$2,000 ROCKET RECOGNITION
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the Rocket Recognition Scholarship. These requirements are designed to reward students who have fostered recognition, engagement, and school spirit in meaningful ways:

• ‍Student Status: Open to current undergraduate college students (freshman through senior year) in good standing. Applicants should be enrolled full-time at an accredited college during the application year. Applicants must be continuing their undergraduate studies in the upcoming academic year. 
• ‍Academic Achievement: Students must have a solid academic record, generally indicated by a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a  4.0 scale (or equivalent). An unofficial transcript or report card may be required to verify academic performance. While academics is not the sole focus of this scholarship, maintaining good grades demonstrates responsibility and balance. 
• ‍Leadership & Involvement: Applicants should have a proven record of leadership or active involvement in their school or community. This includes holding leadership positions or key roles in activities that promote school spirit, recognition of others, or student engagement. Examples include: student government or council, club or organization leadership, team captaincies, event committee chair, or founding a school tradition or program. 
• ‍Promotion of Recognition and School Spirit: Candidates must demonstrate how they have fostered recognition and school spirit in their community. This could be through initiatives like organizing appreciation events (for students, teachers, or staff), launching peer recognition programs, leading pep rallies or spirit weeks, contributing to school pride campaigns, or any project that encourages students to support and celebrate one another. The scholarship specifically seeks students who have made an effort to make everyone feel valued and included. 
• ‍Community Engagement and Service: A strong applicant is one who not only uplifts their school campus but also engages with the broader community. Participation in community service, volunteer projects, or partnerships that connect the school with the community (such as charity drives, mentorship programs, or alumni outreach) is a plus. 
• ‍Character and Integrity: All applicants are expected to be students in good standing with no disciplinary issues. They should exemplify the values of respect, inclusivity, and integrity. The way a student conducts themselves - treating others with respect, being a team player, and demonstrating school spirit in everyday actions - will be taken into account.

‍Note: The Rocket Recognition Scholarship welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. There are no restrictions on citizenship, gender, race, or field of study – Rocket is committed to equal opportunity and celebrating diversity. What matters most is the student’s impact on their school culture and how well they meet the criteria above.

Applying for the Rocket Recognition Scholarship is a straightforward online process. To ensure your application is complete and receives full consideration, follow these steps carefully:

1. Complete the Online Application Form: Visit the official Rocket Recognition Scholarship page on Rocket’s website and fill out the online application form. You will need to provide basic personal information (name, contact details, age), academic information (school name, current grade/year, GPA), and details about your eligibility (such as a brief description of how you meet the leadership and engagement criteria). Make sure all information is accurate. The form will also ask some preliminary questions or checkboxes to confirm you meet the basic eligibility requirements (e.g., enrollment status, GPA, etc.).

2. Prepare Required Documents: Before starting the application, gather and prepare the following documents (in digital format):

• Resume: A concise resume (1-2 pages) that outlines your educational background, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, honors/awards, and any community service or volunteer work. Highlight experiences that relate to recognition, engagement, or school spirit (for instance, “Organized Annual Teacher Appreciation Event, 2023” or “Captain of cheerleading team, promoting sportsmanship and school pride”).
• Academic Transcript: Prepare a copy of your most recent academic transcript. An unofficial transcript issued by your school (or a screenshot of your online grade portal, if it clearly shows your name, school, and grades) is sufficient for the initial application. If you are selected as a finalist, we may request an official transcript for verification. The transcript is used to confirm your GPA and enrollment and to see your course load (not to judge you by specific classes).
• Optional Materials (if applicable): If you have any certificates, news articles, or photos evidencing your school spirit activities (for example, a certificate of appreciation you received for an event you organized, or a local newspaper clip about a pep rally you led), you can include one or two of these as supplemental material. This is optional – only include if you think it strongly supports your application. All supplemental files should be in PDF or image format. Remember, your essay and recommendation carry more weight than supplemental materials.

3. Submit Your Application: Once you have filled out the form and have your documents ready, upload all the required files in the designated sections of the online application portal. Before clicking submit, double-check that each part of the application is complete and that your documents are correctly uploaded (and legible). After submission, you should see a confirmation screen and receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. Save this email as proof of submission. If you do not receive a confirmation email, check your spam folder and then contact the scholarship administrator (contact info is provided on the scholarship page) to ensure your application was received.

Deadline Awareness: All application materials must be submitted no later than the deadline. As noted in the rules, late applications won’t be considered. We recommend submitting a few days before the deadline, if possible, to account for any technical glitches or last-minute issues. Once the deadline passes, the application portal will close. Mark the deadline on your calendar and don’t wait until the last minute.

‍Application Review Timeline: After the application period closes, the Rocket Scholarship Committee will begin reviewing all submissions. The review process typically takes about 2-4 weeks. During this time, the committee will read essays, evaluate qualifications, and possibly reach out to recommenders or schools for verification. If additional information is needed from you, we will contact you by email during this review period. Tip: Monitor your email (including spam folder) in case we reach out with any questions or clarifications.

‍Finalist Interviews (if applicable): In some cases, the committee may select a short list of finalists and schedule brief interviews or Q&A sessions (conducted via video call or phone). If this step is part of the process, finalists will be notified of their selection and given instructions for scheduling an interview. The interview is an opportunity for the committee to get to know you beyond the application – for example, to discuss your essay or hear more about your vision for improving school culture. Not every year will necessarily include interviews; if the committee feels they have enough information, they may proceed without them.

‍Selection & Notification: Once the review process is complete, the committee will choose the scholarship recipient (and alternates or honorable mentions, if applicable). All applicants will be notified of the outcome via email by the announced decision date. The winner will receive a congratulatory email/phone call (make sure your contact info is current!) with instructions on next steps to receive the award (see Scholarship Award & Fund Distribution below). Applicants who did not win will also receive a polite notification email. We understand the effort you put into the application, so we make it a point to close the loop with all candidates.

Key Dates:

• Application Deadline: Continuesly open
• Winner Announcement: Annually in March
• Award Disbursement: April
  

By following the above process and submitting all required materials on time, you will ensure that your application is given full consideration. If you have questions at any stage, refer to the FAQ on the scholarship page or reach out to the contact provided. We are here to help you put your best foot forward!

Our scholarship committee will review applications based on:

• Impact – How effectively the applicant has improved recognition at their institution.
• Innovation – Use of creative or digital strategies to foster community engagement.
• Leadership – Demonstrated ability to inspire and mobilize others.
• Clarity & Passion – Strength and quality of the essay submission.

The two winners will be featured on Rocket’s website and social media, showcasing their achievements and inspiring others to elevate recognition in their communities.