Who is eligible for a MHCC Foundation Scholarship?

Any new or continuing student who plans to attend MHCC in 2023-24 is eligible to apply, including undocumented/DACA students. Most scholarships require at least part-time enrollment (6+ credits per term) and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Please note, beginning in 2022-23, MHCC employees and their dependents who receive full tuition waiver benefits are no longer eligible for Foundation scholarships.

Essay Questions

The majority of your application score will be based on your responses to four essay questions. Each essay is limited to 200 words (about 1-2 paragraphs).

• What are your specific education plans and career goals and why? What inspires you to achieve them?
• What have you done for your family or community that you care about the most and why?
• Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it.
• Describe a significant change or event that has occurred in your life? How did you respond and what did you learn about yourself?

Essay Tips

• Have someone else review your essays. The MHCC AVID Writing Center can help!
• Reuse your essays for other scholarship applications. The MHCC scholarship essay questions match the essay questions on the OSAC scholarship application. For more information about the $10 million in scholarships available through OSAC, visit oregonstudentaid.gov/scholarships.aspx
• Click to download examples of winning scholarship essays. https://www.mhcc.edu/2020-21-Scholarship-Essay-Examples

Transcripts

• If you are new to MHCC, you must upload an unofficial transcript from the last school you attended (high school or college).
• Returning students who have completed at least one graded class at MHCC do NOT need to upload a transcript.
• GED graduates should upload a copy of their GED transcript if they are new to MHCC and do not have a high school or college transcript.

FAFSA or ORSAA

• Some MHCC scholarships require recipients to demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon State Aid Application (ORSAA).
• Completing FAFSA or ORSAA is not required, but applicants are encouraged to complete one of these applications if possible. Including your FAFSA or ORSAA information may increase the number of scholarships you qualify for.
• If you completed the FAFSA, log in to fafsa.gov and visit the “My FAFSA” page; then select “View or Print your Student Aid Report (SAR)” to download a PDF of your SAR. If you completed the ORSAA, log in to your ORSAA account and download a PDF of your completed ORSAA application.

What can MHCC scholarship funds be used for?

MHCC Foundation Scholarships can only be used at Mt. Hood Community College. Some scholarships can only be used for tuition and fees, while others may be used for all costs of attending college – including tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, etc. Details of each scholarship will be included in the offer letters to scholarship recipients.