Mason County Promise Zone Scholarship Application

Mason County Promise Zone
Please complete the application below so we can begin planning for enrollment and communicate with West Shore Community College on your behalf! For additional information or questions and terms about the Promise Scholarship, please contact our info@masoncountypromise.org.
Student Information
Applicants from Mason County who attend a Mason County-based high school and apply in their senior year will receive a free t-shirt if applying prior to March 1 of senior year.
School Information
Promise  Scholarship Path Description
1. Promise Community Scholarship (WSCC Focus)

This is a "last-dollar" scholarship designed for students starting their journey at West Shore Community College.

  • Tuition Coverage: Covers up to 72 credits at WSCC. This applies after all federal and state grant aid has been exhausted.
  • Expense Awards (Books/Supplies): Includes up to two additional awards for qualifying first- and second-year scholars.
  • Transfer Award: An optional, one-time award granted after successfully completing credits at WSCC. This can be used for full-time study at any Michigan-based institution that accepts federal financial aid.
  • Expiration: All funding must be used within six years of high school graduation.

2. Promise Statewide Scholarship (Class of 2027 and Beyond)
This path is intended for students attending any Michigan-based Title IV institution immediately after high school.

  • Award Amount: Up to $8,000 toward the total cost of attendance for the first year of full-time study.
  • Last-Dollar Basis: Applied after all other financial aid; the total cannot exceed the institution's cost of attendance.
  • Distribution: A one-time award for the first year. The institution may distribute these funds over multiple semesters within that first academic year.
  • Guest Eligibility: Statewide recipients may still qualify for Promise coverage as guest students at WSCC during summer semesters.
  • Deadlines & Requirements:
    • Funds must be distributed to the college listed first on both the student’s FAFSA and their Promise application.
    • Scholarship must be awarded within 15 months (two fall semesters) of high school graduation. If not accessed within this window, this scholarship option expires.
    • If expired, students remain eligible for Community Scholarship.
Key Restrictions
  • Exclusivity: Students who choose the Statewide Scholarship are ineligible for the Transfer Award associated with the Community Scholarship.
  • Institution Type: For both paths, the chosen college must be a Michigan-based institution that accepts federal financial aid (Title IV).
Promise Community Scholarship Description
What is Covered?

  • Tuition: Up to 72 credits at WSCC (applied after all federal and state grant aid).
  • Expense Awards: Up to two awards for qualifying first- and second-year scholars.
  • Transfer Award: An optional, one-time award granted after successfully completing credits at WSCC. This can be used for full-time study at any Michigan-based institution (excluding WSCC) that accepts federal financial aid.
Required Documentation

To access funds, students must provide the following:

  • FAFSA Completion: Proof of completion is required
  • College Selection: WSCC must be listed as the first-choice college on the FAFSA (this is updated later if using the Transfer Award)
  • FERPA Release: A signed release allowing WSCC to share academic data (GPA, credits, and aid) with the Promise program for state reporting.

Important Deadlines

This scholarship uses a rolling deadline. While the priority application is March 1 of your senior year, materials are accepted until the following dates:

  • Fall Semester: August 1
  • Winter Semester: December 1
  • Summer Semester: May 1

Restrictions

  • Exclusions: Recipients cannot use this in conjunction with the Statewide Scholarship.
  • Renewal: Scholars in good standing (2.0 overall GPA or higher in college) at WSCC must submit a renewal application for their scholarship prior to each year of attendance at WSCC (by August 1), and again, specifically, to access the one-time Transfer Award for another Michigan-based institution. Renewals to use the Transfer Award must be submitted at least ONE SEMESTER prior to use (ex: Submit by May 1 for fall semester, August 1 for winter semester)
  • Eligibility: Initial applications are accepted up to 5.5 years after high school graduation. All scholarship eligibility and funding expire exactly 6 years after graduation.
Promise  Statewide Scholarship Description
What is Covered?

  • Award Amount: Up to $8,000 toward the total cost of attendance for the first year of full-time study.
  • Last-Dollar Basis: Applied after all other financial aid; the total cannot exceed the institution's cost of attendance.
  • Distribution: A one-time award for the first year. The institution may distribute these funds over multiple semesters within that first academic year.
  • Guest Eligibility: Statewide recipients may still qualify for Promise coverage as guest students at WSCC during summer semesters.
Required Documentation

To access funds, students must confirm their college choice with the Promise and provide the following:
  • FAFSA Completion: Proof of completion is required
  • College Selection: School must be listed as the first-choice college on the FAFSA and Promise Zone Application
  • Copy of Financial Aid Award Letter
  • Student ID Number
  • FERPA Release: A signed release allowing the college to share academic data (GPA, credits, and aid) with the Promise program for state reporting.

Important Deadlines

This scholarship must be completed within the below time:

  • July 1st: Scholarship Application Completed

  • July 15th: All Required Documentation listed above submitted to Mason County Promise.

Restrictions
  • Exclusions: Recipients who receive the Statewide Scholarship are not eligible for a Promise Community Scholarship Transfer Award, in the event that they transfer back to WSCC. Part-time students are ineligible for this award.
  • No Renewal: The Statewide Scholarship does not allow for renewal, nor does it transfer. Any amount not distributed in the first academic year will be forfeited by the student.
  • Eligibility: Initial applications for the Statewide award are accepted until May 1st of senior year. Students who apply for the Statewide Scholarship have 15 months (two falls) to begin college after high school; any student who does not start college during that time will no longer be eligible for the Statewide Scholarship (Exceptions may be granted due to military service or special circumstances like major illness or family hardship via the Promise Appeals process). Students who miss this window of attendance can apply for the Promise Community Scholarship at WSCC if within 6 years of graduation.
Institution Information
Required Certifications
Confirmation Documentation
If you have any of these documents available, please upload.
If not, you can skip this and provide them later, via upload or email to info@masoncountypromise.org. 

1. PROOF OF FAFSA COMPLETION w/COLLEGE LISTED (see example below-emailed to students by State of MI)

FAFSA Communication Example
Confirmation Documentation
If you have any of these documents available, please upload.
If not, you can skip this and provide them later, via upload or email to info@masoncountypromise.org. 

1. PROOF OF FAFSA COMPLETION w/COLLEGE LISTED (see example below-emailed to students by State of MI)
2. COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE LETTER w/Student ID#
3. COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL AID AWARD NOTICE
4. PROOF OF ENROLLMENT (Schedule for fall/winter)
5. SIGNED COLLEGE FERPA RELEASE FORM
FAFSA Communication Example
Consent and Signature
FERPA Authorization & Electronic Release

Consent Terms and Electronic Release:

I hereby authorize any high school and postsecondary institution that I am enrolled in the Mason County Promise Zone Scholarship, through its agents and employees, to release any of my financial aid, attendance, demographic, and/or academic record information, in whole or in part, to my local Promise Zone Authority/Organization coordinator, or his/her designee, to facilitate the analysis of my scholarship eligibility and the subsequent educational and economic impact of this scholarship. 

As a recipient of a Promise Zone educational scholarship, that award information becomes part of my educational record. By consenting to receive any scholarship amount awarded t o me, I agree to allow the release of this information in my educational record to he third parties specified under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA, affords certain rights to students concerning the privacy of, and access to, their educational records. While this form authorizes my school, in conjunction with the local Promise Zone Authority/Organization, to release education records to third parties, it does not obligate either entity to do so. My school reserves the right to review and respond to requests for release of my educational record on a case-by case basis. For additional information, I can visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.
The Promise Zone Scholarship can have several positive impacts on postsecondary enrollment, persistence, degree attainment and overall success in college. To understand these impacts, I authorize my postsecondary academic record information, in whole or in part, to be released back to my local Promise Zone Authority/Organization coordinator, or his/her designee, in adherence to FERPA for analysis to inform and improve the Promise Zone Scholarship program.

I also authorize my local Promise Zone Authority/Organization to use information regarding my scholarship in promotion of the Promise Zone Scholarship. The Mason County Promise Zone, and its entities, may be authorized to use my portrait, picture, photograph, name, voice and/or image on videotape, audiotape or film, or any other reproduction of me and to distribute and/or exchange copies of these to promote the program and the public schools of Mason County. No compensation is offered in exchange for permission.

This release is authorized starting on the date of the electronic signature on this agreement and after scholarship receipt for statistical purposes. To rescind this Authorization, I understand that I must submit a written notification of rescission to my school. I will also notify my local Promise Zone Authority/Organization in writing of my decision to rescind my authorization. This rescission would result in the termination of my receipt of the scholarship.

My signature (or that of my parent/guardian if I am under the age of 18) electronically via date stamp indicates that I have read this Authorization to Release Educational Records form and that I authorize the release of educational records as described above
Release and Consent
Thank you for your application! Be sure to click "submit"!

Contact Information