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2024–2025 Gulf Winds Scholarships

Information and Application

You have dreams and goals. We’re committed to helping you achieve them!

We know the importance of continuing your education. Considering the rising costs, we have established a scholarship program to help deserving students with some of those expenses.

In 2024, the Gulf Winds Cares Foundation will be awarding four (4) scholarships to incoming higher education students, including one reserved specifically for a student attending a trade school. Additionally, the Foundation will award one (1) $5,000 scholarship to a student currently enrolled in higher education courses in the medical field.

These five scholarships, for a total of $25,000, will support and celebrate deserving students pursuing their unique passions.

Currently we are only accepting applications for the Rex Burt Trade School Scholarship. All other scholarship applications have been closed for the 2024-2025 cycle. 

Rex Burt Trade School Scholarship

About the Scholarships

Four (4) non-renewable $5,000 scholarships are awarded to incoming higher education students. Eligible applicants must be graduating high school seniors or high school graduates. The scholarships are intended for first-year continuing education students only. One of the four available scholarships is the Rex Burt Trade School Scholarship, reserved specifically for a student attending a trade school. Click the link below to learn more about this scholarship and how it honors Rex’s legacy.

The Micah Williams Memorial Scholarship is a non-renewable $5,000 scholarship awarded to a student currently enrolled in higher education courses seeking a career in the medical field. If you have taken at least 12 credit hours, you may qualify for the Gulf Winds Cares Foundation’s Micah Williams Memorial Scholarship. Click the link below to learn more about and apply for this scholarship. 

Rex Burt Scholarship

 Micah Williams Scholarship

Application Process and Guidelines

  • Applicant must be a current senior or a graduate of an accredited high school, or hold a GED, ready to begin as a first-year continuing education student.
  • Applicant must have a minimum high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 based on a 4.0 grading system, or a “B” average. A copy of transcripts for the past four (4) years is required.
  • Applicant must plan to be a full-time student.
  • To qualify for the scholarship, applicants, their parent(s), grandparent(s), spouse, children, or sibling must be Gulf Winds members in good standing on or before September 30, 2023.
  • Employees of Gulf Winds Credit Union and members of their immediate family are not eligible to participate.

Note: These eligibility guidelines apply to the four scholarships awarded to incoming higher education students, including those applying for the Rex Burt Trade School Scholarship for a student planning to attend a trade school. For eligibility guidelines for the Micah Williams Scholarship, please visit this page.

For incoming higher education students, including those applying for the Rex Burt Trade School Scholarship:

  • Submit at least one (1) and not more than four (4) academic letters of recommendation from authorities at your school such as teachers, principal, or guidance counselor.
  • Submit at least one (1) and not more than four (4) letters of recommendation from individuals, other than family members, who have known you for at least two (2) years.
  • Applicant must provide an essay in your words answering: 1) “How do you intend to create sustainable change in your community through your educational and career choices and path?” or 2) “What is the value of financial literacy and how can it best be promoted in your community?” The essay should be 750 words or less.
  • Completed applications are due by midnight March 8, 2024.

Note: This application process applies to the four scholarships awarded to incoming higher education students, including those applying for the Rex Burt Memorial Scholarship for a student planning to attend a trade school. For details on the application process for the Micah Williams Scholarship, please visit this page.

Application Screening

After the submission deadline, applications are screened for completeness and forwarded to the Gulf Winds Cares Foundation Scholarship Review Committee for evaluation and ranking. Applications are scored using a point system. The committee rates applications based on academic success, grade point average, extracurricular and community experiences that demonstrate leadership, career ambitions and thoughtful, clear writing. Quality references are also considered.

No applicant will be excluded from participation or be denied the benefits of a Gulf Winds Cares Foundation Scholarship on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sex, or disability. The recipient must meet all eligibility requirements. Applications will be scored solely on their merits according to the categories of:

  • Financial need
  • Academic achievement
  • Essay strength
  • Community work/extracurriculars
  • Overall strength of the application

Notification of Winners

All applicants will be notified of the results by the end of May 2024.

Publicity

Applicants agree to be interviewed and photographed for recognition and promotional purposes if they receive the scholarship.

Congratulations to our 2023 Recipients

Gulf Winds received over 73 applications for the 2023 Scholarship Program. The Gulf Winds CARES Foundation provided $25,000 in scholarships to five amazing students: John Colbie English, Michaela Manias, Marissa Ponder, Shilpa Shiju, and Caroline Williamson. Each was awarded $5,000 to continue their education pursuing unique passions.

Read more about our 2023 scholarship recipients

Questions?

Please direct all scholarship program questions to [email protected] or 850.479.9601 x149.