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Who can apply?
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Full time and part time employees of the Governors Club or their dependents can apply. An employee must have worked for the Governor's Club for nine or more months. Part time employees must work or be available to work an average of 20 hours per week. Contract employees and the GC Chief Operating Officer are not eligible.
Applicants must be graduates from an accredited high school or have a GED, unless the certification they wish to attain is a GED. They also must have been accepted for admission at their institution and plan to register for eligible courses. No funds can be distributed until acceptance is verified in writing by the applicant’s institution. As an exception, reimbursement for admission tests or application fees is NOT contingent on acceptance.
Applicants must be graduates from an accredited high school or have a GED, unless the certification they wish to attain is a GED. They also must have been accepted for admission at their institution and plan to register for eligible courses. No funds can be distributed until acceptance is verified in writing by the applicant’s institution. As an exception, reimbursement for admission tests or application fees is NOT contingent on acceptance.
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What programs are available?
Eligible programs include those that will further the applicant’s education or training; including, but not limited to, a university, college, or technical school; a General Equivalency Degree (GED); English as a Second Language (ESL) program; and individual courses providing the applicant with additional knowledge or expertise in a chosen field or career path, including technical and skilled work. Only qualified, accredited institutions will be eligible in the application process for scholarship funds. The funds must be used for tuition and related expenses (i.e., fees, books, supplies, room/board and equipment required for courses at the educational institution).
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What are the dollar amounts and durations available?
The Step Forward Scholarships typically range in size from $500 to $7,000 per year. Recipients are encouraged to reapply for as long as they are eligible. A new application must be submitted each year (this is a short sub-section on the main application form).
Another type of scholarship available is called the “Governors Scholarship,” which provides an award of $12,000. For 2025, the Scholarship Committee will automatically consider all applicants who submitted Step Forward applications by May 1st for the $12,000 “Governors Scholarship.” Because of this, an applicant has the potential to receive up to $12,000 for a given educational enrollment period. The selection criteria will be the same as for a base Step Forward Scholarship. If a previous recipient reapplies for a Step Forward Scholarship, he/she again will automatically be considered for the Governors $12,000 scholarship, although renewal is not necessarily guaranteed. Please note that a Governors Scholarship recipient may NOT receive more than two Governors Scholarship awards during their continuous educational enrollment periods.
Another type of scholarship available is called the “Governors Scholarship,” which provides an award of $12,000. For 2025, the Scholarship Committee will automatically consider all applicants who submitted Step Forward applications by May 1st for the $12,000 “Governors Scholarship.” Because of this, an applicant has the potential to receive up to $12,000 for a given educational enrollment period. The selection criteria will be the same as for a base Step Forward Scholarship. If a previous recipient reapplies for a Step Forward Scholarship, he/she again will automatically be considered for the Governors $12,000 scholarship, although renewal is not necessarily guaranteed. Please note that a Governors Scholarship recipient may NOT receive more than two Governors Scholarship awards during their continuous educational enrollment periods.
How do I apply?
6Fill out a scholarship application for a degree program or individual courses, including GED, ESL, and certification courses.
You will need the latest free version of Adobe Acrobat DC to fill out the form on your device. Download the pdf application form here: Step Forward Application. For helpful tips in filling out the pdf form, click here: how_to_fill_fields_in_a_pdf_document.pdf
If the application, reimbursement, or internship processes become difficult to understand or work through, please ask for "Mentoring Help" by emailing [email protected].
• The deadline for degree program applications for the Fall 2026 - Spring 2027 school year is May 01, 2026.
•The deadline for degree program applications for the spring semester and/or summer school of 2026 is November 01, 2025.
• Applications for specific courses that further the GC employee’s education/training will be handled on a case by case basis by the Scholarship Committee. These scholarships may be awarded at any time during the calendar year. With this application, an interview with the Scholarship Committee will be required, as well as an applicant photo at the time of the interview.
There are two ways to send in a completed application:
1) Preferred submission: attach a completed pdf application (see above for application link) to an e-mail and send to [email protected].
2) Place the printed pdf application in an envelope labeled “Step Forward Scholarship Committee” and drop it in the Members Box near the Governors Club Reception Area—main floor.
If the application, reimbursement, or internship process becomes difficult to work through, please ask for "Mentoring Help" by emailing [email protected].
You will need the latest free version of Adobe Acrobat DC to fill out the form on your device. Download the pdf application form here: Step Forward Application. For helpful tips in filling out the pdf form, click here: how_to_fill_fields_in_a_pdf_document.pdf
If the application, reimbursement, or internship processes become difficult to understand or work through, please ask for "Mentoring Help" by emailing [email protected].
• The deadline for degree program applications for the Fall 2026 - Spring 2027 school year is May 01, 2026.
•The deadline for degree program applications for the spring semester and/or summer school of 2026 is November 01, 2025.
• Applications for specific courses that further the GC employee’s education/training will be handled on a case by case basis by the Scholarship Committee. These scholarships may be awarded at any time during the calendar year. With this application, an interview with the Scholarship Committee will be required, as well as an applicant photo at the time of the interview.
There are two ways to send in a completed application:
1) Preferred submission: attach a completed pdf application (see above for application link) to an e-mail and send to [email protected].
2) Place the printed pdf application in an envelope labeled “Step Forward Scholarship Committee” and drop it in the Members Box near the Governors Club Reception Area—main floor.
If the application, reimbursement, or internship process becomes difficult to work through, please ask for "Mentoring Help" by emailing [email protected].
When will I be notified?
Applicants for the Full 2026-2027 school year will be notified by the end of July 2026. Applicants for the Spring and/or Summer Semester of 2026 are notified as of January 2026. Applicants for specific courses will be notified in as timely a manner as possible during the calendar year--soon after receiving their application.
How do I apply for test, deposit or application fees reimbursement?
To help you get started as you pursue higher education, SFSF will reimburse you up to $500 for the fee to take an admissions test such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or LSAT; to make a deposit on residence hall housing; or to submit an application to an educational institution. This reimbursement is in addition to your potential scholarship award.
To be eligible to apply for these reimbursements, you must be a full time or regularly scheduled part time employee of Governors Club or a dependent of a Governors Club employee.
To receive your reimbursement payment(s), you must submit an appropriate receipt showing that you have paid the application, test or deposit fee(s) to the SFSF Scholarship Chairman at [email protected]. You can submit more than one (1) receipt if multiple fees were paid. To receive reimbursement for a housing deposit, you must provide a copy of your college or university acceptance letter with your application.
You will need to submit a Fee Reimbursement Form with your receipts. Download the Fee Reimbursement Form here:
fee_reimbursement_form4-25-24.pdf
You can also request a copy of the application form using the email above.
LET’S STEP FORWARD NOW
To be eligible to apply for these reimbursements, you must be a full time or regularly scheduled part time employee of Governors Club or a dependent of a Governors Club employee.
To receive your reimbursement payment(s), you must submit an appropriate receipt showing that you have paid the application, test or deposit fee(s) to the SFSF Scholarship Chairman at [email protected]. You can submit more than one (1) receipt if multiple fees were paid. To receive reimbursement for a housing deposit, you must provide a copy of your college or university acceptance letter with your application.
You will need to submit a Fee Reimbursement Form with your receipts. Download the Fee Reimbursement Form here:
fee_reimbursement_form4-25-24.pdf
You can also request a copy of the application form using the email above.
LET’S STEP FORWARD NOW
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Step Forward Scholarship Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 4631
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-4631
[email protected]
Step Forward Scholarship Fund, Inc. is a 501c3 organization. EIN #83-3175469