TAP Scholarship Information

The TAP Award is a scholarship program and one-time award granted to one or more individuals based on academic excellence, community service, demonstrated professionalism, and dedication to post-secondary education and philanthropy.

The goal of this program is to assist future professionals and philanthropists in obtaining an undergraduate or graduate degree that will allow the winners to continue in pursuing these ideals.

Professionalism, as we will define it for the purpose of this award, is independent of career field. It is a mind-set, a way of thinking and behaving both in and out of the public eye that defines a person. A restaurant cook may be every bit as "professional" as a doctor or lawyer. Applicants must demonstrate, in their own words, why they consider themselves to be professionals.

Philanthropy, as we will define it, is not about writing a check to a charity. As considered for this award, philanthropy embodies a true spirit of giving and giving back. No money needs to have changed hands for the successful applicant. Rather, applicants must demonstrate how, through 100 hours or more of community or volunteer service, they have helped to enrich the lives of others. Again, applicants must prove to us how they have themselves lived as philanthropists and will continue to do so.

A minimum of one $500 award is guaranteed to one undergraduate scholarship recipient.

50% of all donations and 25% of all other income to The Aspiring Professional will be added to the award money, up to a maximum of $5,000 per award.

When the first undergraduate award has been maxed out at $5,000, a graduate scholarship for at least $500 will be announced.

There will be a maximum of five awards for undergraduate students and five for graduate students. Any money above this total amount will be held in an interest-bearing account and will serve to fund the next year's awards.

A minimum of fifty (50) applicants is required for each award granted.

To be eligible as a scholarship recipient, an applicant must:

• Be a registered and verified member of The Aspiring Professional
• Be enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university
• Have earned a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • For high school seniors/entering freshmen, the cumulative GPA for all four years of high school will be considered.
  • For enrolled undergraduate students, your current cumulative GPA will be considered.
  • For enrolled graduate students, your undergraduate and current graduate GPA will be considered.
• Have performed and provide official contact information for a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer community service.
• Not be a member or related to a member of the selection committee for this scholarship program (relatives include members of the immediate family, one's spouse, and one's children).
• Grant The Aspiring Professional the right to publish for public viewing your application and profile at The Aspiring Professional (no personally identifying information except one's name, city, and state will be displayed).

Additionally, previous winners are not eligible to receive the same award more than once. If an applicant received the undergraduate award once and would like to apply for a graduate award, however, he or she is encouraged to do so.

The TAP Award is not currently accepting applications. Please check this page for future award announcements.

Scholarship winners are selected without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability or veteran status.

Questions or concerns? Please contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.