondary education (includes years enrolled at another 2 or 4 year institution following high school graduation)*
• Have financial unmet need or loans as part of their financial aid award for the current year

*Students in their 3rd year of post-secondary education who meet the other criteria may qualify, but priority is given to 1st and 2nd year students.

After a review of applications, accepted students will be notified by email and must complete the following requirements:

• Schedule an initial Grant Aid meeting with your ESS Coordinator
• Complete the PowerCat Financial College Financial Planning course. The course is a series of 3 one-hour meetings with a trained peer financial counselor.**
• Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA during the fall semester or participate in Student Success Coaching with an ESS Coordinator during the spring semester
• Schedule a second spring meeting with your ESS Coordinator for follow-up

** This requirement applies only to 1st time Grant Aid applicants. Previous Grant Aid recipients will be required to set up a 1 hour meeting with a PowerCat Financial peer financial counselor to review last year's plan.