Margie Colson cared so much about furthering the educational opportunities for her family and honoring Hugh’s memory, she allocated a portion of her estate towards the creation of The Hugh and Margie Colson Educational Scholarship Fund.
Purpose
Margie’s purpose in establishing the Scholarship Fund was to encourage and promote higher education among her family members. Margie believed that education opens the world to those who appreciate the gift of education and the opportunities such education can provide.
Eligible Beneficiaries of the Scholarship Fund
The Scholarship Fund is open to the following beneficiaries and their bloodline descendants:
Gary Barrett, Joyce Beatty, Patricia Gyland, Paul Marlow, Richard Marlow, Beverly Moore, Earnest Moran, Harold Moran, Sherrie Sype, Alice Talbot and Barbara Tolley.
As well as the bloodline descendants of both Leon Pasternick and Timothy Becktold.
Educational Opportunities
Eligible scholarship beneficiaries may apply to the Scholarship Committee for scholarships for any educational opportunity, including but not limited to, university or college, community college, high school, parochial schools, trade schools, professional schools or programs and professional licensing and accreditation programs.
Criteria
- Scholarship applicants must be an eligible beneficiary as stated above
- The Scholarship Committee determines that the applicant has an economic need
- The applicant must have a cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.0 on a 4.0 grade scale or average score, and must maintain that grade point average.
- The applicant must complete and submit an essay according to the instructions found in the Application Process below.
Application Process
Applicant must submit the following items:
- Completed Scholarship Application form
- A recent photograph
- A copy of your most recent transcript with cumulative grade point average
- Printed information from the school of choice about the course of study, what is required to complete the course to graduate or obtain a certificate, length of time (months or years) for completion, current tuition/fee schedule and information about the school.
- An Application cover letter detailing the following:
- Why you chose this course of study/program and this school
- Why do you think you deserve this scholarship
- Where do you see yourself in 5-7 years
- Any other details, special circumstances and information applicant wishes to include
- A personal 500-1500 word essay on your chosen question according to the academic year in which you are applying for. All applicants must choose one question, by academic year in which you are applying for. Below are the questions by academic year.
Essay Topics by Academic Year (choose one):
Freshman:
- What Education Means to Me?
Sophomore:
- Discuss how your chosen academic program will help you to become a positive change agent in our society.
- Discuss one of your favorite passions. Why is this your passion? How does this passion integrate you into the world around you and make this world a better place?
- Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Junior:
- Do you believe that education is a choice, why or why not? When completed, how will it enhance your understanding of different cultures and prepare you to contribute to the betterment of our multi-cultural society?
- Discuss how your pursuit for education can influence or encourage others, including your family and friends, to obtain more education.
- Describe a topic, idea or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Senior:
- Please identify and discuss a specific issue dealing with social justice as you understand it and how your chosen field of study will help you address this issue.
- Today, in the USA, we are seeing what appears to be an alternative way of living by pitching a tent on the side of the road suggesting that these tent dwellers are homeless. How does this life style affect our community? Should we help them back to a “normal life”; why or why not? If yes, how do we help them?
- If you had the opportunity to have a 30-minute conversation with any person in human history (living or deceased), who would be the person you choose? Why would you choose this person? What would you discuss with this person and why?
Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the Scholarship Committee. Please double check that the application is complete, there are no errors, all four criteria have been met and all six steps of the application process are completed before you mail your application package.
This application covers only the one year period from June 1 of the current year to June 1 of the following year. Students must reapply each year by completing the application process.
The DEADLINE for scholarship applications is March 31 of each year. The Scholarship Committee meets in May to review all applications and make determinations of awards. Recipients of scholarships will be notified shortly thereafter.
The student is expected to contribute financially towards their education.
Scholarships are generally awarded towards tuition only and do not cover 100% of tuition. Books, room and board requests will be considered only in special circumstances.
The Scholarship Committee shall award scholarships on a case by case basis. A request for a scholarship award does not guarantee that a scholarship will be awarded. The Scholarship Committee will decide the number of annual scholarships awarded, each scholarship amount and the continuance of awards for a beneficiary on an on-going basis, provided that the recipient reapplies and continues to meet the academic and economic criteria.
Scholarship awards shall be paid directly to the recipient’s academic institution or professional licensing and accreditation programs to be applied towards tuition and other direct academic expenses. No funds shall be distributed directly to the recipient and the recipient may not assign any portion of the award to another.
Thank you for honoring Margie and Hugh’s memory.
Completed applications can be uploaded using the link below:
Colson Education Fund Application – Submit Files
Or can be mailed to:
Trinity Fiduciary Services, LLC
Attn: Colson Educational Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 4267
Salem, OR 97302
Questions may be directed to:
Trinity Fiduciary Services, LLC
of the Margie & Hugh Colson Educational Scholarship Trust
cdaniels@trinityfiduciaryservices.com
503-410-7461