2007-08
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program
Fact Sheet

A Federal Program Administered by the Florida Department
of Education Federal Regulation 34 CFR 654

Program Description
The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program was established by the United States Congress to provide scholarships to outstanding 2007-08 high school seniors who show promise of continued academic achievement. This program is offered through the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). Program funds may be used at eligible institutions outside the state of Florida.

What Are The Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding?

• Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. A student’s residency and citizenship status are determined by the postsecondary institution. Questions regarding such status should be directed to the financial aid office or admissions office of the institution the student plans to attend.
• Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
• Not have been declared by a judge, as a condition of sentencing under Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, ineligible to receive federal assistance for the period of the scholarship.
• Not have previously received a baccalaureate degree.

How Does a Student Apply?

• Submit a fully completed (error free) Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application by April 15. Apply for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship by selecting “Yes” to the appropriate question on the application.
• Graduate from a Florida public or private secondary school or receive the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma which includes a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or a state certificate received after the student has passed a state-authorized examination that Florida recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma.
• If graduating from a high school outside of Florida, provide documentation of Florida residency, (including the county of residence), in order to be evaluated for a Byrd scholarship. A completed error-free Bright Futures Military Packet may be provided as documentation of residency.
• Be nominated by the Florida high school principal or designee, Florida adult education director, School District Superintendent or designee, or principal/headmaster of a school outside Florida by May 15 of a student’s graduation year from high school in order to compete for the scholarship. Only one nominee per high school, per adult education center, and per school district is accepted.

Note: Each School District Superintendent selects one nominee from a list of Home Education and General Education Degree (GED) recipients applying from within his/her region of residency.
• Be accepted at an eligible postsecondary institution to pursue a course of study of at least one year in length and enroll as a full-time student for the first year of study.
• File a Statement of Selective Service Registration Status with the postsecondary institution the student plans to attend, if required by the school in accordance with the Student Assistance General Provisions regulations (34 CFR Part 668).

How Is a Student Nominated for a Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship?

• The Florida high school principal or designee, Florida adult education director, School District Superintendent, or principal/headmaster of a school outside Florida is permitted to nominate only ONE applicant to compete for a potential award.
• Each School District Superintendent or designee may select one nominee from a list of Home Education and General Education Degree (GED) recipients applying from within the specified region of residency. The nominee's 7th semester unweighted GPA should be obtained from a DOE/State recognized educational entity - such as the Florida Virtual high school, public or private high school. (The GPA may be prorated based on the number of high school credits or the equivalent dual enrolment credits completed.)
• The school official will certify the nomination online, by May 15, or submit the High School Certification Form to OSFA postmarked by May 15.

• A student’s cumulative, unweighted grade point average (GPA) earned at the end of the seventh semester is multiplied by his/her best one sitting ACT score. An SAT score may be used and converted to the concordant ACT score for this purpose using the SAT to ACT Conversion Chart. The applicant with the highest product should be the chosen nominee.
• In the event of a tie in the selection process, the Florida high school principal, Florida adult education director, School District Superintendent, or principal/headmaster of a school outside Florida will score one letter of recommendation and a list of the applicant's extracurricular activities to determine the nominee. The letter may be from a community or school source (such as a clergy person, teacher, etc.). The list of activities should include those activities in which the student participated during grades nine through twelve, and should be signed and dated by the applicant.
• The applicant with the greatest number of total points should be the nominee.

How Are Nominees Chosen by OSFA to Receive the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship?

• This is a highly competitive scholarship and not all nominees will receive a scholarship.
• Priority will be given to renewal applicants.
• After the number of renewal applicants is determined, remaining funds will generate new scholarships to be awarded to the highest ranking high school nominees.
• Ranking is based on cumulative, unweighted GPA multiplied by test scores.
• An equitable number of initial scholarships will be awarded in each designated geographical area of the state (67 counties are annually divided into 5 regions according to equitable distribution of the high school population within the area). The student will be ranked with other applicants within the student’s region of Florida residency.

What Is the Award Process?

• As established by the U.S. Department of Education, the maximum annual award amount is $1500 per year. The award may not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution when combined with other financial aid.
• Each initial award recipient will be provided an award letter.
• The student must then submit form ED 80-0016, Certification of Eligibility for Federal Assistance in Certain Programs, to OSFA. OSFA will be unable to make an award to the student without this form.

How Are Awards Disbursed?

• Following award notification, the scholarship funds, disbursed in equal amounts each term or quarter (or equivalent) and not to exceed the maximum annual award amount established by the U.S. Department of Education, will be sent directly to the financial aid office at the institution the Byrd Scholar attends.
• Requests for partial awards for part-time attendance must be made in writing by the student to OSFA. Requests must state the reason a partial award is requested.

How Long May a Student Receive Funding?

• A student is eligible to receive an award for up to 8 semesters (or equivalency) of undergraduate postsecondary study or a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first.
• Unused semesters (or equivalency) may not be used for further course funding after a student has completed undergraduate coursework or earns a baccalaureate degree.

How Does a Student Renew?

• The renewal applicant will continue to meet program and general eligibility requirements.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college or university the scholar is attending.
• Enroll part-time if after the first year of study the State Educational Agency determines that unusual circumstances justify waiving the full-time attendance requirements. To request part-time enrollment, a student must submit a written request to OSFA. (Part-time students will receive a prorated award.)
• An eligible renewal applicant that does not accept an award must apply for reinstatement.

What if a Student Does Not Earn Satisfactory Academic Progress?

• A student who fails to earn satisfactory progress will be placed on academic probation and have the scholarship suspended for one academic year.
• To restore the scholarship, the student must submit a Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students & Teachers by April 15 of the year of suspension and during the year of suspension, the student must earn satisfactory progress (determined by the postsecondary institution).

How Does a Student Restore?

• A scholar who fails to achieve satisfactory academic progress within an award year will have his or her scholarship suspended for the following year.
• If satisfactory academic progress has been met after the year of suspension, a scholar must complete a Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students & Teachers by April 15 of the suspension year.
• The online Reinstatement/Restoration Application is available at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by selecting the links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students & Teachers.

How Does a Student Reinstate?

• A student who was eligible for an award but did not accept an award during the previous academic year must complete the Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students and Teachers by April 15 if the student meets general eligibility requirements and has earned satisfactory progress (according to the postsecondary institution).
• The online Reinstatement/Restoration Application is available at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by selecting the links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students & Teachers.

How May a Student Appeal?

• An applicant may appeal if he or she believes the FDOE erred determining eligibility or in failing to transfer an award.
• If aid is denied for failure to meet state academic progress requirements, an applicant may appeal the denial to the institution by providing proof of illness or other emergency beyond the applicant's control.

How Does a Student Make Changes in Information?

• By accessing and updating the student record on the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, using the assigned User ID and PIN:
• Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications,
• select Application Status & Award History,
• select Initial Student Update, and then the appropriate option.
• By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.

Use of an Applicant’s Social Security Number/Non-discrimination Statement

For further information contact the financial aid office at eligible postsecondary institutions or OSFA, State Programs, Suite 70, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759. Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.