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Online Application for BNSF College Scholarship Program Begins Jan. 1

2011-12-05

High school seniors may submit an online application for college scholarships offered through the BNSF Foundation Scholarship Program starting Jan. 1.

Once again, the foundation will award up to 40 scholarships for the 2012-2013 college year.

Details on the application process are included below. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Who is eligible?

The program is available to current high school seniors who are the dependent sons, daughters or stepchildren of full-time BNSF employees or of retired, furloughed, disabled or deceased employees of BNSF or its predecessor companies. Full-time employees must have at least two years of service as of Jan.1, 2012, and must still be employed by BNSF when winners are selected in May. Retired, furloughed, disabled or deceased employees must have completed the two-year requirement prior to ending their service with BNSF.

When may students begin the application process?

The online application process may be accessed beginning Jan. 1, 2012, by going directly to the International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS) link.

When are submissions due?

Completed applications must be submitted no later than April 2, 2012. The student or applicant is responsible for making sure the application is complete and includes all required documentation. Since the foundation is not able to keep track of students' progress or the completeness of an application, applicants should follow up with ISTS. ISTS may not contact students who have incomplete submissions as there are many more applications than scholarships available. An accurate and complete submission is part of the competition for the awards.

How many scholarships are available?

Up to 40 scholarships of at least $2,500 each will be awarded to full-time students enrolled in accredited four-year colleges/universities in the United States. Of these, up to 10 scholarships, at $5,000 each, are available through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). If not all 10 NMSC scholarships are awarded, the balance will be converted to ISTS scholarships at $2,500 each. All the scholarships are renewable for three additional years, with satisfactory academic progress. The BNSF Foundation National Merit winners are selected by the NMSC, and neither BNSF nor the foundation has input in the selection of winners.

Who is eligible for National Merit Scholarships?

NMSC works with the high schools throughout most of this process. Students should contact their high school counselor for information about the process.

The NMSC notifies sponsors, such as BNSF, about award acceptances and provides scholarship certificates for presentation to winners. Neither BNSF nor BNSF Foundation has any input in the selection of winners.

How are winners selected?

For the scholarships handled by ISTS, winners are selected largely on the basis of academic merit with consideration for past academic performance, leadership of and participation in school and community activities and an essay. Guidance counselors routinely supply the required test scores on the high school records accompanying the applications.

As mandated by federal law, neither BNSF nor BNSF Foundation has any input in the selection of winners. All winners are screened, reviewed and selected by independent parties through ISTS or NMSC.

The foundation is unaware of who has applied until a preliminary list of winners is sent to the foundation for confirmation of eligibility based on the parent's employment status as described in the "Who is Eligible" question above.

Can more than one scholarship be awarded to an individual?

No. A student cannot win more than one scholarship funded by the BNSF Foundation. Since neither award is guaranteed, it is recommended that the National Merit Finalists apply for the scholarships handled by ISTS. Students who win a National Merit scholarship are automatically withdrawn from consideration for scholarships handled by ISTS.

How do I get an application?

ISTS no longer accepts or uses paper applications. To apply for a scholarship, go directly to the ISTS website through this link and follow the instructions. If you are asked to enter an access key, please use BNSF.

What is the contact information for ISTS?

BNSF Headquarters

BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com


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