The J.L. Bedsole Scholars Program Online Application
(Please read carefully. Link is provided at the bottom of the page)

The Selection Process

Grants under this program are awarded in an objective and non-discriminatory manner, without regard to any grantee’s gender, race, creed, color or religious preference.

Selection Criteria: Selection of J.L. Bedsole Scholars is based on several factors, with special emphasis on character and leadership potential. These qualities are demonstrated in a variety of ways including:

Leadership in School	Academic Achievement	Motivation to Serve the Community
Civic and Extracurricular Activities	Motivation to Succeed in All Endeavors	Work Experience

The J.L. Bedsole Scholars Program selection process takes place in three phases:

Phase I:	Candidate Eligibility Phase During this phase, a candidate’s basic eligibility is determined.  Eligibility  is based on academics, finances, and residency. The deadline for completing Phase I material online is November 30! All mail-in material should be postmarked no later than December 7! The sooner an eligible applicant completes all Phase I requirements, the sooner he or she can begin Phase II. Academic Eligibility: A minimum un-weighted GPA of 2.5 is needed by the end of the junior year of high school  & minimum ACT composite score of 21. A high school transcript mailed to The J.L. Bedsole Foundation office should be postmarked no later than December 7! Financial Eligibility: Expected Family Contribution (EFC) may not exceed $10,000.00*  A completed Financial Worksheet (PDF download) as well as a copy of both pages of their parent's 2022 1040 form along with their W2 forms.  Itemized and state paperwork is not necessary.  This information will be used to determine an estimate of the student's EFC (Estimated Family Contribution).  This material should be postmarked no later than December 7! Students must file their FAFSA in December to determine their eligibility.    Residency: The applicant must live in either Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, or Monroe County; the applicant must also attend school in one of these counties or attend Sweet Water High School in Marengo County.  ASMS students must be from the 5 mentioned counties and their parents must reside there.  Nepotism: Applicant can not be related to any person who is an officer, director or trustee of The J. L. Bedsole Foundation, The J. L. Bedsole Scholars Program or the Distribution Committee or Selection Committee of either. Applicants meeting each of these requirements will be invited to proceed to the Scholarship Application Process.
Phase II:	Semi-finalist Scholarship Application Phase During this phase, candidates must complete the online application material by the deadline of January 31, 2024!  No other online submissions will be taken after this date. Phase II includes downloadable forms that must be completed and returned to The Scholars Program office by the postmark deadline of February 7, 2024. Mail-in submissions after this date will not be accepted. Completed secondary packets (both online submissions and downloadable forms) are then processed and scored.  The 70 highest-scoring finalists are invited to proceed to the next phase.
Phase III:	Interview Phase During interviews held in either March or April, the Selection Committee gives each applicant an interview and leadership score.  Once these scores are processed, ranking is then re-determined.  At this point, financial need must be demonstrated.  All finalists must apply for financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and request the results to be forwarded to the chosen college or university of attendance.  If the EFC* exceeds $10,000 or if there is no unmet need, the finalist is no longer eligible for a J.L. Bedsole Scholarship. If the EFC* is $10,000 or less, AND if there is unmet need of at least $1,000 then an award will be made to those finalists in the qualifying range. Up to 35 scholarships will be awarded to the top ranking finalists after unmet need and EFC are verified.

Apply Online Now! Sign-up for your account and begin Phase One!

* The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount of money that the student’s family is expected to contribute toward his or her education.  This amount is computed by the federal government and is NOT funded by the J.L. Bedsole Scholars Program.