Scholarships for High School Seniors with Disabilities

The William R. Rooney Award

The William R. Rooney Award provides awards and scholarships for high school seniors with disabilities. This award is named for William R. Rooney, a long-time educator and former Executive Secretary of The Horace Smith Fund, who advocated for financial assistance for students with special needs.

In general, disability scholarships exist to provide college funding for students who possess cognitive, behavioral or emotional impediments that may make it difficult to attain a degree. That’s why, each academic year, we provide one award to a graduating high school senior who is currently on and has been on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Accommodation Plan for a minimum of two years. To qualify, students must be a resident of Hampden County, Massachusetts, enrolled in an eligible high school and anticipate attending either a two- or four-year accredited college.

The applicant should demonstrate financial need, academic success and community service. Students who wish to apply for our grants for students with disabilities should complete the William R. Rooney Award application and submit a copy of their full current and signed IEP or 504 Plan, in addition to the other required documents.

Awards are granted in the amount of $3,000 per academic year, paid in $1,500 installments each semester, and carry a maximum value of $12,000. Awards are automatically renewed each year provided a minimum GPA of 3.0 is maintained.

Instructions

Listed below are instructions to apply for William R. Rooney Awards for high school seniors with disabilities. Completed application and required documents must be received in the Horace Smith Fund office no later than March 15.

Step 1: Official High School Transcript

You are responsible for having your official high school transcript mailed to:

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

Alternatively, you may request to have your school’s guidance department email your transcript directly to info@horacesmithfund.org.

Step 2: IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan

You are required to submit a current and signed copy of your IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan for your application to be considered complete. Please request your school counselor email this document to info@www.horacesmithfund.org or mail to:

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

Step 3: College Entrance Exams

College entrance exams are NOT required to apply for a William R. Rooney Award. However, if you have taken the SAT or ACT, please have your score report mailed to:

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

When requesting your SAT scores through the College Board, indicate you would like them to be sent to us by using our organization code 0017.

Step 4: Reference Forms

Three people, not relatives, should complete reference forms. At least two references should be from a high school counselor or the teacher in charge of your IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan and who is familiar with your ability and potential. Complete and submit the form online or download blank forms. If Mailing, PLEASE SEND ALL INFORMATION TO:

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

Step 5: CSS Profile

As of 2018, we no longer accept FAFSA applications as proof of financial need. You must complete the CSS Profile. When applying, please indicate you would like your financial information made available to our organization using code 0017. Any fee incurred to submit a CSS Profile will be reimbursed with proper proof of payment. Please email a copy of your payment receipt to info@horacesmithfund.org

Step 6: Application Form

Complete and submit the scholarship application online or download blank forms. DO NOT staple or permanently bind any of your application materials in any way. Completed application forms can be mailed to:

The Horace Smith Fund
Bismarck Place
16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K
Westfield, MA 01085

Step 1 of 6

Instructions for William R. Rooney Award Applicants ENTERING COLLEGE

1. Complete and submit the scholarship application online or download blank forms. DO NOT staple or permanently bind any of your application materials in any way. If Mailing, PLEASE SEND ALL INFORMATION TO THE HORACE SMITH FUND AT THIS ADDRESS:

THE HORACE SMITH FUND 16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2-K Westfield, MA 01085

2. Completed applications and all supporting documents must be received in The Horace Smith Fund office no later than March 15th. A current and signed copy of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Accommodation Plan must be included as part of the application.

3. The applicant is responsible for having an official high school transcript mailed to The Horace Smith Fund.

4. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board or the ACT and submit the scores to enhance their application. The College Board measures general verbal and quantitative reasoning with the SAT and measures achievement related to high school curricula with the ACT. When registering for the examination or when completing a College Board transcript request form, please ask the College Board to send the scores to us by indicating 0017 as the code number and “The Horace Smith Fund, 16 Union Avenue, Ste. 2K, Westfield, MA 01085” as one of the institutions to which a score request should be sent.

5. Three persons, not relatives, should complete reference forms for you. At least two references should be from a high school counselor and teacher in charge of your IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan and who are familiar with your ability and potential. Seek appropriate references from those who are willing to write about your accomplishments. Reference forms should be completed online or mailed by the person writing the reference to The Horace Smith Fund.

6. All applicants must complete the CSS Profile Application found at cssprofile.collegeboard.org. When applying, please indicate you would like your information made available to our organization code of 0017. CSS Profile fees will be reimbursed for students with completed scholarship applications. CSS Profile applications must be completed online by March 15th.

7. The “Personal Statement/Essay,” which is part of your application, is very important. The essay will help distinguish you from other outstanding applicants. Your essay should present who you are and who you hope to become as you pursue your education and career goals.

8. Awards made will be based on all available information, including school records, recommendations, and examination scores. Consideration will be given to both the merit and financial need of the applicant.

PERSONAL DATA

Name(Required)

First Middle Name or Initial Last

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Email(Required)

Telephone(Required)

Cell Phone

High School(Required)

Graduation Year(Required)

REFERENCES

List below the three persons, not relatives, whom you have asked to be your references.

At least two references should be from high school counselors or teachers, who are familiar with your ability and potential.

Name

First Last

Title

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Name

First Last

Title

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Name

First Last

Title

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Click Here to download the Reference Form. You are responsible for providing each recommender a paper copy of the form or the link to complete the Reference Form online. Reference forms must be completed online or mailed to The Horace Smith Fund.

Check this box to confirm you understand this step in the process.

PERSONAL APTITUDES AND INTERESTS

List offices or leadership roles you have held in school, student organizations or in the community.

List your school activities (e.g., sports, music, theater, journalism, community service, etc.)

List your activities outside of school (e.g., community service, volunteer activities, Scouts, church organizations, clubs, etc.)

Describe awards or prizes that you have received for achievement at school or in the community.

List any special training you have received (e.g., music, art, martial arts, dance, sports, etc.)

PERSONAL STATEMENT/ESSAY

Personal Essay(Required)

This is an important essay that will distinguish you from other highly competent applicants. Please provide your thoughtful response in the space provided below. Explain why you consider yourself a good applicant for the Walter S. Barr Scholarship. Include your most significant achievements, academic interests, subjects that you like best and the reasons that have led to your education and career goals.

STUDENT FINANCES

List your work experience, including summers(Required)

Employer

Dates of Employment

Type of Work

Earnings

Why no work

If you have no work experience, explain why:

Your total savings from all sources(Required)

Using the official cost estimates for your first college choice (see below), complete the following projections for the first year.

College Name(Required)

College Location(Required)

Your expenses(Required)

Tuition

Fees

Room & Board

Total Expenses(Required)

Your resources(Required)

From your savings

From parents and-or others

Summer earnings

College aid: Grants

College aid: Work-study

College aid: Loans

Total Resources(Required)

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

In order of preference, list the colleges for which you have applied(Required)

College

Date of Application

Accepted?

Signature of applicant(Required)

Hidden

Date(Required)

For High School Seniors with Special Needs

The William R. Rooney Award

Instructions

Step 1: Official High School Transcript

Step 2: IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan

Step 3: College Entrance Exams

Step 4: Reference Forms

Step 5: CSS Profile

Step 6: Application Form

PERSONAL DATA

REFERENCES

PERSONAL APTITUDES AND INTERESTS

PERSONAL STATEMENT/ESSAY

STUDENT FINANCES

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Contact

News

Give