John T. Belcher Scholarship FAQs

How can a student apply for a Belcher scholarship?

The school board of each MSBA member district is eligible to submit one application from a high school senior. The local board of education should select their applicant based on academic achievement, leadership abilities and the quality of an essay on the educational topic selected that year by the FutureBuilders board; need may also be considered. After the district applicant is chosen the student should complete the application form on the FutureBuilders Foundation website (www.msbafuturebuilders.org /belcher) when the application period opens on October 1. Shortly after submitting the form the applicant and their counselor and applicant will receive further information about what is needed to complete the application process, including instructions for mailing the essay, letters of recommendation, transcript and required signatures.

How will a student or district know that the application components have been received, and are complete and eligible for consideration?

Communication will be made through the applicant and the high school counselor. Upon receipt of the mailed application components, confirmation will be sent to the applicant and the counselor via email. The confirmation will note any missing pieces of information and will give a time frame for correction. A final confirmation email will give the status for the application. A status form on the MSBA FutureBuilders website will provide an updated status of applications submitted from districts (www.msbafuturebuilders.org/belcherstatus). If further assistance is needed, contact Diane Peterson at 573-445-9920 ext. 329 or by email at peterson@msbanet.org.

Why are districts that are not MSBA members ineligible to participate?

Participation in the John T. Belcher Scholarship program is one of the many privileges and benefits that are extended to members of the Missouri School Boards' Association. For further information about membership, contact Barbara Stephens at 800-221-6722 ext. 334 or stephens@msbanet.org.

How do I know if my school district is a member of MSBA?

Contact the school district superintendent's office. If there are any questions, check with MSBA.

Are K-8 school districts allowed to submit applications from high seniors that attended in their district?

Yes, if the K-8 school district is a member of Missouri School Boards' Association, they may submit an application from a student that attended in their district prior to high school.

How many scholarships are available?

Each year MSBA, through the FutureBuilders Foundation, awards seventeen scholarships to Missouri high school seniors. One scholarship winner is selected from each of the seventeen MSBA-designated regions of the state. Those seventeen winners then compete for one larger scholarship. The sixteen regional winners are awarded $750 scholarships and the statewide winner is awarded $1,500.

Who selects the winners?

The regional winners are selected by the MSBA Regional Leadership Committee which is comprised of board members from school districts within that region. The RLCs meet in February or early March. Their selections are then submitted to the Statewide Scholarship Committee to choose the statewide winner.

How are they selected?

The committee members are instructed to consider three main factors in the selection process: academic and extracurricular strengths, and the quality of the applicant's written essay. When appropriate, financial need may also be considered.

How are the winners announced?

All applicants will receive a letter in March indicating whether or not they were awarded the John T. Belcher Scholarship. A copy of the winner letter is also sent to the superintendent, district board secretary, high school principal, and high school guidance counselor. The statewide winner is notified by mail in late May or early June. Winners are also announced on the MSBA website.

What is the timeline for the scholarship process?

Late August/early September — Dates for annual program are announced
September — Promotional information distributed at fall regional meetings
October 1 - December 18— Applications accepted
December 18 — Deadline for applications; must be postmarked by midnight
January — Applications are sent to Regional Leadership Committee members for evaluation
February-March — Regional winners are selected at Regional Leadership Committee meetings
March — Letters are mailed to all applicants; winners are notified
April-May — Regional winners are recognized at spring regional meetings
May — FutureBuilders Board of Directors selects statewide winner; letter is mailed to winner
June 11, 2010 — Statewide winner is recognized at Leadership Summit
July-August — Scholarship payment checks are mailed to winners' colleges and universities

What is FutureBuilders?

FutureBuilders is the non-profit education foundation of the Missouri School Boards' Association organized in 1996 to promote student achievement and parent/community involvement in public schools. Built on the belief that public education is the foundation of our democracy FutureBuilders believes that it is imperative that we counter the negative stereotyping of public schools so often expounded by the media and so-called "experts." The foundation works to spread the news about the good things going on day in and day out in Missouri's public schools. Their unofficial motto is "Research, not rhetoric" and they use that as a model to help tell the true story of the successes of our public schools. Visit www.msbafuturebuilders.org.

Who was John T. Belcher?

John T. Belcher was a Missouri businessman who was instrumental in developing a number of innovative financing programs that improved the learning environment for thousands of public school students. Though Mr. Belcher lost his battle with cancer in 1989, his courage was an inspiration to all who knew him.

Who is the main contact person for the application process?

Contact Diane Peterson, Administrative Assistant for the Academy of Public School Governance, 573-445-9920 ext.329 or peterson@msbanet.org. The program is administered by Melissa Randol, Deputy Executive Director, MSBA.