Steve Rudman Opportunity Scholarship
Steve Rudman Opportunity Scholarship Application
April 30th by 4:30 p.m.
Scholarship Information
- The scholarship is for study at any accredited post-secondary institution, including two and four year colleges and universities and vocational and technical schools.
- The scholarship is for persons between 17 and 24 who will be full-time students entering or already enrolled in a post-secondary education program.
- Final award is contingent on admission and paid to the school directly for a post-secondary education program for the school year starting in September 2025.
Application Requirements
- Your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must be enrolled in or have graduated from Home Forward’s GOALS program. In addition, they must currently reside in a Home Forward residence or a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) participant in good standing.
- If you are the head of household, are age 17-24 and meet the qualifications above, you also may apply.
- If you are in high school, you must be in your senior year and have a 3.0 grade point average. If you are already in a post-secondary education program, you must have a 2.75 grade point average as applicable.
- If you did not graduate from high school, you must have completed a GED program.
- You must write an essay about your educational goals and provide two community or school references.
APPLICATIONS DUE: April 30th
Application Process
| April 30th, 2025 | Applications are due 04/30 by 4:30pm p.m. to Shaun Cox at shaun.cox@homeforward.org or Home Forward, 135 SW Ash St., Portland, OR 97204 |
| May 05 to May 09, 2025 | Selection Committee reviews applications and chooses recipients. |
| May 15, 2025 | Scholarship recipients notified. |
recommendation letter template
Please download this recommendation letter template before submitting your scholarship application. Ensure your recommendation letter follows this structure and includes your information before uploading.
Applicant Profile Information
This form is not yet available.
Fact and Tip Sheet
Scholarship Details
- Youth between 17-24 may apply if their family participates in or has graduated from the agency’s GOALS self-sufficiency program and is in good standing with Home Forward.
- The $2,500 award is for the school year or term that begins in September 2025.
- The recipient may renew the scholarship for a second year for up to the same amount, if eligibility requirements are maintained.
- The scholarship can be used for post-secondary education at accredited two- and four-year colleges and universities and trade and vocational schools.
- Home Forward staff are not eligible for the scholarship.
Selection Process
- The recipient will be chosen by a committee comprised of Steve Rudman, a post-secondary academic leader, two Home Forward commissioners, and the Home Forward staff person responsible for education initiatives.
- The committee will consider academic achievement, leadership, participation in activities helpful to others, and post-secondary education goals.
Tips
1. After submitting all the pieces of your application, check in with Home Forward to make sure that all of your documents have arrived. Contact Shaun Cox at shaun.cox@homeforward.org.
2. If you complete your application online, do not forget to attach 2 recommendation letters and school transcripts.
3. Ask for your transcripts right away. It can take some schools a month to be able to get your transcripts in the mail, so give yourself plenty of time.
4. Utilize your family’s GOALS case manager for support as needed.
5. If your GPA is lower than the criteria threshold (3.0 for high school students and 2.75 for college students), you can obtain a letter from a school counselor or your GOALS coordinator explaining why your application should be considered.
