Apply for Scholarships

1. Your cumulative GPA.
2. 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.
3. High school seniors only: a list of elective classes in your field of interest and college-level classes you have taken along with the grade you received.
4. A list of your extra-curricular school activities over the last four years.
5. A list of your community and/or faith-based activities over the last four years.
6. A list of the leadership positions you have held over the last four years.
7. Your 300 word 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?
8. 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.
9. The email address (work email address preferred) of a recommender. See Recommendation Process tab for more information.
10. The financial aid award letter (if available) from the top school you are considering and any other scholarship award notices.
11. 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 2025-26 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 www.studentaid.gov. SAI documentation should be uploaded with your application. It is due at the same time as your application, 5:00 p.m. (EST) on February 

One recommendation is required with the General Scholarship Application. It should come from someone familiar with your academic performance. If you are currently enrolled in college, your primary recommendation must come from an instructor in your major field of interest. If you fit one of the following descriptions, a second recommendation is encouraged. If you do not fit one of the following descriptions, a second recommendation will not be used during the selection process.

• Creative Artist. (visual arts, dance, drama or music). List your high school creative art teacher. Visual artists are encouraged to submit a portfolio containing 5-10 of their best pieces to stimmerman@cfhz.org by the application deadline.
• Swimmer. List your high school or club team swim coach.
• Soccer Player. List your high school or club team soccer coach.
• Golfer. List your high school varsity golf coach.
• Applicant with considerable* work or volunteer experience. List your work or volunteer supervisor. *Applicants who work 40 hours or more per week during the summer and at least ten hours per week during the school year qualify. Applicants who volunteer at least four hours per week year-round qualify.
• Caledonia High School, Hamilton High School, or Hudsonville High School graduating senior with plans to major in English or a related subject. List a high school English teacher.
• Saugatuck High School graduating senior/industrial arts student. List your high school industrial arts teacher.
• Saugatuck High School graduating senior/visual arts student. List your high school visual arts teacher.
• Zeeland East High School or Zeeland West High School graduating senior planning a degree/certification in a technical field or computer science. List a Careerline Tech Center teacher or high school teacher familiar with your technical ability.
• Zeeland East High School or Zeeland West High School graduating senior planning to pursue a degree in Education. List a high school staff member who is not a selection committee member. 2024 selection committee members are: Dawn Collins, Melissa Drnek, Travis Spaman, Jessica Knoth, Lindsay Jacob, Shawn Jacob, Brandi-Lyn Mendham, Tim Minnear, and Matt Stolz.

Recommendations will not be shared with you. Recommendations from your relatives and classmates are prohibited. Falsification of recommendations will result in your immediate disqualification from all Foundation scholarship competitions. 

Recommendations are due by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on February 14. 

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. The Foundation will contact award winners at the home address or email address provided and announce these winners at area high school award ceremonies.
4. Winners must complete an acceptance form as specified by the Foundation.

5. 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.