Scholarships

TRIG-STAR SCHOLARSHIP

Instructions for the NSPS Trig-Star Scholarship

ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

Applicants must be high school seniors, or college freshmen or sophomores, who have participated in the Trig-Star Contest at some point in their high school career, and who plan to enroll, or are already enrolled in a college degree program leading to a degree in surveying and mapping (the Land Surveying profession). The applicant does not have to have won at any level of the Trig-Star Contest but must have participated in the contest at the high school level.

AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIPS

The intent is to award a five thousand dollar ($5,000.00) scholarship each year to a student pursuing a secondary education with the intent to pursue a degree in surveying and mapping, and with a desire to become a Licensed professional.

TIMING OF THE AWARD OF SCHOLARSHIP

The scholarship will not be issued until the student enrolls in the program. The scholarship will be sent to the recipient, split one half each for the first two semesters, or one third for the first three quarters. Prior to the NSPS Foundation sending payment to the recipient, the recipient must submit information and a payment request to the NSPS Foundation. The request must include: proof of enrollment in the approved program and taking classes leading to the selected degree, as well as grades from the previous term showing at least a 3.0 GPA if the request is for a second or third term, as appropriate.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Interested persons may apply by completing the application form available upon request from the NSPS Foundation. All materials must be received by June 30, 2019, in order to be considered for an award in the following academic school year. The completed application form must be accompanied by:

1. An indication of when the applicant competed in the Trig-Star contest.
2. High School transcript.
3. One letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or a past employer.
4. A one-page, double-spaced, typed essay from the applicant specifying 
   • Educational Goal
   • Career goals
   • Why their qualifications justify them receiving the scholarship.

SELECTION

Applicants shall be ranked by the Trig-Star Scholarship Selection Committee according to their level of academic achievements, desire to pursue a career in surveying and mapping and the quality and neatness of their essay. The rank order list shall be forwarded to the national Trig-Star Committee for awarding of a scholarship to the recipient. Alternate recipients may be selected in the event that the highest ranked recipient is unable, or declines, to accept the award.

AWARD NOTIFICATION

The Trig-Star Committee or designee will send the top-ranked recipient a notice of award in July of the contest year specifying the terms of the award. The recipient shall return the scholarship notice of award acknowledging the terms and accepting or declining the offer within 15 days. An offer not returned within the 15 days shall be deemed as not accepted.

TIME PERIOD FOR ELIGIBILITY

The awards shall be for the period of one academic year.

DISBURSEMENTS

Upon verification of registration for full-time enrollment each term in a surveying and mapping curriculum, as outlined above, checks in the name of the recipient will be issued to the recipient in substantially equal disbursements for each academic term/semester.

PUBLICITY

Annually, the Trig-Star Scholarship Committee will provide notice of the Trig-Star scholarship program (including rules and application forms) with information regarding the Trig-Star contest. When the recipient has accepted the scholarship, the committee can provide appropriate publicity to and on behalf of the NSPS Foundation, NSPS, state and local survey and mapping societies, surveying and mapping magazines and periodicals, and the recipient’s college. By applying for this scholarship, the recipient agrees to the release of their name, in association with an award.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships for geospatial sciences are available across the nation through organizations, businesses, and individual donors. Find out more about opportunities that are available in your area.