WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Tobacco quota owners, quota owners/growers, or grower/tenants of Farm Service Agency (FSA) record in any single crop year from 1997 through 2004 and their immediate family dependents that are enrolled at an accredited institution and are seeking an Associate or Bachelor degree are eligible. Applicants must be enrolled as a full time sophomore, junior or senior in the 2010-2011 school year to be eligible.

WHAT IS THE AMOUNT ELIGIBLE?

Eligible applicants seeking an Associate or Bachelor degree at an accredited institution may receive up to $7,500 toward tuition, room and board, lab fees, and books for the 2010-2011 academic year. Applicants may only receive the SOACDF Educational Excellence Competitive Grant one time.

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. The student is required to mail the completed, certified and signed application and essays along with page one of most recent years IRS Form 1040 of the person creating the eligibility if the student is a dependent of an eligible person.
2. Must be postmarked or delivered between January 15, 2010 and February 15, 2010. Applications received before or after the application period will not be accepted.
3. A Committee will review and score each eligible application.
4. The Committee will conduct interviews with the finalists to determine awards.

"Immediate family dependent" is defined as the certifying party's spouse and the natural/adopted/step-children claimed as their dependents by IRS rules. A copy of the most recent year’s 1040 (showing dependents claimed) is required as proof of dependency and must be submitted with the application. This rule also applies to divorced parents who alternate years of claiming the student as their IRS dependent.

The person creating the eligibility must acknowledge his/her understanding that an IRS Form 1099G will be issued in January 2011 for any educational assistance paid during the 2010 calendar year.

If awarded, the student must provide documented proof of enrollment to an accredited college, technical school or other approved institution based in the U.S.

The application form must be certified by a FSA staff representative and completed in its entirety.

If awarded, the student must complete and include confirmation of or a copy of the submitted 2010-2011 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or SAR (Student Aid Report). The FAFSA form may be obtained through your local high school or college or submitted online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

The student must maintain a 2.5 g.p.a. to receive funds. The institution is instructed to refund all unused funds to SOACDF. Any student receiving unused funds must return those funds to SOACDF.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to secure all the required information listed above to be considered for educational assistance cost share.