Through the Foundation's online consolidated scholarship application, high school seniors and college students can apply for multiple scholarships with one application. Additionally, the Foundation has a few scholarships that are available outside of the consolidated application.

To complete the Foundation's online consolidated scholarship application:

Students need to access the application at: www.pacfwv.com/Scholarships/Apply.

At the beginning of the application process, you will be asked to create a username and password. It is important to keep this login information as you may need to return to your application.

After creating your username/password, you will be asked a few standard eligibility questions that will match you to available Foundation scholarships. We ask that you take a moment and review the scholarships you have been matched with and ensure that you are indeed eligible.

Proceed through the application process and finish and click submit for each scholarship you wish to apply to. You do not need to complete the application in one sitting. You may save your changes and return to finish later. Once you submit your application, you are unable to make any changes.

When you are satisfied that your application is complete, you must click “submit” on the final page of the application. You will receive an e-mail confirmation once you submit your application. If you do not receive this e-mail confirmation, please contact the Foundation.

The PACF manages over 190 scholarship funds for both high school seniors and current college students. The majority are determined by eligibility through our online consolidated scholarship application. There are other scholarships that are selected by external committees. We also have two scholarships that are separate applications and will be posted on the scholarship application page.

For more details on PACF's scholarship opportunities view our Scholarship Description List.

The majority of scholarships offered through PACF are awarded to residents in the Foundation's service area: Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, and Wood Counties in West Virginia and Washington County, Ohio. However, the Foundation does have a few unique scholarship opportunities. These scholarships may be open to state-wide applicants, reserved for those in other designated counties/states, or available through a connection with a company or organization.

For more details on PACF's scholarship opportunities view our Scholarship Description List.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation once the Foundation receives your online application. If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation, contact the Foundation.

Once the application deadline passes, all applications are carefully reviewed through a ranking and screening process that uses many advisory committees to assist the Foundation. Applicants are typically notified of their applications’ status by early June. Awards restricted to graduating high school seniors are generally announced and presented at area high schools’ award ceremonies. Applicants who are not graduating high school seniors and who receive scholarships will be advised by letter. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application by season-end.

The essay questions may be the hardest part of your application to complete. But this is also where you can stand out from the crowd. The key to writing a strong essay is to be personal and specific. Include details about yourself so the reader can get to know who "you" are and what you stand for. The scholarship selection committee has hundreds of essays to review. It is YOUR job to get their attention. Here are a few tips:

• Think before you write. Brainstorm to generate some good ideas, and then create an outline to help you get going. Make sure to address specific questions clearly.
• Be original and be creative in your answers. Show, don’t tell. Use examples to individualize your responses. Demonstrate the point you want to make. Avoid vagueness to make a strong impression.
• Create a portrait of a winner. Create a vivid portrait that will depict the person behind the grades, activities and awards. If a reviewer feels like he or she knows you, you have done your job and created a powerful emotional connection that elevates your application, helping it stand out from others.

Each scholarship has its own selection criteria. Generally, however, selection committees consider the following:

• Academics - It may be important to have a competitive GPA; however, selection committees also will consider how challenging your course load is. They will also check to see if you are taking the right courses to reach your goals and how well you did in those courses.
• Activities/Leadership - If this is part of the criteria, committee members will examine your school and community activities and they will also look at the range of leadership roles you have played.
• Service - Community members will be interested in what service you have provided to your school or community. They may look at activities that go above and beyond the required service job.
• Financial Need – The SAR (Student Aid Report) of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Form provides important information, along with the information provided on the financial information page of your application. Please be sure to file your FAFSA early in order to have this information by the Scholarship Application deadline of March 1st.
• Special Circumstances – If you have overcome an obstacle to achieve your goals, or are facing a special circumstance, the selection committee wants to know about it.

If you are having any difficulties completing your application, please call the Foundation at 304-428-4438 or e-mail at info@pacfwv.com.

We understand that circumstances may arise where a student needs to transfer to a different institution. In such cases, unused scholarship funds can be reallocated to the new school. However, if the scholarship award was restricted to the original institution, the funds cannot be used elsewhere.

It is the responsibility of the student to contact the institution where the scholarship payment was originally made and request that any remaining funds be returned to the Foundation. Email jennifer.randolph@pacfwv.com with written notification of the new institution's name and the student's new ID number. Once the funds are returned to the Foundation, we will re-direct them to the new school.

We want to ensure that our scholarship recipients have the support they need to pursue their academic goals, even if their circumstances change. Our scholarship reallocation policy is designed to help students seamlessly transition to a new institution and continue on their path to success.