Scholarship Application Guide and FAQs | SKYCTC

Paying for College

Scholarship FAQ

Fill out ONE online application and be considered for multiple awards. Students do not need to apply for individual scholarships during the application process, as they will be automatically matched to scholarships for which they meet the criteria.

The scholarship application has two parts:

  1. KCTCS General Application
  2. Southcentral Conditional Application

To Apply:

  • Submit a completed admissions application
  • Submit a completed scholarship application
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Scholarship applicants are encouraged to file the FAFSA
    • SKYCTC offers scholarships for students who may not qualify for traditional financial aid but still need help covering college costs—especially those in the middle-income range. The FAFSA is not required to apply, and many students are eligible even if they don’t receive other assistance. If you're unsure, apply anyway—you might be surprised!
    • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online at www.fafsa.gov. The U.S. Department of Education determines actual financial need.
  1. Applicants complete and return the scholarship application by the priority deadline.
  2. Scholarship Coordinator reviews and complies the application information.
  3. The scholarship information is sent to the Scholarship Committee for review.
  4. The Scholarship Committee reviews, scores and makes recommendations for awards.
  5. Scholarship applicants are notified of the committee’s decisions via KCTCS email by the Foundation.
  6. Applicants accept/decline awards by the deadline listed in the email.
  7. Applicants return required thank you notes (if applicable) by the deadline listed in the email.
  8. The scholarship is posted to the student’s award panel.

The SKYCTC Scholarship Committee reviews each application to determine eligibility. If you are eligible and funds are available, an offer will be emailed to your KCTCS student email. Keep in mind that each award has a specific deadline and must be completed by the date listed on the letter.  Students that receive scholarship funds from SKYCTC must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and meet the specific criteria for the awards they receive.

No. The only way to submit an application is through the online application process. SKYCTC Online Application.

Not all SKYCTC scholarships require a letter of recommendation or reference, but you can submit a request for someone to provide a reference through your online application.

A scholarship reference could be a teacher, employer, mentor, coach, or community leader — anyone who knows you well and can speak to your character, work ethic, or academic potential.

Tip: Always follow up with the person you’ve asked to provide a reference to make sure they submit it on time!

Scholarship Award Notifications are sent via email to the recipients KCTCS email address. If a student does not receive a scholarship award notification from the Foundation Office, they have not been awarded. Denial letters are not sent due to the fact all applications remain active for the academic year.

Congrats on your scholarship! Follow the steps outlined in your award email to accept your scholarship. Once you have completed that, don’t forget to turn in a Thank You note for your Donor!

Thank you notes must be returned to the SKYCTC Foundation Office by the listed deadline. Failure to do so may affect your scholarship! 

For tips and more information, please visit our Thank You Letters to Donors page.

Scholarships that are available at SKYCTC were made possible by generous contributions from donors who believe in community, education, and want to invest in the future of SKYCTC students. By writing a thank you letter, you demonstrate that you are a student that they can be proud to support. Donors appreciate hearing from their recipients and are truly interested in knowing about you – your academic plans, activities, and career goals, as well as what this scholarship means to you.

It is difficult to anticipate the date that a scholarship will appear on a student account. In many cases scholarships may be posted before or after the financial aid disbursements are completed for the awarding semester. It is important to read your award notification letter carefully as it may indicate special circumstances.

Students will be notified of their scholarship status via their KCTCS email by the SKYCTC Foundation.

Scholarship awards of $1,000 and above are divided equally between fall and spring semesters unless otherwise noted in the award email notification. Students must maintain eligibility criteria for both fall and spring semesters. Scholarships do not apply to summer terms.

Scholarship recipients are encouraged to register for classes early to ensure timely scholarship payment.

Scholarships are for SKYCTC students only. Students with other KCTCS home colleges will forfeit SKYCTC scholarship offers.

Scholarships pay for tuition for SKYCTC classes only. Courses not taken at SKYCTC (including online courses from other KCTCS colleges) are not covered. Other KCTCS colleges, WKU or other college classes are not eligible. Some scholarships may also cover textbook cost. 

Scholarships are not transferable to other colleges within or outside the KCTCS system.

Scholarships are CONDITIONALLY AWARDED to you based upon the criteria outlined by the donor.

The SKYCTC Financial Aid Office will review your academic record after grades have been submitted for each semester you were awarded to confirm your eligibility.

  • If my GPA drops, will I lose my scholarship?
    • If one of the criteria is based on GPA, you may lose your scholarship.
  • If I drop classes or withdraw from school, will I lose my scholarship?
    • If one of the criteria is based on enrollment, the amount you receive from your scholarship may be affected, or you may lose your scholarship.
  • Do I need to be enrolled full-time?
    • If one of the criteria is based on full-time enrollment, the amount you receive from your scholarship may be affected, or you may lose your scholarship.
  • Program of study
    • Some scholarships are awarded to students of a specific major or area of study. Students who receive these scholarships and then drop/change majors will forfeit scholarship funding. Any student receiving a scholarship who intends to change majors must notify the Financial Aid Office and the SKYCTC Foundation immediately.

If you lose your scholarship eligibility, you cannot earn it back in the same academic year. You may reapply for other scholarships during the next scholarship cycle for the following academic year. 

The SKYCTC Business Office credits your scholarship directly to your student account unless otherwise noted in your scholarship notification letter. 

Your scholarship will be credited to your student account each semester provided that SKYCTC has received your Scholarship Acceptance Form and required thank you note(s) by the deadline.

Scholarships disburse with SKYCTC Financial Aid’s first disbursement date for fall and spring. Eligibility is checked after the census date each semester.

  • If your award DOES NOT EXCEED your total tuition and fees:
    • Your payment due, which must be paid at the SKYCTC Business Office, will be your total tuition and fees minus any financial aid and your semester scholarship award.
  • If your award EXCEEDS your total tuition and fees:
    • You will receive a refund of the remaining balance from KCTCS (Versailles, KY) after all financial aid and scholarship awards have been posted to your student account unless your scholarship otherwise states.
    • Refund method is dependent on a student's participation in BankMobile Vibe. Learn more about BankMobile Vibe and the refund method.

If you are receiving a scholarship from an external source, it will need to be sent to the SKYCTC Business Office. Contact the Business Office if you have further questions (270-901-1120).

Receiving a scholarship is great news — it helps reduce the amount you need to pay for college! However, because all your financial aid combined can’t be more than your total cost of attendance, your scholarship may change how your other aid is applied.

If you’re awarded a scholarship, let the SKYCTC Financial Aid Office know right away. They’ll review your aid package and make any necessary adjustments — for example, reducing loan amounts before need-based grants. This ensures you’re getting the maximum benefit from your financial aid.

Questions? Ask the SKYCTC financial aid office (270-901-1006).

Cost of Attendance (COA) is calculated for each student and includes tuition, books and other expenses. Students cannot receive more financial aid than their COA. Some students who have loans and grants and then receive a scholarship may go over that COA, and SKYCTC will have to recalculate aid and typically reduce or cancel loan amounts.

An over award is the receipt of aid in excess of financial need. Federal and state aid recipients cannot be awarded more than the cost of attendance, as determined by the Department of Education and SKYCTC. If a scholarship causes an over award, the Financial Aid Office will do a recalculation of federal and/or state financial aid awards. In some cases, students that are receiving loans, may have their loans reduced or canceled to correct an over award. For more information view our Over Awards page.

Chantal Allen
(270) 901-1186
skyctcfoundation@kctcs.edu 

(270) 901-1000
sky-dualcredit@kctcs.edu 

(270) 901-1000
sky-admission@kctcs.edu 

(270) 901-1006
southcentral-financialaid@kctcs.edu 

Deni Bahic
(270) 901-1120
southcentral-businessoffice@kctcs.edu