Selection & Scoring

A Fair, Transparent, and Ethical Evaluation Process

The Give Hope Fund uses a two-phase, rubric-based selection process designed to ensure fairness, consistency, and integrity in awarding scholarships.
All applications are evaluated by multiple members of the AACC Education Committee following our formal Code of Ethics, including confidentiality, impartiality, and conflict-of-interest rules.

1. Overview of the Selection Process

Scholarship selection happens in two phases:

Phase 1

Application Review (Up to 100 Points)

Each eligible application is reviewed and scored independently by multiple committee members using a standardized rubric.
Scores are then averaged to create the applicant’s Phase 1 score.

Phase 2

Interview (Up to 20 Points)

A group of top-scoring applicants from Phase 1 may be invited to a brief interview.
The interview helps assess leadership, communication, personal goals, and alignment with the mission of the Give Hope Fund.
Total Possible Score: 120 Points
Applicants with the highest overall scores—based on available funding—are selected for awards.

2. Rubric Categories & Scoring Breakdown

Each application is rated across several criteria that help the committee fairly evaluate the student’s academic readiness, personal strengths, community engagement, and financial need.

Rubric Categories

(Phase 1 — 100 Points)

Academic Performance (0–20 Points)
Evaluates GPA, course rigor, academic improvement, and consistency of effort.
Extracurricular Activities & Leadership (0–15 Points)
Considers school clubs, volunteering, leadership roles, and personal initiative.
Financial Need (0–25 Points)
Assesses documented financial need using FAFSA, aid letters, or other official documentation.
Personal Essay (0–20 Points)
Scores clarity, authenticity, writing quality, goals, and alignment with the mission of the Give Hope Fund.
Recommendation Letters (0–10 Points)
Evaluates insight from academic and community references.
Community Engagement & Service (0–10 Points)
Considers participation in community service or contributions to the local community.

Interview

(Phase 2 — 20 Points)

Applicants selected for interviews are evaluated on:

Communication skills.
Clarity of educational and career goals.
Professionalism.
Commitment to community service.
Motivation and readiness.
Alignment with the mission of the Give Hope Fund.

Interview scores are added to the Phase 1 score to determine the final ranking.

3. How Decisions Are Made

Each application is read and scored by several committee members.
Final scores reflect the average of all reviewers for accuracy and fairness.

The Education Committee determines:

How many applicants advance to interviews.
How many awards are given each year.
Award amounts

This varies based on annual donations and available funding.

If a reviewer knows an applicant personally, they must recuse themselves from scoring or discussing that application.

Donors, sponsors, and external partners have no involvement in reviewing, scoring, or selecting recipients.

4. Prioritization & Returning Applicants

Returning recipients may receive priority consideration if they:

Priority does not guarantee renewal; all returning students must reapply each year.

5. Integrity, Confidentiality & Ethics

The selection process follows the Give Hope Fund’s Code of Ethics, which ensures:

All materials are securely stored on Google Workspace with limited committee access.

6. Final Decisions

Award decisions are made by a majority vote of the AACC Education Committee based on:

All decisions are final.

A Fair Chance for Every Student

The Give Hope Fund is committed to awarding scholarships based on merit, need, and potential, using a process that is structured, ethical, and transparent.
We aim to support students who demonstrate academic promise, financial need, and a desire to contribute to their communities.