Belmont offers new area scholarship

High school graduates who live in the area surrounding Belmont University could benefit from a new Community Outreach Scholarship that will pay 50 percent of a neighborhood student's tuition for up to eight consecutive semesters.

That equals to an $8,180 scholarship for the 2005-2006 academic year, according to Belmont Vice President and University Counsel Jason Rogers, and ranks in Belmont's top 10 scholarships in terms of monetary value.

One scholarship will be awarded every other year beginning with the fall 2006 semester. Students can begin applying Sept. 1 to beat the Dec. 1 deadline.

"We are looking at folks who have academic qualifications that are at or above the university average and who have demonstrated financial need," Rogers said.

The average student at Belmont this fall had an ACT of 25, GPA of 3.5 and SAT score of 1160.

"We are also looking for students who have a commitment to community service demonstrated through activities on what we refer to as their leadership resume," Rogers said. "That will be an important factor here."

Geographic boundaries for the scholarship are Interstate 440 south of the university, I-65 to the east, 21st Avenue/Hillsboro Road to the west and the Broadway exit eastward toward I-65 to the north.

"I think this scholarship is a recognition by Belmont University of their unique link to the surrounding neighborhoods," said District 18 Councilmember Ginger Hausser, who represents the Belmont and Vanderbilt areas.

"Even the name recognizes an important link between the university and the community."

Belmont students currently serve their surrounding community with an ongoing tutorial program at Carter-Lawrence Elementary, a literacy program for immigrant children at Edgehill Library and a reading program at the Sevier Park Community Center.

"Our students are currently serving in neighborhood schools and I am very pleased that Belmont now has an even greater opportunity to connect to the community," Belmont University President Dr. Robert Fisher said.

Belmont nursing students are also working with immigrant families in the Edgehill community.

An application for admission will double as an application for the scholarship program. Preference will be given to persons graduating from public high schools, including magnet schools.

Applications can be secured online at Belmont.edu or by calling the Belmont Admissions Office at 460-6785.