1. City Treasurer’s Black History Month Essay Competition
2012 Scholarship Application
General Information
The City Treasurer’s Office of Chicago is the custodian and manager of all cash and investments of the City of Chicago. Each year
the City Treasurer’s Office sponsors a Black History Month Essay Competition. The winner of this competition will receive a $1,000
non-renewable scholarship to support the cost of attending the first year of college. The check will be issued to the college where
student enrolls in the fall of 2012.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
 Must be a senior enrolled in a Chicago Public School high school
 Plan to enroll in an accredited two-or-four-year institution of higher education or educational institution in the fall of 2012
 Minimum high school g.p.a. of 2.5
 Minimum of 50 hours of community service
Required Documentation:
 Official high school transcript
 Letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor or college coach who is familiar with student’s academic work
 College Letter of Acceptance
 Respond to the following essay questions (no more than 500 words each, typed, double-spaced. Be sure to include your
name and CPS ID number on the top right corner of each page).
1. Please describe the institution you plan to attend, your intended major, if you have selected one, and how you plan to
succeed in college.
2. What can African American small business owners do to become more competitive in the Chicago business community?
Incomplete applications will not be evaluated past the deadline. All information received will remain confidential. Applicants will be
contacted by Stephanie Neely, Chicago City Treasurer.
Deadline: FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2012 by 4:00PM - Only complete applications will be accepted.
Please send all application materials to:
City Treasurer’s Black History Month Essay Competition
Office of Pathways to College and Career
Attn: Marcia Boyd, Project Manager/Scholarship Coordinator
125 S Clark Street, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
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2. 2012 City Treasurer of Chicago Black History Month Essay
Competition Application
Student Information:
Last Name First Name Middle Initial
Student Birth Date (mm/dd/yy)
Home Address City State Zipcode
_(____)_____________________________________ _(____)_____________________________________
Home Phone Cell Phone
Student E-mail Address
High School Name
CPS Student ID Number: _________________________ Graduation Date: (mm/yy):__________________________
Grade Point Average (GPA):_____/4.00 Test Scores: ACT Composite: __________ SAT: ___________
College Information/Postsecondary Plans:
Your intended major in college: ___________________________________________
Colleges you have applied to:
1. ______________________________________________ Date applied:___________________
2. ______________________________________________ Date applied:___________________
3. ______________________________________________ Date applied:___________________
Have you completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
 Yes, Date Completed: ________________________________
Month Day Year
 st
No (If you have not, please do so by March 1 ). To complete the FAFSA, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov
Have you researched the cost of attending each of the three colleges you have applied to?
 Yes
 No (If no, go to each college’s website and search for the Net Price Calculator to find out the costs)
Have you applied for any other scholarships?
 Yes (If yes, how many have you applied for? __________)
 No
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3. 2012 City Treasurer of Chicago Black History Month Essay
Competition Application
Activities
Activities include service learning, volunteer activities, extracurricular activities in your school, etc. Attach additional sheets if necessary.
Dates of
Activity Office(s) Held Participation Hours Per Week
(e.g. President, Secretary)
mm/yy
Honors or Awards:
Honor or Award Name Date Received)
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4. 2012 City Treasurer of Chicago Black History Month Essay
Competition Application
Applicant Certification
By submitting this application, I formally authorize any agency or person mentioned herein, to provide any information requested by
City Treasurers Office of the City of Chicago related to this application. I further release any of the entities or persons seeking or
providing information from all claims or damages that I may sustain as a result of seeking or providing such information.
Additionally, I certify that I plan to enroll in a regionally accredited postsecondary institution in the upcoming fall of 2012. I also
certify that this application is true and correct and intent to mislead or falsify the contents will result in disqualification for this
scholarship.
Student Signature Date
High School Certification
I certify that the education information for the applicant listed above is correct to the best of my knowledge.
High School Official’s Signature Date
Official’s name: (print or type):______________________________________ Title:____________________________________
Application Deadline: Friday, March 2, 2012 by 4:00 p.m.
Please send all applications and supporting documents to:
Black History Month Essay Competition
c/o Marcia Boyd
Office of Pathways to College and Careers
125 S Clark Street, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
All questions related to this scholarship should be directed to CollegeScholarships@cps.k12.il.us
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5. 2012 City Treasurer of Chicago Black History Month Essay
Competition Application Checklist
Student Name:_________________________________
Last Name First name
High School Name: _____________________________
Date Submitted: ________________________________
(Include this as the cover of the application materials that you submit)
 Completed Black History Month Essay Competition Application
 Official High School Transcript
 Essay Question #1 (500 words, typed and double-spaced)
 Essay Question #2 (500 words, typed and double-spaced)
 Letter of Recommendation
 College Letter of Acceptance (from the college where student plans to enroll)
This section to be completed by CPS Scholarship Coordinator:
Date received by office: ___________________
File Complete: ___Yes __No
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