Apply for Scholarships
Instructions and links to our scholarship applications are available below.
Most students will use our Universal Scholarship Application to apply. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 1.
*A few of our scholarships have separate applications and due dates (see below).
*PLEASE NOTE*
All applicants (new and returning) will need to create a new account. We are using a new software to host and process the universal scholarship application.
Apply For
Scholarships
The Univeral Scholarship Application becomes available on December 1 and is due at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 1. References are emailed our digital recommendation form which is due at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 10. The Foundation’s digital forms must be used; no other electronic or paper submissions are accepted.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to learn about additional opportunities including our employer-related scholarships. Some of these scholarships require a separate application and have unique due dates
Applying for
Scholarships
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Your cumulative GPA.
- If you attend Black River High School, Hamilton High School, Holland High School, Holland Christian High School, West Ottawa High School, or one of the Zeeland high schools, CFHZ will contact your school’s counseling department for your transcript. If you attend any other high school or are a current college student or adult returning to school, you will need to upload your most recent academic transcript in pdf, doc, or docx format. If you are a college student, your college transcript is required.
- High school seniors only: a list college-level classes you have taken along with the grade you received.
- A list of your extra-curricular school activities over the last four years.
- A list of your community and/or faith-based activities over the last four years.
- A list of the leadership positions you have held over the last four years.
- Your 1700 character or less answer to our standard essay question: What are your future goals and how have your high school, college, or personal experiences shaped these goals?
- If applicable, additional essays or short answers. Click on the Browse Scholarships button above to see a list of scholarships with their eligibility requirements including additional essay and short answer prompts.
- The email address (work email address preferred) of a reference. See Recommendation Process tab for more information.
- The financial aid award letter (if available) from the top school you are considering and any other scholarship award notices.
- Documentation of your Student Aid Index (SAI) amount. Applicants who opt not to provide their SAI documentation will have fewer scholarship opportunities because financial need is a requirement with most Foundation scholarships. After your 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is processed successfully, your SAI will be available on your FAFSA Submission Summary. To locate your FAFSA Submission Summary, access your Federal Student Aid account at studentaid.gov. SAI documentation must be uploaded with your application. It is due at the same time as your application, 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 1.
- You will be prompted to invite a primary reference to submit a recommendation form on your behalf. Your primary reference must be someone familiar with your classroom performance such as a teacher, professor, school counselor, academic advisor, tutor, or college advisor.
- If you are eligible to be considered for certain scholarship opportunities, you will be prompted to invite additional references to recommend you.
- Recommendation forms from references are due at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 10.
- References may not be relatives nor classmates. Falsification of recommendations will result in your immediate disqualification from all Foundation scholarship competitions.
- Immediate family members of scholarship selection committee members are not eligible to receive grants from a Section 4966 scholarship fund. An immediate family member is defined as a parent; sibling; child by blood, adoption, or marriage; spouse; grandparent or grandchild.
- The transcript information you provide regarding your GPA, rank, and classes will be verified with your school. Falsification of information shall result in your disqualification from scholarship consideration.
- The Foundation will contact award winners at the home address or email address provided and announce these winners at area high school award ceremonies.
- Winners must complete an acceptance form as specified by the Foundation.
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Scholarships are intended for use starting in the fall semester of the year during which they are announced. Scholarship acceptance may be delayed until December 31 with notification to the Foundation prior to the commencement of the fall semester. Unaccepted scholarships shall be forfeited after the December 31 deadline except as approved by the Foundation. Students participating in early college programs must wait to apply until they are graduating from early college. Students taking a gap year must wait to apply until the year during which they will enter college.
Apply For
Employer-Related and Other Scholarships
Use the General CFHZ Scholarship Application (due at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 1) to apply for these scholarships:
The Global Concepts Enterprise, Inc. Founders’ Scholarship is for the children of Global Concepts Enterprise, Inc. employees.
The J. Russel and Julia Bouws Scholarship is for Russ’ Restaurant employees or the children, grandchildren, or spouses of Russ’ Restaurant employees.
The Integrated Fabric Resources, Inc. Employees’ Scholarship is for the children of IFR, Inc. employees.
The Karen and Larry Mulder Scholarship is for the children of ODL, Inc. employees. Applicants who permanently reside in Michigan are encouraged to apply using the General CFHZ Scholarship Application. Applicants who permanently reside outside of Michigan are encouraged to contact stimmerman@cfhz.org for an application link.
The Lillian Mulder Dalman Scholarship for Resthaven Employees is for Resthaven employees or their children.
The following scholarships have separate applications and unique due dates:
The Campus Ministry Scholarship is for current of former Grand Valley State University Campus Ministry staff members, student interns, or student leaders who are enrolling at any Protestant seminary. Click HERE to apply.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 104 Police Academy Scholarship is for residents of Michigan, particularly those living in the Holland/Zeeland area, who are accepted and enrolling in any state certified police academy. Applications are due on April 1 for summer sessions. If you are enrolling in a summer session, click HERE for an application.
The Jayne Britt Parish Nurse Scholarship is for nurses committed to a church-based ministry in Ottawa or Allegan County and interested in taking a parish nurse preparation course, wishing to become certified as a parish nurse, or to any individual involved in health ministry and interested in a professional development opportunity. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Click HERE for an application.
The Freedom Village Residents’ Scholarship is for student employees at Freedom Village. Contact Gwen Bartels at Freedom Village for details.
Click HERE to visit Haworth’s website to learn more about Haworth scholarship opportunities.
The Angie Kammeraad Nursing Scholarship is for Holland Hospital and Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital nurses continuing their education to increase their skills in areas of nursing administration, education, public health, and clinical specialties. Interested nurses should contact their hospital’s human resources office for details.
