Foundation Scholarships
The BBCC Foundation awards nearly $500,000 annually to support both current and prospective Big Bend students. Our streamlined online application process allows candidates to apply for all available scholarships with a single submission.
The scholarship application opens in the Fall for both the main and summer cycles. The main cycle application typically closes at the end of the Winter quarter, while the summer cycle remains open until mid-August. The Foundation operates with rolling deadlines, meaning that students who are not selected in the main cycle will automatically be considered for scholarships in the summer cycle if they meet the eligibility criteria. All BBCC Foundation scholarships are designated exclusively for students to use at Big Bend Community College.
To apply for BBCC scholarships, complete the online scholarship application. Upon submission, you will automatically be applied to all Big Bend scholarship opportunities that are tailored to your qualifications. Detailed instructions are provided throughout the application and should be read carefully as some scholarships may require additional information. We encourage you to complete those extra steps to maximize your chances of securing an award. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
After the application deadline, we begin the review process, followed by the award and acceptance procedures. Students can generally expect to receive notifications of their scholarship awards by the end of the Spring quarter for the main cycle and by the end of August for the summer cycle.
Scholarship award notifications will be sent to the email address provided on your scholarship application in AwardSpring with instructions on how to accept the award. It is crucial to use an email address that you regularly check, as only students who have been awarded a scholarship will receive these notifications.
All scholarships become a part of your financial aid package and are distributed by the Financial Aid office at the beginning of the fall quarter. Scholarships under $800 will be disbursed in the fall quarter while. Scholarships over $800 are evenly distributed between fall, winter, and spring quarters, but you may request a different distribution by contacting the Foundation staff.
Once you accept your scholarship, the Financial Aid office will apply the funds to your student account. These funds are first used to cover any outstanding tuition and fees. Barring tuition-only scholarships, you will receive the surplus of any remaining funds after your account balance is settled.
If you have any questions about how your scholarship is applied to your financial aid account, please contact the Financial Aid office.
The BBCC scholarship application requires four short-answer essays, which are the most significant and heavily scored components. There are no right or wrong answers; however, to stand out, ensure that your responses are meaningful, highlight your strengths, demonstrate what sets you apart from other applicants, and explain how the scholarship will impact you.
We encourage you to utilize Big Bend’s campus resources:
- Big Bend’s Writing Center is available to all students online or in person and is an excellent resource for developing and proofreading essays and papers. It is located inside the library in the ATEC/1800 building.
- TRIO provides support services and resources for scholarship applications and essay assistance to low-income students, first-generation college students, and/or students with disabilities. Reach out to TRIO to see if you qualify for their support. They are located in the Student Services Center of the 1400 building.
- The Big Bend Foundation also offers help with scholarship applications and essays. Notifications about drop-in workshops and appointments will be posted on Canvas and social media. Email notifications will be sent only if you have a scholarship application on file.
If you have any questions about the scholarship application or need more information, please contact Jennifer Starr at (509) 793-2005 or jennifers@bigbend.edu.
