2019 Scholar Chessplayer Award Applications: Apply by February 8th!

If you are a high school junior or senior looking for scholarship money, read on. The application deadline for the 2019 National Scholar-Chessplayer Award is approaching: Email your application in by Friday, February 8th, or postmark it by midnight on Friday, February 1st. If you are a current US Chess member you are eligible to apply for a 2019 National Scholar-Chessplayer award if you:

• Played in at least 25 Regular-rated US Chess or FIDE games during calendar year 2018, games with a Time Control less than Game-30 delay-5 do not count toward the 25 game requirement
• Have shown outstanding achievement in academics and chess
• Completed at least one year of chess-related community service since you started the 9^th Grade
• Can articulate in an essay (of 500 words or less) how your being selected as a 2019 Scholar-Chessplayer enables you to further your education, improve your chess, and continue contributing to the chess community for the next 5 years of your life

A total of five awards are available at $1,500.00 each for a total of $7,500.00 in scholarship money.  Previous recipients of this award are not eligible.  These scholarships, provided by the U.S. Chess Trust with the support of the National Scholastic Chess Foundation and US Chess, recognize and encourage outstanding high school students who promote a positive image of chess. Applications are available online via the,Scholar Chess Player Award Application form, also available in the Scholastics Area of US Chess. Applications are scored equally in four areas:  Academics, Chess Playing, Community Contributions, and the Personal Essay.  Contact Susan Kantor, Scholastics Associate, at the US Chess Office, (931) 787-1234 x136 or email skantor@uschess.org with any questions. Your completed application consists of the eight documents listed below.  Incomplete applications will not be evaluated by the selection committee.

1. The cover page of the Application, which contains basic information about yourself.
2. Your high school transcripts showing all courses and grades.
3. Your SAT or ACT scores (pre-SAT scores are not acceptable).
4. Evidence that you have played at least 25 US Chess or FIDE rated games during calendar year 2017.
5. A list and brief description of your best Chess Accomplishments.
6. Examples of your Chess-related Community Service since 9^th Grade or later.
7. A letter of recommendation from a teacher in a current or former school you have attended in 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, or 12^th
8. A letter of recommendation from a Chess Coach or Tournament Director.
9. A letter of support from someone other than a parent, guardian or kin bearing witness to the nature, duration and impact of your chess-related community service. We also encourage you to submit newspaper articles or web-based stories as evidence.
10. Your essay of no more than 500 words describing how your being recognized as a Scholar-Chessplayer would help you continue contributing to the greater US Chess community over the next 5 years of your life.
11. OPTIONAL: A recent color photograph of yourself, either a headshot or full-length.

You can send your application to us in two ways—email or postal carrier.  If you use email, we must receive your application by Friday, February 8th, 2019.  If you send your application by one of many available postal carriers, it must be postmarked by midnight on Friday February 1, 2019. Recipients who attend the 2019 National High School Chess Championship in Schaumburg, IL on March 15^th – 17th, 2019, will be recognized for their achievements.  Players do not need to attend the 2019 National High School Chess Championship tournament to be eligible for the 2019 Scholar-Chess Player Award. Send your completed application to: US Chess Federation Attn: Susan Kantor P.O. Box 3967 Crossville, TN 38557-3967 OR Email – Attn: Susan Kantor at skantor@uschess.org