Excellence Scholarship

1. What is the amount of the scholarship?

The Excellence Scholarship is a one time only $1,000 award that is paid directly to the recipient's chosen college. One hundred scholarships are awarded annually.

2. Who is eligible to apply?

Any graduating high school student who intends to enroll in a postsecondary institution, university, college, or vocational/technical college. Students who are Wisconsin residents, in good standing, and demonstrate probable success in postsecondary education are eligible for consideration. They will be evaluated on leadership, citizenship, school and community involvement, and academic achievement. They will also be evaluated on their future educational goals, personal life goals, community/society service goals, and career goals. Candidates are not evaluated on financial need. See the page entitled "Kohl Excellence Scholarship Program Guidelines" for a comprehensive description of selection criteria.

3. How can I apply?

In October, an application form will be posted on this web site for you to print out. You cannot apply on-line. In mid-September you can obtain a form from the principal's office at your school.

4. What is the application deadline?

The deadline for submitting a completed application to your school is usually the third week of November, but check with your principal or counselor. Some schools require completed applications to be submitted earlier.

5. What is the selection process?

Your school will form a screening committee to evaluate applicants. The number of applications your school can forward to the regional committee is based on the school's student enrollment. High schools with under 400 students may submit one application to the regional committee, high schools with 400 to 999 students may submit two applications, and high schools with 1,000 or more students may submit three applications. The regional committee will select 200 finalists, whose applications will be reviewed and scored by a statewide selection committee in February.

6. How will I know if I have been chosen to receive
    a scholarship?

You will receive a letter from Senator Herb Kohl in late February.

7. Can the scholarship only be used at Wisconsin
    colleges?

The scholarship may be used at any postsecondary institution, and is not limited to Wisconsin.

8. Must I enroll as a full time college student in
    order to use the scholarship?

You can be a part time or full time student.

9. Does the scholarship expire if it is not used right
    after I graduate from high school?

Recipients have approximately 17 months to notify us of their enrollment in college. In other words, a student who becomes a scholarship recipient in February, 2008 has until August 1, 2009 to activate the scholarship.

Fellowship Award

1. What is the amount of the fellowship?

The Herb Kohl Fellowship is a one time only $1,000 award to the selected educator, and the educator's school also receives $1,000. One hundred fellowships are awarded annually.

2. Who is eligible?

Pre-K through Grade 12 teachers must first be nominated by a parent, teacher, student, community member or administrator before they can apply. Because the purpose of this program is to recognize the contribution of Wisconsin classroom teachers, those staff members whose assignments are administrative or supervisory are ineligible. Previous Kohl Fellowship recipients are ineligible. Potential candidates should intend to continue teaching in their current capacity for at least the year following receipt of the Kohl Fellowship. See the page entitled "Kohl Teacher Fellowship Program Guidelines" for a detailed list of evaluation criteria.

3. Where can I get a nomination form?

A nomination form appears on this web site for you to print out or complete on-line. During the month of September, you can also obtain a form from the principal's office at the school of the educator you want to nominate. Potential candidates cannot self-nominate.

4. After an educator is nominated, what is the
    next step?

Nominated educators are sent a Kohl Fellowship application form in mid-October. If they choose to apply, they will be evaluated on their ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, ability to motivate others, and their leadership and service within and outside the classroom. See the page entitled "Kohl Teacher Fellowship Program Guidelines" for a detailed list of evaluation criteria. Also read the sample Scoring Form.

5. What is the application deadline?

The deadline for submitting a completed application to the local school district selection committee is usually the third week of November.

6. What is the selection process?

Applicants are screened by a local school district selection committee. Each district may nominate at least one educator in each of four categories: elementary, middle/junior high, high school, and special services. Districts with a student enrollment of 2,000 or more may nominate more educators per category. See the page entitled "Kohl Teacher Fellowship Program Guidelines" for details. Selected applicants will be forwarded to a regional selection committee, and that committee will select 200 finalists, whose applications will be reviewed and scored by a statewide selection committee in late February.

7. How will an applicant be notified if he or she
    has been chosen to receive a Kohl Fellowship?

Each Fellowship recipient receives a letter from Senator Herb Kohl in late February. The Fellowship grant is sent to the educator and the educator's school in late June.

8. Are there restrictions on how the Fellowship
    may be used?

There are no restrictions on how the Fellow may use his or her $1,000 award. The Kohl Foundation suggests that the Fellowship recipient's school use its $1,000 matching grant for innovation in education.