Renaissance Scholars Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Renaissance Foundation

Overview
The Renaissance Scholars Program (RSP) awards renewable college scholarships to talented, first-generation students who demonstrate substantial financial need. Awards may provide up to $5,000 per academic year, for a maximum of $20,000 over the course of a bachelor’s degree. RSP connects scholars with campus-based mentoring partners and offers additional development opportunities through in-person and virtual programming.

Who RSP Supports
RSP seeks applicants who are first-generation college students (see definition below), show solid academic performance, and demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to others, and a strong work ethic. These traits can be demonstrated through volunteer service, participation in clubs or community groups, paid or unpaid employment, and/or significant family responsibilities. Strong written answers and essays that clearly communicate your strengths and goals are important.

Eligibility (High School Applicants)
- Must be a high school senior or a recent graduate residing in Oregon or Illinois.
- U.S. citizenship is not required (see FAQs for details).
- Intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree at an accredited U.S. four-year college.
- Must be a first-generation college student — defined as having no parent with a bachelor’s degree. (RSP recently changed its eligibility from “first-in-family” (which included siblings) to “first-generation” (which refers only to parents). If you have questions, contact Program Manager Callie at callie@rscholars.org.)
- Demonstrate significant financial need. RSP uses Pell eligibility as the baseline; applicants who do not file the FAFSA should provide equivalent documentation. If a Renaissance award recipient later receives a full-tuition or full-ride scholarship from a college or other organization, the Renaissance award will be withdrawn (see FAQ for more).
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and evidence of academic achievement.

Important note: Renaissance scholarships cannot be used while enrolled at a community college. If you start or continue at a community college, you will need to reapply to RSP when you are prepared to transfer to a four-year institution.

Scholarship Amount and Renewal
- Up to $5,000 per academic year.
- Renewable, for a total maximum of $20,000 toward a bachelor’s degree (subject to continued eligibility and program requirements).

Application Cycles and Timeline
RSP runs two application cycles each year:

Cycle A (Winter)
- Application due: February 1
- Committee review: February
- All applicants notified of decisions by April 1

Cycle B (Spring)
- Application opens: Mid-March
- Application due: May 1
- Committee review: May
- All applicants notified of decisions by July 1

Application Checklist — Required Materials
All parts of the application must be submitted before the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Complete the application fields and proofread your responses, then upload the following documents:
- Most recent unofficial high school transcript (and college transcript if applicable).
- One of the following financial documents:
- PDF or screenshot of your FAFSA 2026–2027 confirmation with the student’s full name, Student Aid Index (SAI), and Pell eligibility statement clearly visible, OR
- PDF or screenshot of a completed ORSAA or another alternative financial aid application, OR
- PDF or screenshot of parents’ most recent tax forms (Form 1040 or comparable), only if FAFSA/ORSAA/alternative application do not apply, OR
- For international students: your I-20 or other financial documentation submitted to your U.S. college.
(See RSP’s online examples for acceptable FAFSA documentation.)

Letters of Recommendation
Request letters early — allow recommenders at least two weeks to complete their submissions. You may request recommendations before finishing the rest of your application.
- Letter #1: From an educational source (teacher, counselor, or other non-family school representative).
- Letter #2: From any non-family source (coach, employer, mentor, or another adult who can speak to your strengths).

Essay Requirements
Essay #1 (500–1,000 words)
Describe a major personal challenge you have faced: how it affected you, what you did to address or overcome it, and what you learned about yourself. Explain how the lessons from this experience will inform your future goals.

Essay #2 (Choose one; 400–600 words)
- Describe your personal and career goals after college. How will your college experience help you reach them? OR
- Explain why you chose your intended major. What attracts you to this field, and how will studying it support your future plans? OR
- What do you aim to accomplish during college? Describe your academic and personal goals and the concrete steps you will take to achieve them.

Optional Materials
- Activities summary or resume (optional, but helpful).

Final Notes and Contact
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- If your eligibility questions relate to the change from “first-in-family” to “first-generation,” contact Program Manager Callie at callie@rscholars.org.
- Start your application early to ensure all documents and recommendations are received before the deadline.