The Dorothy Barber Welcome Home Scholarship
Are you thinking about moving to Dickinson County? Have you had your college degree for more than 3 years? Do you still have student debt? BEFORE YOU MOVE, consider applying for the Dorothy Barber Welcome Home Scholarship. You could qualify for up to $10,000 in student loan repayment assistance through the Community Foundation of Dickinson County. This competitive process has an open, rolling deadline. The Dorothy Barber Welcome Home Scholarship is limited to one scholarship awardee per family.
Criteria, Governance, and Expectations:
- Eligible applicants cannot already live within Dickinson County.
- Eligible applicants will have graduated college within the last ten years and have student debt. (Proof of debt must be provided.)
- All funds will be paid directly to the financial institution, not personally to the recipient.
- Award recipients will be expected to live and work in Dickinson County to be eligible for funding.
- Length of stay: There is no mandatory length of stay; however, if an award recipient moves out of the county during the award program cycle, they would forfeit all future award monies not yet paid.
- Award recipients will secure a residence within Dickinson County and obtain a job or create their own business within 120 days of the award announcement.
- $5,000 will be paid upon proof of employment, or you can demonstrate your entrepreneurial ability to create your own company and/or be successfully self-employed within Dickinson County and proof of residence. An additional $5,000 award can be paid upon verification that you have maintained a residence and employment in DK County for two years after the initial award.
In addition to the Dorothy Barber Welcome Home Scholarship, Dickinson County is now recognized as a Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ), which means further funding is possible. Though their qualifications differ from those of the Welcome Home Scholarship, there are areas of compatibility. Click the link below to find out more information about ROZ, or call Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (785.200.3518) for additional information.
https://www.dkedc.com/business/local-incentives/p/item/2063/kansas-rural-opportunity-zone-roz
The remainder of the scholarship applications through the Community Foundation of Dickinson County will open on December 20th, 2024