Early Award Scholarships

Current News 

New requirements to earn the savings match

We know that many Early Award Scholarship participant families save by making a deposit in their child’s CollegeChoice 529 account. The Community Foundation encourages savings by offering a $50 savings match for deposits totaling at least $20 each semester of 2023-2024. Unlike in prior years, you need to tell us each semester if you have made a deposit during the semester in your child’s CollegeChoice 529 account. Here’s how to share deposit activity with the Community Foundation:

   -  As you save, send a screenshot of the Financial Confirmation screen to EarlyAward@cfwabash.org.

   -  If you already made a deposit, call the Community Foundation, and we will walk you through how to share your past savings activity.

In order to receive the $20 savings match for semester 1 of 2023-2024, please share deposit activity by 12/22/23. The same procedure applies for earning the savings match in second semester.

Calling all high school graduates
  • After you enroll at a qualifying post-secondary school, you may present an official tuition bill to the Community Foundation and request a grant from your Early Award Scholarship Fund. Click here for instructions on how to submit a request. If you need help logging in, call us at 260-982-4824 or email EarlyAward@cfwabash.org.

Congratulations, students! 

Wabash County students in the Early Award Scholarship Program were honored at a series of high school basketball game halftimes for the scholarships they earned so far in the 2022-2023 school year. 

Resources 

 
 
Scholarships for Students 4-8th Grade

4th-8th Grade Students

The Early Award Scholarship Program provides financial awards for in-school achievements in math, reading, and language arts; for completion of college-preparation activities; and for deposits to students’ CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Accounts.

The scholarships and savings matches are deposited quarterly into each student’s Community Foundation Early Award Scholarship Fund. For maximum effect on the child’s identity and on their family’s expectations, achievements are recognized in the newspaper, on social media, and at school sporting events. Families receive a Progress Report and Scholarship Fund Statement each quarter showing the scholarships awarded to each student’s Early Award Scholarship Fund and the associated investment activity.

Participating Wabash County students can earn up to $1,000 in scholarships through completion of the Program in grades 4-8. Click here to see how each scholarship is earned at each grade level. Now in its 7th year, the Community Foundation has opened funds for more than 2,500 Wabash County students. The combined assets of these funds total more than $1 million.

High School Graduates

After graduating from high school and enrolling at a qualifying post-secondary education institution, students may present a tuition bill to the Community Foundation and request a grant from their Early Award Scholarship Fund directly to that school. Click here Instructions for requesting grant from EAS Fund for instructions on how to submit a request.

K-3 Children

From kindergarten through 3rd grade, children and families begin to think about the future and build educational assets through Wabash County Promise, a children’s savings account program operated by the Wabash County YMCA. Each fall, this program provides in-school career discovery activities and a campus field trip, and a $25 savings match challenge for students who enroll a Promise-linked CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Account. These experiences prepare students and families to participate in the Community Foundation’s Early Award Scholarships beginning in 4th grade. Note: The YMCA is pausing this program for the 2023-2024 school year. More information soon!

Enroll in Wabash County Promise & Participate in the Early Award Scholarship Program today!

Parents of children as young as kindergarten are encouraged to complete both steps 1 and 2 in advance of their eligibility to earn Early Award Scholarships in 4th grade.

Step 1

Step 2

Early Award Scholarship Program Video