Applications are usually open from the first week of February to the last Wednesday of March. For 2025, that deadline is March 26^, 2025.

At the North Thurston Education Foundation, we’re proud to offer scholarships to support North Thurston Public Schools graduates as they take their next steps. Whether that’s heading to a vocational or trade school, college, or university we have a large range of scholarships available.

In 2024, we awarded 24 scholarships, totaling about $141,000! And an additional 21 renewing scholarships that provided proof of required academic progress.

2025 scholarships range from $1,000 to $14,000. Applicants should demonstrate skills for success in their chosen post-secondary program, good citizenship, and leadership qualities. While many scholarships are based on financial need, some are merit-based. Awards range from $1,000 to full tuition, with most being one-year grants. A few scholarships are renewable for up to four years with good academic progress. Click here for a complete list of current scholarships and criteria.

In addition to being on track to graduate from a North Thurston Public School, applicants must demonstrate:

(1) The skills necessary to succeed in their chosen post-secondary school.

(2) Good citizenship and leadership qualities.

(3) A need for financial assistance to meet their educational goals.

We prefer you type our fillable application online then print. You only need to fill out one application and it will be looked at for any scholarships it qualifies for. Please use the fillable application here and print to submit.

Applicants must submit the following:

• A completed and signed application form, including all requested information, with your name on any attachments.
• A transcript through the first semester of senior year (unofficial copies are acceptable).
• A copy of the page showing your Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA (Please ask if using the WAFSA)
• Two letters of recommendation:
  • One letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor documenting your abilities, leadership, and citizenship. (Required)
  • One additional letter from school staff, a coach, employer or community member. (Optional)
• A short essay (500 words max) allowing the committee to get to know you as a person. Please include:
  • Your accomplishments and goals.
  • Challenges you have faced and how those challenges have shaped your goals.
  • Any other information you would like the scholarship committee to consider.
  • You will be considered for any scholarships for which you are eligible, but you are encouraged to highlight any factors that make you particularly suited for specific scholarships.

FOR MORE INFO — Contact Executive Director Deanna East at [email protected] or Nancy Cutlip, Scholarship Chair, [email protected]

We prefer you to submit complete applications to your school’s College & Career Specialist or if your school doesn’t have one, your high school counseling office. If you would prefer to send your application and all attachments by mail, please make sure you have included everything asked for and be postmarked by the deadline. Our mailing address is:

NTEF
PO Box 3312
Lacey WA 98509

If you are interested in establishing a named scholarship with NTEF:

Please contact our Executive Director, Deanna East, at [email protected].

Application FAQ

If you don’t see the answer to your questions below, please reach out to your College & Career Specialist or our Scholarship Chair, Nancy Cutlip [email protected]

Why do they ask that I download the fillable application, type out my answers, and then print it?

It’s very hard to read handwritten applications, so for the ease of our committee, which has to read 80-90 of them each year, we ask you to type out your answers and attach additional sheets if you need more room for your answers.

If I’m applying for a merit-based scholarship, not a need-based one, do I need to send my FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI)?

Not many of our scholarships are only merit based, but there are a few. You will only be considered for those scholarships if you don’t include your FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) page.

Why does my name need to be on the top of each page?

If a page gets separated, we can easily get it back to the right application for the committee to review.

What if I am doing the WAFSA?

We are happy to help. Contact Nancy Cutlip our Scholarship Chair so we can explain which page we need. [email protected]

I want to keep all my pages together, if I can’t staple them, what should I use?

Please use a paperclip or put them in an envelope. We must have all papers copied for the committee to review. Please do not staple any of them. You can put a title with your name to show what the attachment is for.

I’m not sure if my family would be considered for an in-need scholarship?

It’s always best practice to do your FAFSA. Many more qualify for help than you think.

I don’t live with my family; how do I answer (AGI) from the most current Federal Income Tax return filed by your parent(s) or guardian(s)?

Just write UHY on that line and include a letter from the McKinney Vento Liaison or the Student Navigator at your high school to verify your status as an Unaccompanied McKinney Vento student. If you don’t know how to find this person, please ask your counselor to connect you.

I have applications for a few different colleges and haven’t decided yet which one I will attend?

Please include all the schools you have applied to. Attach another sheet if you need more room. Please know that some scholarships might be affected by your choice of school. (Example: If you are awarded a scholarship that requires attendance to a public 4 years school and you change to attending a private university, the scholarship would need to be awarded to another students.)

What if I’m planning to take a gap year and not attending college or trade school next year?

These scholarships are only for students planning on starting college or trade schools in the 25-26 school year.

Should I have someone check that I have everything I need to include?

Yes, it’s always helpful that someone else double checks before you submit. The College & Career specialist, or a counselor if your school doesn’t have one, would be happy to help with that.