The purpose of these guidelines is to assure the administration of the NAMCAL scholarship program as transparently as possible, to provide information to applicants about the application and selection process, qualifying criteria, and expectation of scholarship recipients.

Nature and Scope of the Scholarship
The scholarship program will be an academic performance-based, and it will be limited to sponsorship at Tubman University, at least for now. The rationale being a) to encourage higher education, and to serve as a supporting partner of the university b) the process of selection of candidates will be much easier.

Qualifying Criteria
Applicants for scholarship must be a Marylander, must have a letter of acceptance as a full-time student (not remedial), and must have a minimum grade point of B (3.0) from high school, or if already a student at the university. Applicants must meet other requirements outlined in the application and selection process, must pursue studies in Nursing, Public Health, or Engineering. It is an expectation that scholarship recipients maintain a minimum cumulative grade point of 3.0 and may be required to participate in a community service in Maryland, organized by TU or requested by NAMCAL.

Scope of the scholarship
The scholarship will cover 100% of tuition, fee, and room & board. Each scholarship recipient will be sponsored through graduation, provided the recipient continues to meet the requirements.

Selection Process
To assure transparency as much as possible and for ease of convenience, application process and submission of required documents will be done electronically through NAMCAL website. Scholarship applicants will be required to do an essay as part of the screening and selection process. The scholarship committee will select the most qualified applicants for sponsorship. Selected applicants and Tubman University will be notified.

Scholarship Award
Each of the four districts in Maryland will have one slot for a scholarship. If no student from the district meets the requirements for scholarship award at the time of recruitment, or if a recipient drops for whatever reason, the slot for that district will remain opened until it is filled.

Changes to the Program
The scholarship committee may review the program on a regular basis and may make changes or additions, depending on NAMCAL financial capacity and other priorities, and any other unforeseen circumstance. Changes to the program may include, but not limited to, the extent of sponsorship, changes to field of studies, qualifying and grade point requirements, and cancellation of sponsorship or discontinuation of the program. The committee can make any change to the program without prior consultation with scholarship recipients, but that recipients will be notified in a timely manner of any change that may affect them.

REQUIREMENTS & ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS

Write a one-page essay (500 words or less), discussing one of the following 4 topics listed below:

•  Describe someone you would consider your role model (e.g. Parent, Teacher or public figure). Why did you choose that person?
•  Describe the problem or needs of a society you want to address when you enter public service after graduation.
•  In what ways will an education at Tubman University help you accomplish your goals in life?
•  Why should I be considered for the NAMCAL, U.S.A. Academic Scholarship?

REFERENCES (Click on link to see instructions for completing and submitting references)

All applicants are required to submit three (3) letters of recommendation. A reference can be a teacher, school administrator, minister, employer, community leader, etc. Please note that one letter of recommendation must come from a teacher or academic administrator.
Letters of recommendation are to be addressed to the NAMCAL, USA Scholarship Committee and submitted separately via email by individual references, prior to the deadline, to the following email: admin@namcal.org (System should generate email responses to acknowledge receipts from references) Include:

•  Name, address and phone number of reference
•  Title
•  Relationship to applicant
•  How long reference has known applicant
•  Information why applicant should receive the scholarship award

CHECKLIST

•  Completed online scholarship application. (Online Scholarship Application)

•  In a separate email, attache the following:
-  Copy of valid photo ID.
-  Official letter of acceptance as a full-time student from Tubman University

•  Three (3) letters of recommendation submitted separately via email by individual references to admin@namcal.org

•  Official transcript directly from the school you have attended, or are attending.Copy emailed to admin@namcal.org

All applicants are required to submit a completed, signed and dated application and all supporting documents prior to the deadline. Missing any of the required items will result in an incomplete application and will not be considered for selection.